Shillong, Oct 2: In an effort to conserve the age old indigenous knowledge, Khasi Student Unit (KSU) Nongtyngur Unit along with the locals on Saturday rebuild the living root bridge in Nontyngur, East Khasi Hills District.
Nongtyngur village is about 70 kms from Shillong and about 30 kms the Pynursla.
Living root bridge not only help the locals in crossing a small river or stream but they are a tourist attraction.
The double decker living root bridge in Nongriat is visted by both local and international tourists.
A living root bridge is formed by guiding the pliable roots of the ‘Ficus elastica tree’ or locally known as ‘diengjri’ across a stream or river, and then allowing the roots to grow and strengthen over time until they can hold the weight of a human being.
It is said that under ideal conditions, a root bridge can last for hundreds of years.
Rostanwell Hadem the Nongtyngur headman along with the KSU Nongtynur Unit took the initiative to conserve the Living root bridge, so that it will bring benefits to the locals and help generating employment.
