What about how these bridges exist?

The Khasi people of Meghalaya build bridges from trees. Not lumber. Living trees.

What about getting there?

The trek begins at Tyrna village, about 12 km from Cherrapunji (Sohra). If you're staying in Cherrapunji, the drive is 25-30 minutes. Tell any driver "Tyrna" or "root bridge." There's a parking area, a few stalls selling water, and the stone stairway begins.

What about going down: 3,500 steps?

Roughly 3,500 hand-laid stone steps descending 730 meters. The path is maintained by local communities. Not a dirt trail. Proper stone steps, but uneven and slippery in places.

What about at the bridge?

The lower deck spans about 25 meters at water level. The upper deck sits roughly 5 meters above it. Both are entirely living roots: thick, moss-covered, with ferns growing in the crevices and new shoots sprouting from the structure. You can walk across both levels. The lower deck has root railings and holds dozens of people at once without any flex.

What about staying overnight?

Do this. Day-trippers cluster around the bridge from 10 AM to 2 PM and leave. If you sleep in Nongriat, you get the bridge at dawn. Mist on the river. Complete silence. Just you and a structure that's been alive for centuries. The difference between seeing this place with 40 people and seeing it alone is the difference between visiting and experiencing.

What about coming back up?

This is the part nobody enjoys.

What about rainbow falls?

If you stayed overnight, this is non-negotiable. Forty-five minutes beyond the Double Decker Bridge, along a forest trail following the river. The waterfall isn't the biggest in Meghalaya, but on sunny mornings (9-11 AM) the spray catches sunlight and creates a vivid, persistent rainbow in the mist. It's there every sunny morning. Not luck, just angles and water.

What about other root bridges?

Riwai (near Mawlynnong). 10-minute walk from Riwai village. Easy. A single-decker bridge in a shaded forest setting. The alternative if the 3,500-step trek is off the table. Combine with Mawlynnong and Dawki.

Can You Do This Trek?

Yes, if: you can climb 5-6 flights of stairs without stopping, you exercise at all (even walking counts), your knees and ankles work reasonably well, and you're willing to go slow and take breaks.

Bring: Trekking shoes with good grip (stone steps get slippery, flip-flops are asking for injury). 2-3 liters of water. Light rain jacket. Sunscreen. A 20-30L backpack. Snacks. Cash, INR 2,000-3,000 (no UPI, no ATMs down there). Headlamp if staying overnight. Basic first aid, especially ibuprofen for the morning after.

One of the cheapest remarkable experiences available in India.

What about things worth knowing?

Start early. The gorge loses direct sun by mid-afternoon. Morning light through the canopy is when the bridge photographs best.

What about for property owners?

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Journal/Travel Guides

11 min read · 13 March 2026

Living Root Bridges Trek. The Complete Guide

Everything you need to know about trekking to Meghalaya's living root bridges: the 3,500-step descent to Nongriat, Rainbow Falls, overnight stays, and which bridges are worth the effort.

The Double Decker Living Root Bridge at Nongriat, Meghalaya, with tangled roots forming a natural bridge over the river

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The Fursat team travels across India to find the best homestays and hidden gems. We write what we'd tell a friend.

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