Bridges have been around for thousands of years, essential for the crossing of waterways, and for carrying goods. Bridges are made from all number of material, including wood, stone, and steel.
But in the Indian state of Meghalaya, a collection of remarkable bridges stand apart. They’re made from living trees. Using living fig trees, artisans slowly form them into draped bridges that cross the inhospitable terrain.
The name for this craft is called jingkieng jri, and it’s an art form that has been around for many generations. The branches of the tree are woven and formed into walkways, and over time, their branches grow and merge, creating strong, bridge structures that are used by the villagers.
Looking like something out of a movie, these bridges are a testament to the amazing resourcefulness of the people living there, and the power of nature to create living structures.
Over 60 of these bridges exist in Meghalaya, including a few that are double decker in design.
Read more about these amazing structures on Atlas Obscura.
Photographs via David Talukdar, Dania Rodrigues, and Getty.
With monsoon rains, traditional bamboo bridges would be washed away in storms. These rural communities need a stronger, more resilient option. Luckily, the local ficus elastica tree provides a great option.
“The indigenous builders then turned to their natural environment for harnessing the raw materials and started building structures and bridges across the streams and inhospitable terrain.”
– Atlas Obscura
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