Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridges: A 300-Year-Old Wonder Ready for UNESCO
Far in the mist-covered hills of Meghalaya, where rain shapes daily life and rivers cut sharply through forests, bridges are not made of steel or stone. They are alive. Carefully grown over decades by human hands and natural patience, the living root bridges locally called Jingkieng Jri have now reached a defining moment in their long journey. India has formally submitted their nomination to UNESCO’s World Heritage List for the 2026–27 evaluation cycle, placing this extraordinary tradition on the world map. The nomination dossier, titled “Jingkieng Jri / Lyu Chrai Cultural Landscape, Meghalaya,” was submitted in Paris by India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Vishal V. Sharma, to Lazare Assomo Eloundou, Director of UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre. The move signals not just recognition of a physical structure, but of an entire way of life shaped by harmony between people and nature.What Makes the Living Root Bridges UniqueUnlike conventional bridges that are built and eventually decay, Meghalaya’s living root bridges grow stronger with time. Created by guiding the aerial roots of the rubber fig tree across streams and deep ravines, these bridges take 15 to 30 years to become fully functional. Once mature, they can last for centuries. What makes them remarkable is not only their durability but also their sustainability. They require no cement, no machines, and no external materials. They grow naturally, adapt to floods, and repair themselves. In a world grappling with climate change and fragile infrastructure, these bridges quietly demonstrate how indigenous knowledge can offer solutions rooted in balance and respect for nature.A Living Cultural LandscapeUNESCO’s nomination does not focus on individual bridges alone. It recognises the cultural landscape shaped by the Indigenous Khasi and Jaintia communities over centuries. The bridges are part of a broader system of beliefs, practices, and environmental stewardship passed down through generations. For local communities, Jingkieng Jri is not a tourist attraction; it is daily life. Children cross these bridges to reach schools, farmers use them to access fields, and elders see them as symbols of patience and foresight. Building a living root bridge is an act of faith in the future, often begun by one generation and completed by the next.People Behind the RootsAt the heart of this tradition are individuals who dedicate their lives to nurturing these living structures. One such figure is Bah Halley War, a veteran practitioner who was recently conferred a Padma Award for his lifelong contribution to preserving and promoting the living root bridge tradition. His recognition came just before the UNESCO nomination, highlighting the human effort behind what the world now admires. For practitioners like Bah Halley War, guiding roots is not just a technical skill but a moral responsibility. It requires patience, discipline, and deep respect for nature. Each bend of a root reflects years of care, while each bridge tells a story of community cooperation and intergenerational trust.Meghalaya’s Voice and Global RecognitionWelcoming the development, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma expressed hope that the living root bridges would soon be inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Writing on social media platform X, he described the submission as a significant step towards global recognition and stressed the importance of honouring indigenous communities who remain custodians of this tradition. For Meghalaya, UNESCO recognition would bring international attention, but it also carries responsibility. Protecting the bridges from over-tourism, environmental damage, and loss of traditional knowledge will be just as important as celebrating their global status.Lessons for a Modern WorldThe living root bridges offer more than visual wonder. They challenge modern ideas of development by showing that infrastructure can grow naturally, serve communities sustainably, and exist in harmony with ecosystems. At a time when many regions struggle with flooding, erosion, and climate stress, these bridges stand as quiet teachers. They remind us that progress does not always mean building faster or bigger. Sometimes, it means slowing down, learning from indigenous wisdom, and trusting nature to lead. As UNESCO begins its evaluation, the Jingkieng Jri continue to do what they have always done: connect people. They connect villages across rivers, generations across time, and now, potentially, a small hill state in India to the global heritage community. Whether or not the final inscription comes in 2026–27, the nomination itself is a recognition of something deeply human: the ability to live with nature, not against it. In the intertwined roots of Meghalaya’s bridges lies a powerful message for the world: some of the strongest structures are those that are alive.
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