Double Decker Living Root Bridge, Nongriat
A two-level living root bridge at Nongriat, reached by a trek of roughly 3,000 stone steps down from Tyrna village.
Overview
The Double Decker Living Root Bridge is the best-known of the living root bridges around Sohra. This guide explains the trek from Tyrna, the season and what to carry.
The Jingkieng Nongriat, usually called the Double Decker, is a living root bridge in Nongriat village in the East Khasi Hills, formed by guiding the aerial roots of rubber fig (Ficus elastica) trees across a stream, with two bridges stacked one above the other. Wikipedia notes that Nongriat has three functioning root bridges plus a hybrid root-and-steel structure upstream.
Meghalaya Tourism describes the trek from Tyrna village as about 3,000 to 3,500 stone steps down into a forested valley; the climb back is the hard part, so allow most of a day. Nongriat is about 15 km from Cherrapunji, with a 30 to 45 minute taxi ride to Tyrna. October to March is the best trekking season, and the official page recommends a local guide. From Shillong this is a long day trip or an overnight stay.
No fees or hours were found on the official page, so none are stored; ask locally about any village charges.
Entry fees
Fee information currently needs verification.
No fees are published on the official page. Ask at Tyrna or Nongriat about any village or guide charges.
We only show an amount when a source backs it. Prices change, so confirm locally before you go.
Opening hours
Opening hours have not been confirmed by a reliable source yet.
Natural site on a village trail; no hours published.
Visitor information
- Best time to visit
- October to March (Meghalaya Tourism).
- Best time of day
- Start early in the morning to be back up the steps before dark
- How long to spend
- Full day
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Families
- Not ideal for young children
Good to know
- Do not step on or damage the roots
- Carry water and start early
Location
Nongriat village, East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya (trailhead at Tyrna village)
Nongriat, Meghalaya, India
25.25102, 91.67138
Get directionsPhotos
The double-decker root bridge. Photo: Wann Majaw / Wikimedia Commons · CC0 The root bridges in the forest. Photo: PJeganathan / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Back view of the bridges. Photo: Harsh25thakkar / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Hybrid root-and-steel bridge. Photo: Elbowmacaroni / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 A wire bridge on the trail. Photo: Harsh25thakkar / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently asked questions
How many steps to the Double Decker Root Bridge?
Meghalaya Tourism gives about 3,000 to 3,500 stone steps from Tyrna village.
Is a guide needed for Nongriat?
The official page recommends a local guide familiar with the terrain and language.
When should you trek to Nongriat?
October to March offers the best trekking conditions.
Information sources
Where the facts on this page come from, and what still needs confirming.
Information last checked 28 September 2026
Not yet confirmed
- Coordinates are a village-level OpenStreetMap point
Not available yet
- fees
- hours
Destinations near Shillong
Sikkim
Gangtok
Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, is a hill city at about 1,650 m in the eastern Himalayas, known for its Buddhist monasteries, Kangchenjunga views and the car-free MG Marg.
10 attractions
West Bengal
Darjeeling
Darjeeling is a hill town in the northern tip of West Bengal, at about 2,045 m in the Eastern Himalaya, known for tea estates, the Toy Train and views of Kanchenjunga.
10 attractions
West Bengal
Kolkata
Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal on the Hooghly River, was the capital of British India until 1911 and is regarded as the cultural capital of India.
10 attractions