Living root bridges
Living root bridges are a form of tree shaping common in the southern part of the Northeast Indian state of Meghalaya. They are handmade from the aerial roots of living banyan fig trees, such as Ficus elastica[1][2] by the Khasi people and War Jaintia [3] peoples of the mountainous terrain along the southern part of the Shillong Plateau.
The pliable tree roots are made to grow through betel tree trunks[4] which have been placed across rivers and streams until the figs' roots attach themselves to the other side. Sticks, stones, and other objects are used to stabilize the growing bridge[1] This process can take up to 15 years to complete.[5] The useful lifespan of any given living root bridge is variable, but it is thought that, under ideal conditions, they can in principle last for many hundreds of years. As long as the tree they are formed from remains healthy, they naturally self-renew and self-strengthen as their component roots grow thicker.[6][7]
Contents
Locations of living root bridges
Living root bridges are known to occur in the West Jaintia Hills district and East Khasi Hills district.[3][8] In the Jaintia Hills, examples of Living Root Bridges can be found in and around the villages of Shnongpdeng, Nongbareh, Khonglah, Padu, and Kudeng Rim.[3] In the East Khasi Hills, living root bridges nearby Cherrapunji are known to exist in and around the villages of Tynrong,[9] Mynteng, Nongriat, Nongthymmai, and around Laitkynsew.[10] East of Cherrapunji, examples of living root bridges are known to exist in the Khatarshnong region, in and around the villages of Nongpriang, Sohkynduh, Rymmai, Mawshuit, and Kongthong.[11] Many more can be found near Pynursla[8] and around the village of Mawlynnong.
History
The local Khasi people do not know when or how the tradition of living root bridges started. The earliest written record of Cherrapunji's living root bridges is by Lieutenant H Yule, who expressed astonishment about them in the 1844 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.[1]
Examples of living root bridges
At over 50 meters in length, the longest known example of a living root bridge[8] is near the small Khasi town of Pynursla. It can be accessed from either of the villages of Mawkyrnot or Rangthylliang.
There are several examples of double living root bridges, the most famous being the "Double Decker" root bridge of Nongriat Village, pictured above.
There are three known examples of double bridges with two parallel or nearly parallel spans. Two are in the West Jaintia Hills near the villages of Padu and Nongbareh,[3] and one is in Burma Village, in the East Khasi Hills.[3] There is also a "Double Decker" (or possibly even "Triple Decker") near the village of Rangthylliang, close to Pynursla.[8]
Other examples of living root architecture in Meghalaya
The War Khasis and War Jaintias also make several other kinds of structures out of the aerial roots of rubber trees. These include ladders and platforms.[13] For example, in the village of Kudeng Rim in the West Jaintia Hills, a rubber tree situated next to a football field has been modified so that its branches can serve as "Living Root Bleachers." Aerial roots of the tree have been interwoven in the spaces between several branches so that platforms have been created from which villages can watch football games.[13]
See also
- Topiary
- Espalier
- Pleaching
- Axel Erlandson
- Arthur Wiechula
- Christopher Cattle
- John Krubsack
- Richard Reames
- Fab Tree Hab: Living Home of Shaped Trees
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
Cite error: Invalid <references> tag; parameter "group" is allowed only.
<references />, or <references group="..." />External links
- "The Living Natural Root Bridgew in Meghalaya"
- "Nature’s Marvel: Living Root bridges of Cherrapunji" unbelievable-facts.com
- "Living Root Bridges" also living fig ladders as well as bridges
- "Living Root Bridges of Cherrapunji" at inhabitat.com
- "Living Root Bridges at Cherrapunji In Megahalya" at blotub.com
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Baker, Russ. "Our Environment," Business Insider, Oct. 6, 2011
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
.JPG){kind=link}