Most visitors still don't know much about Meghalaya, which is a mysterious place. The wet highlands of northeastern India hide it away. Forget about the busy seaside resorts and glittering temples. This "abode of clouds" boasts something much more amazing: living bridges that people can walk on. Nature's own engineering marvels are the Living Root Bridges of Meghalaya. Over hundreds of years, the aerial roots of ancient rubber fig trees were woven together to make them.
The deep forests of Meghalaya seem like a fairytale to many travelers who wish to see the globe. They seem like a place that costs a lot of money and is hard to get to. You don't have to pay a lot of money to view this UNESCO World Heritage Site, however. If you're willing to be tough, prepare ahead, and have an adventurous spirit, seeing the living root bridges could be a very affordable and life-changing experience. Let's look at how.
Why Meghalaya Deserves a Spot on Your Bucket List
Most of the Living Root Bridges are in the East Khasi Hills region. The nicest aspect of this trip is the town of Nongriat. The Khasi people created these bridges. They have lived in the region for more than 500 years. They utilize bamboo scaffolding to help tree roots cross rivers until they become powerful, living roads. Of all of them, the Double Decker Root Bridge is the most well-known. It is a UNESCO-nominated wonder that draws hikers and nature lovers from all over the world.
Meghalaya is much more interesting since it is still wild. There are no cookie-cutter vacation packages or pricey resort strips here. Instead, there are lush forests, clean streams, and a civilization that gets along with nature.
Getting to Meghalaya Without Breaking the Bank
Shillong Airport (Umroi) is the closest airport, however most people fly via Guwahati's Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, which offers better connections. It takes around 2.5 to 3 hours to travel from Guwahati to Shillong, and you can easily get shared taxis.
Booking early is the best way to save money on flights. The Air India Express ticket booking process online is easy whether you're traveling from Mumbai, Delhi, or Bengaluru. Just go to the official website, input your trip dates, and use the flexible date search to get the lowest prices. Booking 4 to 6 weeks in advance may lower ticket rates by a lot, making it the best choice for those who want to save money on last-minute travel.
Where to Stay: Budget-Friendly Bases
Shillong is where you naturally start. There are a lot of guesthouses and cheap homestays in the city. The Police Bazaar neighborhood is in the center of everything and easy to get to, which makes it great for budget tourists.
Stay at Cherrapunji (Sohra), which is just 54 kilometers from Shillong, for a more immersive experience. Prices for homestays here are budget-friendly and usually include home-cooked Khasi meals including jadoh (rice and pork), dohneiiong, and fresh wild honey. Some people who go trekking even prefer to remain in the hamlet of Nongriat, where rudimentary guesthouses are very affordable. Waking up to the sound of birds in a live forest is as real as it gets.
The Trek to the Double Decker Root Bridge
This is where the fun really starts. The trip from Tyrna village (which is easy to get to from Cherrapunji) to Nongriat takes around 2-3 hours and goes down about 3,500 stairs cut into the mountainside. It's hard, but anybody who is in decent shape can do it. The walk goes through forests of rubber trees, past waterfalls that flow swiftly and bamboo bridges that swing.
Trekking tips to keep costs low:
The Double Decker Root Bridge will leave you stunned once you get to Nongriat. The top and lower bridges, which are built over a brilliant green stream, seem more like something out of a dream book than real life. The Rainbow Falls is a 30-minute excursion that is well worth the time.
You can easily conduct a 4-day vacation to Meghalaya, including the Root Bridge climb, for a very affordable price if you follow these tips. This includes lodging, local transportation, meals, and guide costs. It costs fairly low to share a taxi between Shillong and Cherrapunji. You can get meals for cheaper by eating street cuisine at local markets. Try jadoh and bamboo shoot dishes.
The cost to go into Nongriat village is quite low, and the money goes straight to fixing the bridge. It's a modest thing to pay for an experience that can't be bought.
November through February is the best time to go, when the sky is clearer and the weather is cold and crisp. Don't go trekking during the busiest monsoon months (June to August) unless you are an experienced hiker who is okay with slippery terrain and leeches.
The Living Root Bridges are noteworthy not just because they look cool, but also because of the ideas underlying them. The Khasi people don't plant these bridges for themselves; they do it for the future. It takes decades for a bridge to be completely usable, which implies that everyone who crosses one is stepping on a gift from someone else who was patient.
Meghalaya tells you to slow down, look around, and be thankful in a society that values speed and convenience. You don't have to spend a lot of money to feel that way.
