The Nongriat Trek: A Complete Guide to Meghalaya's Root Bridges

The double-decker root bridge at Nongriat takes about three hours to reach from Tyrna village. You walk down 3,000 steps — many of them uneven, slippery, or both — into a gorge through dense Khasi forest. The bridge waits at the bottom. The walk back up is harder than you think it will be.

What the Root Bridges Are

Living root bridges are unique to the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. They are built by guiding the aerial roots of rubber trees across bamboo scaffolding over a period of 10–15 years. After the roots take hold, the bamboo is removed. The bridge grows stronger every year. The Nongriat double-decker is estimated to be 500 years old.

Walking across a living root bridge is different from walking across a wooden or stone bridge. The roots flex slightly underfoot. You can feel the structure breathing, almost. Below you: a clear mountain stream running over smooth boulders. The sound is constant and clean.

“The roots were alive under my feet. I kept thinking about that on the way home — something 500 years old, still growing.”

— ClearEast traveller, October 2024

The Trek: What to Know

Start from Tyrna village, about 12 kilometres from Cherrapunji. The trail descends approximately 600 metres over 3 kilometres. The steps are well-maintained but relentless. Allow 90 minutes for the descent. The double-decker bridge is reached after crossing a suspension bridge and ascending briefly from the valley floor.

Natural pool at the bottom: yes, it's real, and yes, you can swim. The water is cold and clear. Budget 30–45 minutes at the bridge itself. The ascent back to Tyrna takes 2–2.5 hours and requires steady pacing. Do not rush the first hour — the steepest sections are near the top.

When to Go

October and November are the ideal months. The monsoon has ended, the forest is intensely green, the stream is running high but safely, and the trail is not yet crowded with dry-season visitors. Avoid June–September entirely — the trail becomes dangerously slippery and flash flooding is a real risk.