When talking about bridges spanning rivers, people often think of bridges made of sturdy iron, but in the state of Meghalya, India, there are bridges made from tree roots that can be walked on by people.

The tree root bridge spanning the river in Meghalaya state, India attracts more and more tourists with its ancient, breathtaking appearance.

According to culture minister Conrad K Sangma, these unique bridges have been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Giant tree stumps grow and spread to form walkable bridges, creating ancient, beautiful scenery on rivers and streams.

The living bridge is made from the roots of the Ficusastica tree, a variety of red banyan tree, with secondary roots growing above the ground. Tree roots grow and strengthen over time, with some trees hundreds of years old possessing long roots that form sturdy bridges. Some bridges can accommodate up to 50 people at a time and last more than 150 years.

Bridges appear a lot in the southern region of Meghalaya. The reason why Meghalaya state has so many tree root bridges is because the area has a dense subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecological zone, which is also one of the wettest areas on the planet. These ecosystems have operated under harsh climatic conditions for centuries.

One of the longest bridges is the bridge connecting the villages of Rangthylliang and Mawkyrnot, more than 50 meters long.

Impressing visitors the most are a number of double-root bridges, of which the Nongriat double-decker bridge is the most famous. Located in East Khasi, the unique bridge is formed from tree roots divided into many levels.

Local people say there is an epic story about the birth of the Nongriat double-decker bridge. Going from the highest point of the valley near Tyrna village, then climbing down about 3,000 steps, experiencing many beautiful natural scenery, tourists will reach the two-story tree root bridge.