living root bridges - 19 photos

Photos of the amazing Living Root Bridges in the East Khasi Hills region of Meghalaya in North-East India.

In 2005, Human Planet photographer Timothy Allen documented and exposed to the public these incredible living bridges located in a remote tribal region of North-East India, near the Bengladesh border. After seeing his photos of this region, I decided to follow his footsteps.

Here is some of the info I gathered from Tim Allen's blog about those living root bridges:

All Khasi villages are connected by a network of stone pathways known as the King’s way which traditionally kept the local betel nut trade alive with Shillong. Throughout this network, hundreds of living root bridges form the bridleways over the myriad of water channels that criss-cross the area.

A few minutes walk from Mawlynnong, Wahthyllong has one of the most beautiful of all the bridges in the East Khasi Hills. The age of the Wahthyllong Jingmaham bridge is estimated to 60-100 years and local say it wasn’t planted by someone who is still alive today.

The development and upkeep of bridges is a community affair. Initially, a length of bamboo is secured across a river divide and a banyan plant (Ficus elastica) is planted on each bank. Over the months and years, the roots and branches of the rapidly growing Ficus are trained along the bamboo until they meet in the middle and eventually supersede its support.

At later stages in the evolution of the bridge, stones and earth are inserted into the gaps and eventually become engulfed by the plant forming the beautiful walkways. Later still, the bridges are improved upon with the addition of hand rails and steps.

You can get more information and view more amazing photos of the Living Root Bridges, and of the Khasi people who bio-engineered them, on Timothy Allen's Blog.

A few other pages about the living root bridges:

- www.atlasobscura.com/places/root-bridges-cherrapungee

- www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2035520/Meghalaya-villag...

living root bridge near mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, river, roots, strangler fig, trees, wahthyllong
Living Root Bridge near Mawlynnong (India)
living root bridge near mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, river, roots, strangler fig, trees, wahthyllong
Living Root Bridge near Mawlynnong (India)
paved trail over living root bridge - mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, roots, strangler fig, trail, trees, wahthyllong
Paved Trail over Living Root Bridge - Mawlynnong (India)
paved trail over living root bridge - mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, roots, strangler fig, trail, trees, wahthyllong
Paved Trail over Living Root Bridge - Mawlynnong (India)
stone trail on living root bridge - mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, river bed, rocks, roots, strangler fig, trail, trees, wahthyllong
Stone Trail on Living Root Bridge - Mawlynnong (India)
stone trail on living root bridge - mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, river bed, rocks, roots, strangler fig, trail, trees, wahthyllong
Stone Trail on Living Root Bridge - Mawlynnong (India)
stone paved trail over living root bridge - mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, roots, strangler fig, trail, trees, wahthyllong
Stone Paved Trail over Living Root Bridge - Mawlynnong (India)
stone paved trail over living root bridge - mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, roots, strangler fig, trail, trees, wahthyllong
Stone Paved Trail over Living Root Bridge - Mawlynnong (India)
stone paved pathway over living root bridge - mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, roots, strangler fig, trail, trees, wahthyllong
Stone Paved Pathway over Living Root Bridge - Mawlynnong (India)
stone paved pathway over living root bridge - mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, roots, strangler fig, trail, trees, wahthyllong
Stone Paved Pathway over Living Root Bridge - Mawlynnong (India)
path on living root bridge - mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, roots, strangler fig, trail, trees, wahthyllong
Path on Living Root Bridge - Mawlynnong (India)
path on living root bridge - mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, roots, strangler fig, trail, trees, wahthyllong
Path on Living Root Bridge - Mawlynnong (India)
living root bridge in east khasi hills (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, river bed, rocks, roots, strangler fig, trees, wahthyllong
Living Root Bridge in East Khasi Hills (India)
living root bridge in east khasi hills (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, river bed, rocks, roots, strangler fig, trees, wahthyllong
Living Root Bridge in East Khasi Hills (India)
anchor of living root bridge - mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, river, roots, strangler fig, trees, wahthyllong
Anchor of Living Root Bridge - Mawlynnong (India)
anchor of living root bridge - mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, river, roots, strangler fig, trees, wahthyllong
Anchor of Living Root Bridge - Mawlynnong (India)
living root bridge over river - mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, river, roots, strangler fig, trees, wahthyllong
Living Root Bridge over River - Mawlynnong (India)
living root bridge over river - mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, river, roots, strangler fig, trees, wahthyllong
Living Root Bridge over River - Mawlynnong (India)
jingmaham living root bridge - mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, river bed, rocks, roots, strangler fig, trees, wahthyllong
Jingmaham Living Root Bridge - Mawlynnong (India)
jingmaham living root bridge - mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, river bed, rocks, roots, strangler fig, trees, wahthyllong
Jingmaham Living Root Bridge - Mawlynnong (India)
living root bridge spans over stream - mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, river, roots, strangler fig, trees, wahthyllong
Living Root Bridge Spans over Stream - Mawlynnong (India)
living root bridge spans over stream - mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jingmaham, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, river, roots, strangler fig, trees, wahthyllong
Living Root Bridge Spans over Stream - Mawlynnong (India)
sign on living root bridge - mawlynnong (india), east khasi hills, footbridge, jingmaham, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, sign, wahthyllong
Sign on Living Root Bridge - Mawlynnong (India)
sign on living root bridge - mawlynnong (india), east khasi hills, footbridge, jingmaham, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, sign, wahthyllong
Sign on Living Root Bridge - Mawlynnong (India)
growing a living root bridge near mawlynnong (india), bamboo, banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, rocks, roots, strangler fig, trees
Growing a Living Root Bridge near Mawlynnong (India)
growing a living root bridge near mawlynnong (india), bamboo, banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, rocks, roots, strangler fig, trees
Growing a Living Root Bridge near Mawlynnong (India)
living root bridge in the east khasi hills (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, roots, strangler fig, trail, trees
Living Root Bridge in the East Khasi Hills (India)
living root bridge in the east khasi hills (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, roots, strangler fig, trail, trees
Living Root Bridge in the East Khasi Hills (India)
living root bridge in the jungle (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, roots, strangler fig, trail, trees
Living Root Bridge in the Jungle (India)
living root bridge in the jungle (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, roots, strangler fig, trail, trees
Living Root Bridge in the Jungle (India)
small living root bridge - mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, rocks, roots, strangler fig, trail, trees
Small Living Root Bridge - Mawlynnong (India)
small living root bridge - mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, rocks, roots, strangler fig, trail, trees
Small Living Root Bridge - Mawlynnong (India)
small living root bridge near mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, rocks, roots, strangler fig, trees
Small Living Root Bridge near Mawlynnong (India)
small living root bridge near mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, rocks, roots, strangler fig, trees
Small Living Root Bridge near Mawlynnong (India)
living root bridge - east khasi hills (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, roots, strangler fig, trail, trees
Living Root Bridge - East Khasi Hills (India)
living root bridge - east khasi hills (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, roots, strangler fig, trail, trees
Living Root Bridge - East Khasi Hills (India)
living root bridge over small stream near mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, roots, strangler fig, trail, trees
Living Root Bridge over Small Stream near Mawlynnong (India)
living root bridge over small stream near mawlynnong (india), banyan, east khasi hills, ficus elastica, footbridge, jungle, living bridges, living root bridge, mawlynnong, meghalaya, rain forest, roots, strangler fig, trail, trees
Living Root Bridge over Small Stream near Mawlynnong (India)