First published: 09/02/24.

Szucs Tamas 1

Jingkieng Jri: Living Root Bridge

Jingkieng jri: Living Root Bridge (On tentative list)

Jingkieng jri: Living Root Bridge by Szucs Tamas

Although our tour operator first suggested the Double Decker bridge, it became clear to me that the seven-hour round-trip trek, which reviewers usually describe as "gruelling", "steep" or even "moderately difficult", was probably unfeasible for me. The two options left besides Cherrapunjee are the semi-destroyed bridge, which can be accessed by a concrete road, and the one in the village of Riwai. We chose the latter and did well. I don't know how to get to the bridge by public transport - but in India, this is not really an issue, I don't think there are any tourists who want to travel around North-East India by public transport. You can get there by car nowadays - the tarred road up to the path leading to the bridge had just been built when we were there and is certainly passable since then. Riwai is just 9 km from Mawlinnong, 'the cleanest village in Asshai', and is in fact as clean, tidy and pleasant as its more famous brother, for which they even charge an entrance fee. The bridge is about a 10-minute walk from the end of the tarmac road, and the path is well-walked, although there are a few steps in between, but thankfully there are railings everywhere. A few metres before the bridge, a small table in front of the bridge charges the villagers an entrance fee - Rs 30 per person. The bridge itself is really impressive - built from the roots of the ficus elastica, it is surprisingly wide and safe, not swinging at all as you walk across. You can walk down to - practically in - the river on either side of the bridge, where you can walk on large stones to points where you can take excellent photos of the bridge. Many local tourists take advantage of this - when we were there, we had to queue for selfies under the bridge. It takes about an hour for the whole visit walking to and back from the bridge. The nomination of the bridges is part of a sustained effort to ensure that every state in India has a World Heritage Site. For Meghalaya, the living root bridges seem like a good value proposition - just unique enough to be both a natural and cultural asset having the needed outstanding universal value.

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