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Extract from the Chapter
2. The Living Root Bridges, Meghalaya
Imagine building a bridge without the use of cement, stones, concrete, etc. Is it possible? The living root bridges are incredible feats of engineering built by the indigenous people of Meghalaya. The living root bridges are one of Meghalaya’s most beautiful tangible UNESCO world heritage sites.
Crossing the many waterways without bridges was difficult for people in the past, during monsoons. Attempts to use bamboo or wooden bridges across these waterways proved futile as these bridges could not last long in the heavy rains and strong waters. Living root bridges are an innovative and indigenous solution to solve this age-old problem.
They are made of intertwined roots which are a sort of magic, but they aren’t imaginary. These bridges have been built for centuries by the indigenous people of the land. It is a naturally built ecosystem of local flora. It also symbolises the relationship and knowledge that the local people have over their region and the cultural significance that it holds for them. Under ideal conditions, a root bridge is thought to be able to persist for hundreds of years. These bridges frequently rise 50 to 100 feet in the air. The state’s longest living root bridge is said to be a whopping 175 feet in length. There are approximately 100 or so known living root bridges across different villages.
Imagine building a bridge without the use of cement, stones, concrete, etc. Is it possible? The living root bridges are incredible feats of engineering built by the indigenous people of Meghalaya. The living root bridges are one of Meghalaya’s most beautiful tangible UNESCO world heritage sites.
Crossing the many waterways without bridges was difficult for people in the past, during monsoons. Attempts to use bamboo or wooden bridges across these waterways proved futile as these bridges could not last long in the heavy rains and strong waters. Living root bridges are an innovative and indigenous solution to solve this age-old problem.
They are made of intertwined roots which are a sort of magic, but they aren’t imaginary. These bridges have been built for centuries by the indigenous people of the land. It is a naturally built ecosystem of local flora. It also symbolises the relationship and knowledge that the local people have over their region and the cultural significance that it holds for them. Under ideal conditions, a root bridge is thought to be able to persist for hundreds of years. These bridges frequently rise 50 to 100 feet in the air. The state’s longest living root bridge is said to be a whopping 175 feet in length. There are approximately 100 or so known living root bridges across different villages.
feats
— tasks difficult to achieve, especially those involving a lot of skill
indigenous
— native
tangible
— noticeable
futile
— useless
intertwined
— twisted together
persist
— continue to exist
whopping
— huge
Summary in Bullet Points
- The problem: Bamboo and wooden bridges did not last in heavy monsoon water.
- The solution: Local people trained and intertwined living roots to form bridges.
- Strength: The textbook says that under ideal conditions they may persist for hundreds of years.
- Knowledge: They represent local ecological knowledge and cultural connection with the region.
Questions from this Section
Why were living root bridges useful to local people during the monsoon?
2 Marks
How to answer:
State the phenomenon and its direct explanation.
View Answer
Answer: They created durable crossings over waterways where ordinary bamboo or wooden bridges could be damaged by heavy rain and strong water.
Why does the writer describe the living root bridges as both engineering and cultural knowledge?
3 Marks
How to answer:
Explain what the detail shows beyond the basic fact.
View Answer
Answer: They solve a practical crossing problem through carefully trained living roots, so they are engineering achievements. The method was developed by indigenous communities over generations, so the bridges also embody local environmental and cultural knowledge.
