Double Decker Living Root Bridge: A Unique and Breathtaking Wonder of Nature

Imagine walking on a bridge that is alive and growing, that can withstand floods and earthquakes, and that has been shaped by generations of tribal people over centuries. Sounds incredible, right? Well, such a bridge actually exists in Meghalaya, India, and it is called the double decker living root bridge. This bridge is one of the most unique and spectacular attractions in the world, and it deserves to be on your bucket list.

In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about the double decker living root bridge, from its origin and structure to its location and how to reach it.

What is a Living Root Bridge and How is it Made?

A living root bridge is a type of bridge that is formed by intertwining the aerial roots of rubber trees (Ficus elastica). These roots are strong and flexible, and they can grow up to 100 feet long. The Khasi and Jaintia tribes of Meghalaya have been using these roots to create bridges across rivers and streams for centuries.

It takes about 15 to 20 years for a living root bridge to become fully functional, and it can last for hundreds of years. The living root bridges are not only functional, but also beautiful. They blend with the natural surroundings, and they are adorned with moss, ferns, orchids, and butterflies.

Different types of living root bridges in Meghalaya

Photo of Double Decker Living Root Bridge 1/2 by — (c) Holidify.com

There are different types of living root bridges in Meghalaya, depending on how many layers of roots they have. The most common type is the single-decker bridge, which has one layer of roots. The most rare and impressive type is the triple-decker bridge, which has three layers of roots.

However, the most famous and popular type is the double decker living root bridge, which has two layers of roots. This bridge is the only one of its kind in the world, and it is a marvel of bio-engineering.

Where is the Double Decker Living Root Bridge Located and How to Reach It?

The double decker living root bridge is located in the village of Nongriat in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. Nongriat is about 12 km from Cherrapunji (also known as Sohra), which is one of the wettest places on earth. Cherrapunji is about 54 km from Shillong, which is the capital city of Meghalaya.

How to reach Meghalaya

To reach Meghalaya from different parts of India, you can take a flight, train, or bus to Guwahati, which is the nearest major city. From Guwahati, you can take another flight or bus to Shillong. From Shillong, you can take a taxi or bus to Cherrapunji.

How to reach Nongriat

To reach Nongriat from Cherrapunji or Shillong, you can take a taxi or bus to Tyrna village, which is about 20 km from Cherrapunji or 74 km from Shillong. From Tyrna village, you have to trek for about 3 km to reach Nongriat.

Also read: Treasure Quest in Meghalaya: Living Root Bridge | Rainbow Falls

When is the Best Time to Visit the Double Decker Living Root Bridge and What to Expect?

The best time to visit the double decker living root bridge depends on your preference for weather, crowd, and festivals. The best time for weather is between October and April, when the climate is pleasant and dry.

When you visit the double decker living root bridge, you should be prepared for what to expect.

1. The difficulty level of the trek is moderate to high, depending on your fitness level and stamina.

2. The duration of the visit can vary from a few hours to a few days, depending on how much time you want to spend at the bridge and the nearby attractions. You can either do a day trip or stay overnight at Nongriat, where there are some homestays and guesthouses available.

3. The entry fee and timings for the bridge are Rs. 50 per person and 6 am to 6 pm, respectively. You should also pay Rs. 20 per camera if you want to take photos or videos of the bridge.

4. There is no electricity, internet, or phone network at the village, so you should be ready to disconnect from the outside world and connect with nature and the locals.

What are Some Other Attractions Near the Double Decker Living Root Bridge?

Photo of Double Decker Living Root Bridge 2/2 by — (c) Unsplash

There are many other natural and cultural wonders that you can visit near the bridge, such as:

1. The Rainbow Falls: This is a stunning waterfall that creates a rainbow effect when sunlight hits it. It is located about 2 km from Nongriat, and it can be reached by trekking through a forest trail. The waterfall is about 300 feet high, and it plunges into a deep blue pool that is ideal for swimming and relaxing.

2. The Umshiang River: This is a crystal clear river that flows under the double decker living root bridge. It offers opportunities for swimming, fishing, and boating. You can also enjoy the view of the bridge from different angles and perspectives from the river.

3. The Mawsmai Cave: This is a natural limestone cave that has fascinating formations of stalactites and stalagmites. It is located about 6 km from Cherrapunji, and it can be reached by taxi or bus. The cave is about 150 meters long, and it has some narrow passages and chambers that require crawling and bending.

4. The Nohkalikai Falls: This is the tallest plunge waterfall in India, with a height of 340 meters. It has a spectacular view and a tragic legend behind it. It is located about 7 km from Cherrapunji, and it can be reached by taxi or bus. The waterfall derives its name from a woman named Ka Likai, who jumped off the cliff after discovering that her husband had killed her daughter.

5. The Dawki River: This is a river that forms the border between India and Bangladesh, and it has transparent water that reflects the sky. It is located about 82 km from Cherrapunji, and it can be reached by taxi or bus. The river is famous for its boating and camping activities, as well as its friendship bridge that connects the two countries.

The double decker living root bridge is a unique and breathtaking wonder of nature that deserves to be visited at least once in a lifetime. It is not only a marvel of bio-engineering, but also a testament to the harmony between humans and nature.

Also read: Living Root Bridges in Meghalaya

So, what are you waiting for? Book your trip to Meghalaya soon and experience the magic of the double decker living root bridge for yourself.

