Double Decker Bridge of Cherrapunji

Hidden deep withinside the lush, inexperienced forests of the wettest vicinity in India: Cherrapunjee, Meghalaya; you’ll locate the incredible Jingkieng Nongriat Double Decker Living Root Bridge; extra usually referred to as the Umshiang Double Decker Living Root Bridge or truly simply the Double Decker Root Bridge. This vicinity is well-known for root bridges manufactured from Indian Rubber Trees, however, the Double Decker Bridge is the maximum well-known of all because of its massive size. It is three kilometres long and positioned at a peak of 2400 feet! A particular enchantment and a pretty revolutionary blend of nature and engineering. The Umshiang River flows underneath the bridge.

History

The nearby tribe of Khasis is to be credited with assisting closer to the introduction of this feat of nature. They observed the sturdy roots of the Indian Rubber Tree developing close to their village of Laitkynsew. These sorts of historic rubber bushes develop best withinside the Northeast area of India, which is why the basis bridges are so well-known here. The roots are ‘trained’ through the villagers to form right into a bridge. This education is completed through pulling the roots and twisting them or braiding them withinside the required direction. But, the bridges can’t be used at once after shaping. The roots require at least 15 years to develop sturdy sufficient to resist the load of human beings on foot throughout it because this is the real cause of the bridge. This herbal bridge is stated to be over two hundred years antique and the best 50 human beings can use the bridge at once

 

About

Located withinside the thick tropical wooded area of Meghalaya, cloaked with rain for the duration of a maximum part of 12 months is the great man-made cum herbal wonders of the dwelling root bridges. Created via way of means of the human beings of the Khasi tribe, those roots develop from the historical rubber trees, visible best withinside the northeast region. These roots are skilled via way of means of the Khasis to develop in one of these ways as be withinside the shape of bridges at the pinnacle of a river. These bridges are a top-notch opportunity for timber bridges that dwindle with a lot of rain falling on them. The maximum famous vacationer enchantment of Cherrapunjee, those double-decker dwelling root bridges are 2 bridges which might be stacked one at the other, made due to the entanglement of roots.

A new root bridge takes approximately 15 years to get robust sufficient in order that it may endure the burden of individuals who could be crossing it. Throughout the following couple of years, the roots grow to be even stronger. It is thought that a number of the foundation bridges are over 5 hundred years old. The maximum famous one is Umshiang Double-Decker Root Bridge. Not constructed however grown, those dwelling root bridges are like astonishment and are without a doubt unique.

Following are a number of the famous root bridge of Cherrapunjee

• Umang Double Decker Root Bridge- The maximum famous root bridge, a double-decker dwelling-root bridge, it’s far three km long and starts offevolved from Village Tyrna Village. The bridge stands at a top of 2400 feet. Reaching the higher bridge, which is 20 meters long is a difficult but worthwhile -task. Please take notice that one desires to be bodily suit to attain the higher bridge.
• Immunol Root Bridges- A very famous enchantment, that is acknowledged to be the oldest dwelling bridge in the region. Place at a top of 1400 feet, this bridge is seventy-four m lengthy.

• Ritymmen Root Bridge- Settled in Nongthymmai village, this bridge is 30 m lengthy. If you begin hiking from Village Tyrna, this bride could fall in your manner to double-decker dwelling root bridges.

• Omkar Root Bridge- Beginning from Village Site, that is a brief bridge. It takes simply 1/2 of an hour to stroll from side to side on it. Local floods some years in the past had washed away a part of the bridge this is being reconstructed via way of means of the locals. During the monsoon season, a go-to to this bridge is even extra thrilling as a waterfall gushes alongside the bridge at that time.

• Mawsaw Root Bridge- If you retain taking walks beyond Umshiang for around 20 – 30 minutes, you arrive on the Mawsaw Bridge. The herbal swimming pool is the super mega-celebrity enchantment of this bridge.

How far is Double Decker Living Root Bridge from Meghalaya?

 

Although a variety of the advertisers make it appear like those residing bridges are in Shillong/Cherrapunjee to carry you to this aspect of Meghalaya.

The root bridges themselves are honestly in a tiny little village of Nongriat withinside the East Khasi Hills.

 

You can’t get a taxi immediately to this village as it’s deep down withinside the jungle of the hills.

So, you want to attain an area called Tyrna Village that’s wherein the hike begins.

This is effortlessly accessed from Cherrapunjee (Sohra) itself and is round a 20-30 minute force far from where you’re staying in Cherrapunjee, you could effortlessly ee-e book a taxi for round four hundred rupees (£5) consistent with non-public constitution one way.

But, if you’re now no longer staying down in Nongriat, then have a taxi watch for you. When it receives dark (and this trek will take you all day) there are public NO taxis right here to take you returned to Cherrapunjee.

 

Public taxis do cross close to it from Cherrapunjee, however, they’re now no longer common and won’t drop you without delay in Tyrna village. You might be dropped a truthful few kilometres away at a turning point.

 

Getting to the Double Decker Root Bridge is an epic hike to lead you to 3000 steps… every way! It’s no joke.

 

What to Wear?

You can be tempted to put on a raincoat or different moist weather/iciness clothing. However, it is optimal to put it on as low as viable. Due to the strenuous nature of the trek, you may get warm very quickly. Your garments become saturated with sweat and it is a good deal greater snug to permit your pores and skin to breathe. In regards to footwear, pick snug footwear which has proper grip. (Sandals are fine, especially if they may be right strolling sandals inclusive of Birkenstocks, that’s what I wore).

