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Living root bridges are natural bioengineering marvels grown by the indigenous Khasi and Jaintia tribes of Meghalaya. Created by training the aerial roots of the Indian rubber fig tree over 15 to 30 years, these sustainable, centuries-old bridges connect remote villages across steep gorges and swell over time to hold dozens of people.Locally known as Jingkieng Jri, these bridges are not constructed—they are grown. Members of the Khasi and Jaintia communities intertwine the pliable aerial roots of the Ficus elastica and guide them through hollowed-out areca palm trunks across rivers. Over multiple generations, the roots graft together, creating robust structures that can last for centuries.