Root Bridges and River Crossings: Meghalaya on Foot
Adventure · 8 April 2026 · 8 min read
3,500 steps down to Nongriat and worth every one. What the double-decker root bridge trek actually feels like and how to prepare.
The double-decker root bridge at Nongriat is 3,500 steps down from the road, and worth every single one of them. Meghalaya is one of the wettest places on earth, and that rain has shaped a landscape unlike anything else in India: living bridges made from tree roots, rivers the colour of jade, cave networks that go on for kilometres and villages that exist above clouds.
The double-decker root bridge at Nongriat village near Cherrapunji takes roughly 90 minutes to walk down (3,500 steps, steep and uneven) and the same time back up. Start early: by 10am the path gets crowded and the humidity builds. The bridge itself is extraordinary: two living bridges of intertwined Ficus elastica roots, one above the other, over a clear mountain stream. The roots take decades to train into these forms.
Nearby is the Rainbow Falls, a 20-minute walk from Nongriat through rubber tree plantations. Come between 11am and 1pm for the best light, when the spray creates a visible rainbow.
Mawlynnong near the Bangladesh border has been called the cleanest village in Asia. Walking through it, you understand why: there is not a scrap of litter anywhere. The village has a sky walk (a bamboo platform with views across to Bangladesh), a living single-decker root bridge and a community pride in cleanliness that is genuinely striking. Combine it with a trip to Dawki, where the Umngot River is so clear that boats appear to float in mid-air.
Meghalaya has the longest cave systems in the Indian subcontinent. The most accessible is Mawsmai Cave near Cherrapunji, a short lit walkthrough open to casual visitors. For serious caving, the Krem Um-Ladaw cave and Siju Cave in Garo Hills require guides and equipment. The Meghalaya Adventure Association in Shillong organises proper expeditions.
Meghalaya receives among the highest rainfall in the world between June and September. During this time the waterfalls are at their most powerful but the trails are slippery and occasionally inaccessible. October to May offers clearer weather and safer trekking. February and March bring pleasant temperatures with fewer tourists.
Plan this trip on WhatsApp