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No concrete, no steel! Tourists come from far and wide to see the amazing bridges made from the roots of these living trees of Meghalaya. On one hand, huge concrete bridges, iron girders and steel structures are being built in the name of modern engineering and development. On the other hand, in the north-eastern state of India, Meghalaya, there is such a unique and natural miracle which astonishes even human thinking. Amidst the hills and dense forests here, very strong bridges have been built by directly tying together the roots of living trees without using cement or steel, which attracts tourists and nature lovers from all over the country and abroad. This unique example of nature and human co-existence is not only known for its beauty, but it is also a living document of traditional ancient knowledge that has stood strong for centuries without any maintenance. Ancient and unique technology of the local Khasi and Jaintia tribes The history of construction of these famous living root bridges of Meghalaya i.e. 'Jing Jieng Jiari' is centuries old, which was developed by the ancestors of the local Khasi and Jaintia tribes with their wisdom. In this hilly area with heavy rains and swollen rivers, bamboo or wooden bridges were washed away by the strong current of monsoon water every year, due to which the local people found a permanent and natural alternative to this problem. They transport the strong and flexible aerial roots of the Indian rubber trees (Ficus elastica) found in the jungles from one end of the river to the other using hollowed-out areca nuts. Gradually these roots get entangled with each other and get connected naturally that with time it turns into a very strong and solid structure which can easily lift heavy weight. These natural bridges become stronger with time. Bridges made of concrete and iron have a certain age and after a few decades they start rusting or cracking, but on the contrary, these living bridges of Meghalaya become stronger and denser with the passage of time. Since these bridges are not made of dead material but of the living roots of living trees, if any part of them becomes weak then the new branches and roots of the tree automatically compensate for it. It takes about 15 to 20 years for a new bridge to be completely ready and capable of bearing the weight of humans, but once mature, it can last for centuries i.e. about 500 years without any danger. World famous double decker root bridge of Cherrapunji and Nongriat Among these living root bridges spread in different districts of Meghalaya, the center of attraction is the famous 'Double Decker Living Root Bridge' of Nongriat village located near Cherrapunji. This is the only unique bridge of its kind in the world which has two floors built one above the other, which has been developed from the roots of a single giant rubber tree. To see this amazing creation and experience the thrill of passing over it, tourists have to go through an exciting and challenging trek through the forests. Apart from this, there are many such single-decker bridges around Shillong and Mawleong which fascinate the tourists with their beauty. The best example of environmental protection and sustainable tourism. In today's modern era, when the whole world is struggling with global warming and environmental crises, these living bridges of Meghalaya teach us how sustainable development can be done by living in harmony with nature. In view of the conservation and global importance of these bridges, efforts are being made to include them in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which has given a new identity to the tourism of this region at the international level. If you are also looking for a place away from the busy urban life where you can see the most unique confluence of history, culture and nature, then a trip to these lush green valleys and bridges of living trees of Meghalaya should be at the top of your diary.