Gives of nicknames in the village of Nongriat, in the district of East Timor, Meghalaya.
In the remote region of Meghalaya, in northeastern India, the Khasi people have been putting into practice a fascinating tradition for centuries: they create literally living bridges from roots, known locally as jing kieng jri.
Engineering, nature and sustainability come together in the mountainous area, located between Assam and Bangladesh: one of the rainiest on the planetwhere rivers are a huge headache, isolating villages and making circulation difficult.
Long before the arrival of concrete and steel, the Khasi were already resorting to an ingenious solution to avoid the waters. Almost like magic, transform trees into permanent infrastructure and constantly evolving.
The process begins with planting tree trunks rubber tree (fig elastica) on both banks of the rivers: they are the base of the bridge. Over the course of 15 to 30 years, the roots are patiently guided over bamboo scaffolding until they cross the watercourse, explains in a 2018 photo report.
Constant humidity and daily stepping compact the soil and strengthen the structure. Over time, the tangle of roots thickens, forming passages that can reach between 5 and 75 meters in length and support loads of up to 35 people simultaneously.
Unlike modern structures, these bridges become more robust with age and can last for centuries. Resistant to flash floods and intense storms, they offer a stable connection between mountain villages, with no monetary costs and virtually minimal impact on the ecosystem.
To this day, the origins of the technique are not known for sure, only that it has been practiced for many, many years.
The Khasi also do not live with a formal sanitation network. In “God’s garden”, the village of Mawlynnong, each inhabitant is responsible for cleaning the public space. Garbage is collected in bamboo baskets spread across the village, recycled into fertilizer and used in agriculture. Plastics are reused and the streets are swept daily.
