2026 for January 1970

Recently, India submitted Meghalaya’s living root bridges to UNESCO for World Heritage status.

The living root bridges are locally known as Jingkieng Jri or Lyu Chrai.
These are nestled across the lush southern slopes of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya.
These are masterpieces of bioengineering created by indigenous communities.
These are grown by indigenous Khasi and Jaintia tribes over a time period of 15 to 30 years.
These bridges range in span from 15 feet to 250 feet, and last for several centuries.

The bridges are grown by methods of tree-shaping using the aerial roots of Ficus Elastica (Rubber fig tree/Indian rubber tree).
The underlying growth process involves recurring inosculation (joining by twining) of Ficus aerial root fibres over a gorge or river.
The process begins with placing of young pliable aerial roots in hollowed Areca catechu trunks.
These provide essential nutrition and protection from the weather, and also perform as root guidance systems.
This assemblage is structurally supported by a bamboo scaffold, which spans the river and performs as a temporary river crossing for the local community.
Over time, as the aerial roots increase in strength and thickness, the Areca catechu trunks are no longer required.

Source: News On Air

Living Root Bridges FAQs

Q1: What are living root bridges locally known as?

Ans: They are locally known as Jingkieng Jri or Lyu Chrai.

Q2: Where are living root bridges found in India?

Ans: They are found on the southern slopes of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya.

Q3: Which communities create living root bridges?

Ans: They are created by indigenous Khasi and Jaintia tribes.

Q4: Why are living root bridges considered masterpieces of bioengineering?

Ans: Because they are grown from living tree roots using traditional knowledge over several decades.

Q5: How long does it take to grow a living root bridge?

Ans: It takes about 15 to 30 years to grow a living root bridge.