Jing Kieng Jri

Jing Kieng Jri is a Khasi term that means "Living Root Bridge". In the northeast Indian state of Meghalaya, which is also the home to the wettest places on earth, Cherrapunji, and Mawsynram, the Khasi and Jaintia tribes had devised a natural way of crossing the rocky streams during torrential rain. For centuries they have used the roots of rubber fig trees (ficus elastica) to build bridges over these streams cutting across the landscape. These bridges grow stronger with time and are protected and nurtured by the local people depending on them. This is one of the classic examples of humans living in harmony with nature.