Double Decker Living Root Bridge Reviews

Varsha Narsaria

70 Followers

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It took us a two hours road journey to reach the Riwai village from our guest house in Shillong. From there it was a downward trek of around 20 minutes to the Living Roots Bridge. We walked through the village, into the forest, down the coarsely made steps leading to the bridge. Now when I am saying I don’t have sufficient words to describe my experience, I mean it quite literally and not rhetorically. As I sat thinking of adjectives and trying to formulate words into sentences, nothing seemed to do justice. The whole experience was surreal. It was as if I was dreaming. The village Riwai was spotlessly clean, with not a speck of litter anywhere. The houses were small and quaint, made mostly of tin and bamboo. There were bamboo dustbins at regular intervals. Every house had small but well maintained beautiful gardens. Colourful flowers bloomed everywhere. Ripe jackfruits hung low from trees. The pathways were cemented with clean drains running along the side. We reached the steps and started descending. On the way were makeshift shops of locals, some selling eatables, some locally handcrafted products. The steps were leading right into the heart of the forest. There were tall trees on either side. Distant sounds of exotic animals and birds could be heard. The mountain air seemed to purify us with every breath we took. Small streams and waterfalls broke out of any place they could find between the rocks. We were all walking mesmerized, and had to remind ourselves to take pictures to capture our visit to the bewitching place. I was feeling like I was inside a book or a movie. Like the forest of Twilight. Or the forest around Hogwarts. Or like any moment Snow White will come out along with her dwarf friends. The path ended and there lied in front of our eyes, the magnificent Living Roots Bridge. The place was teeming with tourists and a localite was standing on the bridge with a whistle, urging people to keep moving, for fear of too much weight on the bridge. Our walk to the place was much more solitary and I wistfully wished there was no crowd here as well. The bridge is made of the roots of living rubber trees, which the tribals have trained to grow in a certain way with their ancient knowledge. It’s not a shaky swinging thing like one would imagine, but a sturdy structure capable of holding hundreds at a time. It is a man made wonder without the use of machines and technology. We crossed the bridge and climbed down the rocks to the stream gushing along below the bridge. The water was clean, pure, transparent. We dipped our feet inside and all the fatigue disappeared. The place had natural beauty at its best. Hardly touched by humans. Reading about it and seeing pictures might impress a little, but being there physically was a different experience altogether. Like we were transported to another world. We lingered there for some time and then walked back. There was a view point there called Nowhet viewpoint which required a long difficult upward trek. I could not go to it because I had my one year old baby with me. Others went and their accounts of what they saw still make me jealous. With memories for a lifetime, we left Riwai for Mawlynnong at around 1:15 pm. P.S. If you are a vegetarian, there isn’t much option for food around the place, except for Maggie. It is a good idea to carry snacks while visiting.

Darshan H. Ranpara

242 Followers

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We decided to go there instead of the Bridge to which Cherra Resort staff people takes tourists after trekking to a long distance of 2 hours. We took this decision because my Dad at 61 years can also see the Living Root Bridge. After inquiring 1-2 people Ashok da finally found the path towards the Living Root Bridge. We reached at a totally silent place in the jungle and took a visiting ticket from a local lady. We also inquired her about the way to bridge. It was very nice trek of 20 mins with all sounds of insects, birds, etc generally heard in the jungle. We finally reached the Living Root Bridge and were amazed to see a bridge made up from the roots of Ficus elastica tree (known as Living tree). There was an Australian couple sitting on the bridge. We had a conversation with them regarding the other two Living Root Bridges and also regarding the Indian atmosphere. After clicking some pics and having a close look of bridge, we then returned. Our driver, Ashok da, started a conversation (in Khasi language) with the local lady who gave us tickets. She invited to her home for eating pure, natural tomatoes. When I ate a piece of tomato, I was shocked and experienced an extremely original taste of tomato which I never have eaten in my life. She offered those tomatoes to Ashok da @ the rate of Rs.80/kg to which he refused. While returning, I saw a pipeline made from bamboo which was made for storing water from a long distance waterfall into a Sintex water tank. This was a brilliant creativity of village people to store water.

Nitish Hardeniya

87 Followers

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Next place for the day was the root bridge in Meghalaya called Riwai living root bridge. These bridges are really old and creations of the locals. Standing on the bridge is not allowed but you can click pictures. I was having a nice time as this was a different experience. We had to leave from there in 20 minutes as we had one more place to visit on the same day. Just after a 10-minute drive from the root bridge, we reached Mawlynnong which is Asia's cleanest village. We enjoyed a delicious and homely local meal there and started back for Shillong. Covering all these places in one day made me tired, so I drank some tea and went to sleep immediately after reaching my hotel.

Shutter.Storyz

95 Followers

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Day 3, Living root bridge, Mawlynnong Village and river Dawki. There are two living root bridges. One where we went, is single bridge which is quite easily accessible. You need to climb down few 100 steps only. Whereas the famous living root bridge which is on websites is double decker bridge and was not advisable to climb down there because rains had made it slippery and it could cause accidents. Locals said you need to climb approx 3000 steps and they could be too slippery.

liveharshitly

98 Followers

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Living Roots Bridge Near East Khasi Hills, this is a famous tourist spot because the roots of a tree merges with another one on the other side of the river, thus making it a bridge from the roots of the rubber trees. However, the whole idea is man made and the roots are made to grow laterally until they meet their counterpart from the other side. A delicate feast for the eyes of a traveler.