Living root bridges

Photo by Prajnyan Goswami

Taken in India

The 250 year old double decker suspension living root bridge of Nongriat, known as the Jingkieng Nongriat. Living root bridges are crafted by hand by the forest dwelling Khasi people since centuries, by intertwining and weaving together the aerial roots of banyan trees on opposite sides of stream-filled gorges. The importance of this ecoregion is evident from the abundance of rich and luxuriant orchid flora of nearly 352 species belonging to 98 genera representing 27.08% of India's orchid flora.