Nongriat Village

Nongriat Village is a remote settlement in the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, near Cherrapunji (Sohra), accessible only by descending around 3,500 steps from Tyrna. It is renowned for its living root bridges, including the famous Double Decker Living Root Bridge crafted from interwoven Ficus elastica roots by the Khasi people. Surrounded by dense subtropical forest, streams and waterfalls, the village offers homestays and serves as a base for treks to Rainbow Falls.

Visitors can expect a strenuous trek of about 3 km with approximately 3,500 stone steps down from Tyrna to reach the village, passing through dense subtropical forest, streams and small waterfalls. The village itself is a small Khasi settlement with traditional houses and homestays. Visitors can explore the Double Decker and Single Decker Living Root Bridges, natural swimming pools, forest trails and the onward trek to Rainbow Falls. Facilities are basic and the experience is rustic and nature-focused.

Nongriat is known for its living root bridges, a centuries-old bio-engineering tradition of the Khasi people who train the aerial roots of Ficus elastica trees across streams to form sturdy bridges. The Double Decker Living Root Bridge is estimated to be over a century old and demonstrates sustainable indigenous architecture passed down through generations.

The village reflects Khasi tribal culture and heritage, including matrilineal traditions, sustainable living practices, and the unique knowledge system of creating and maintaining living root bridges as functional community infrastructure within the forest ecosystem.