Meghalaya: The wonders of Nongblai village- The Living Roots Heritage Village

SHILLONG: A small rustic village located in Pynursla Tehsil of East Khasi Hills district in Meghalaya, India is situated 15 km away from sub-district headquarter Pynursla and 52 km away from district headquarter Shillong.

The village boasts the highest number of bio-engineered living root bridges than anywhere else and for the need to preserve this unique socio-cultural legacy of the people, a conscious decision to protect and preserve its natural heritage and promote sustainable eco-tourism was taken by the Raid Nongblai including the kyntoit of Nongblai, Shuthim and Wahlyngkhat.

In what may be an initiative of the first of its kind, the Sordar Raid Nongblai together with the Rangbah Shnong (Headman), the village was declared as  "Nongblai Village as a Living Roots Heritage Village"

It has more to do with the village consciousness of its legacy inseparable to their identity than the tag of a heritage site alone, although the tag would provide arousal of deep concerns to promote one's native ingenuity and culture before natural calamity and human exploitation.

Nongblai Village is a rare natural and cultural phenomenon that boasts of the highest number of Living Root Bridges , 16 of them surrounding the village. This is the only place on earth where such a
high concentration of bio-engineered bridges are found.

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The bridges are woven out of the external roots of the ficus Elastica, an Indian Rubber tree species endemic in the Ri War region of Meghalaya. Dating to several hundred of years as per the accounts of the elderly 74 year old Sordar of Raid Nongblai, Mr Nokod Khyriem, these bridges were built by his ancestors and are being used daily by the villagers to this day. It may be mentioned that Nongblai village is also famous for its sweet oranges, honey, pepper
and other organic produce.

Nongblai village is also hosting the Living Roots Eco Challenge which is a 10 km mountain race dubbed "the toughest 10 K" in which participants are required to cross ten living root bridges and climb
uphill to complete the trek and race.

There is a tremendous scope for developing Eco Tourism in the village. The tangible and intangible benefits that the people of Nongblai and the surrounding villages hope to harness from their living root architecture and scenic landscape, is the driving force behind this initiative.

The living root bridges do more than reflect on the rich ecological ethos of the Khasi ancestral legacy. They are outstanding examples on the sustainable methods and practices that have stood the test of time and reaffirms human capacity to preserve in the purview of widespread destruction.

ALSO READ: 5 things you did not know about the Living root Bridges

(TNT News)