Meghalaya's living root bridge inches closer to UNESCO World Heritage Site tag, dossier submitted

GUWAHATI: The Jingkieng Jri or the living root bridges of Meghalaya, an attraction for both tourists and ecologists alike, is India's official nominee for the UNESCO Heritage Site status for 2026-27. 

A dossier with the proposal for the coveted tag was submitted to Lazare Assomo Elounfor, the director of UNESCO's World Heritage Centre on Wednesday (January 28) by Vishal V. Sharma, the ambassador/permanent representative of India to UNESCO. 

A dossier with the proposal for the coveted tag was submitted to Lazare Assomo Elounfor, the director of UNESCO's World Heritage Centre on Wednesday (January 28) by Vishal V. Sharma, the ambassador/permanent representative of India to UNESCO. 

Spanning over small rivers across Khasi and Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya, the living root bridges or the Jingkieng Jri, as locally called, represents an exceptional cultural landscape shaped over centuries by the indigenous Khasi and Jaintia communities. "The landscape represents a deep rooted harmonious relationship between people, nature and spirituality, embodied in traditional system of land use and ecological stewardship. Central to this cultural landscape is the indigenous World view anchored in principles of respect, reciprocity and responsibility towards mei ramew (Mother Earth)," said a note issued by Meghalaya government. 

The local communities share a spiritual relationship with the living root bridges and this helps in their protection and the ecological wellbeing. The Jingkieng Jris are one of the major attractions for tourists, environmentalists and researchers to Meghalaya, a state where tourism is one of the major job providers. 

The submission of the dossier came following conferment of the Padma Award on Halley War, in recognition of his lifelong efforts to practice, promote, and conserve the tradition of sustainable natural heritage."We are hopeful that the Living Root Bridges will be inscribed this year, ensuring that the indigenous communities, the true guardians of this living heritage, receive the global recognition they so richly deserve," CM Contad K. Sangma said while thanking the Centre for submission of the dossier. 

Fredrick Roy Kharkongor, principal secretary of Meghalaya art and culture department, said the Living Root Bridges are the product of "very unique age old Khasi indigenous traditional knowledge systems that have perfected bio- engineering skills, which bear potent testament to man’s co- existence with nature."

"The living root bridges also fulfill UNESCO’s OUV (Outstanding Universal Value) criteria of a cultural and natural property which requires protection for the benefit of all humanity. They also represent community endeavour at bio-stewardship," he told DH.