 

What to Take?

If you are involved in approximately the rain, it is an awesome concept to deliver an umbrella. Pack a few meals and water, as you may handiest discover a couple of shacks promoting packaged ingesting water and snacks alongside the manner from Tyrna to Nongriat village. You’ll be capable of getting fundamental Indian vegetarian food at Nongriat. Wearing a cap and sunscreen is usually recommended when you have truthful pores and skin. Mosquitoes are a gift withinside the evening so you would possibly need to don’t forget mosquito repellent as well. It’s viable to head swimming withinside the herbal swimming pools on the double-decker bridge, so deliver suitable swimming wear in case you need to do this (it is clean and extrude rooms are provided). Do be conscious that the whole lot you are taking provides for the burden though, and you will sense it while trekking returned up the hill.

 

Trek to Double Decker Living Root Bridge

The bridge begins offevolved on the village of Tyrna and crosses the Umshiang river at some stage in its journey. Getting to the real bridge is a chunk of a trek. The hike right down to the bridge is a whopping 3500-3600 steps every manner to the bridge and again from the bottom village of Tyrna, that’s 20 kilometres from the principle metropolis of Cherrapunjee.On the manner to the real bridge, you may locate numerous different smaller bridges which aren’t completely obviously held up. These smaller bridges are made structurally sound with the use of steel twine because the tree roots used for those bridges aren’t as sturdy as a number of the opposite trees.

 

When you attain the Nongriat village after strolling alongside the general cemented route, the bridge is only a quick hop, pass and soar far from there. Within some minutes, you’ll be watching the marvellous, untouched splendour of the bridge together with your eyes. On the web website of the bridge, there may also be a

visitor residence in which vacationers can live for a meagre price. The handiest drawback is that the visitor residence has a very minimal facility.

 

Climate and The Best Time to Visit

The vicinity around Cherrapunjee generally has rained all yr long, however at some stage in the monsoon season; that is from May to September, the rainfall is excessive. The common annual rainfall recorded in this place is 467 inches(11,873 mm)! Usually, it’s far recommended to now no longer go to the bridge at some stage in this season, between May and September, due to the slippery journey. But, if one is simply skilled in navigating this climate, the monsoon season is simply a stunning time to go to Cherrapunjee. Just take into account your umbrellas and raincoats to stop yourself from getting sick. Other than the intense monsoon season, the vicinity across the Double Decker Bridge generally has very first-rate weather, being cool and breezy.

 

The form of plant life and fauna surrounding the bridge and the hike right down to the bridge is enchanting and it makes the ugly trek well worth the effort. At the top of your trek down, you could even take a dip withinside the herbal pool beneathneath the bridge to chill off. Since the vicinity is untouched via way of means of pollutants and urbanization, the smooth water is clean and also you do not even ought to fear approximately dirt, which is uncommon nowadays. So that is virtually a cause to go to this majestic place.

 

Hike to the Bridge

In the name, we will see that it’s far from a double-decker bridge. In this method that the bridge has 2 decks or layers, that are created because of the entanglement of the roots. The higher bridge is 20 meters lengthy and is hard to attain if one isn’t bodily in shape sufficient to climb to the top. Starting Point of the Hike: Village TyrnaThe bridge begins offevolved in the village of Tyrna and crosses the Umshiang river in the course of its adventure. Getting to the real bridge is a piece of a trek. The hike right down to the bridge is a whopping 3500-3600 steps every manner to the bridge and returned from the bottom village of Tyrna, that’s 20 kilometres from the primary metropolis of Cherrapunjee.On the manner to the real bridge, you could locate numerous different smaller bridges which aren’t certainly held up. These smaller bridges are made structurally sound by the usage of metallic cords for the reason that tree roots used for those bridges aren’t as robust as a number of the alternative trees.

 

When you attain the Nongriat village after strolling alongside the in most cases cemented route, the bridge is only a quick hop, bypass and soars far from there. Within some minutes, you’ll be observing the marvellous, untouched splendour of the bridge together with your very own eyes. On the web web page of the bridge, there’s additionally a visitor residence wherein vacationers can live for a meagre price. The most effective disadvantage is that the visitor residence has very minimal facilities. There is likewise a small save which sells cool drinks, biscuits, and chips for folks who need to refuel earlier than beginning their tedious adventure returned up. The hike, in total, is around 7 kilometres up and down the hill. Wear your trekking footwear and convey lots of water to hydrate.

 

Time required

4-6 hours. The trek is lengthy and takes around 4-6 hours relying on the trekker’s speed. For first-time trekkers, this will sound like an experience like a nightmare and might also be extraordinarily challenging, however, the praise ultimately with the quantity of splendour you’ve got got the privilege of journeying in man or woman is well worth it.

 

But, studying approximately the vicinity is simply now no longer as much as the degrees of the way it’s miles in reality. What are you ready for? Everyone has to go to the Double Decker Living Root Bridge in Cherrapunjee, Meghalaya the least as soon as in their life. Get going now! What are you waiting for?

 

Important Tips

Don’t deliver an excessive amount to your backpacks though. As referred to before, there are stores alongside the manner for snacks and water, so do not worry about an excessive amount of approximately sporting the one’s items.

For more details click here https://www.mytrip-to-india.com/north-east/best-of-meghalaya/ or WhatsApp at +91-9810688690

Content Writer: Surbhi Mehrotra