Trekking to the Double-Decker Living Root Bridge

Our day began early in Cherrapunji with excitement as we set off for a trek to the Double-Decker Living Root Bridge. This unique, famous bridge was one of the highlights of our trip to Meghalaya. With backpacks ready and plenty of energy, my friends and I hit the road, looking forward to the adventure.

On our way, we took a quick break at Dainthlen Falls to enjoy the view before reaching the start of our trek. The trek usually starts from a small village, where we had planned carefully for the weather and terrain. This trek is known to be challenging, with almost 3,000 steps to descend and climb back up (for those taking the regular route). However, we were ready for it—or so we thought!

Following Google Maps instead of taking local advice turned out to be a mistake. We took a shortcut suggested by the map, and only later did we realize that it led us to a much tougher trail! We started our trek from Pyndemdkhar village (which is not ideal). We grew a little suspicious when we noticed there were no other vehicles parked in the village and assumed we’d have the route to ourselves.

Local kids greeted us and offered sticks and guides for the trek, as many visitors start their journey from this less-traveled route. Hiring a guide here was essential since it’s easy to lose the trail, and they charged Rs. 800—a fair price, we later realized, for navigating this tricky path. Two young girls from the village, who were home for school holidays, became our guides, leading us down the steep steps with confidence.

We still didn’t realize that we were on a different trail, but we were enjoying it anyway. Not even 200 steps down, it suddenly started raining heavily! We packed away our phones and cameras and continued walking, letting the rain add to the adventure.

Along the way, we passed a small house—the last one on this path—where we could buy snacks, water, and even a hot cup of tea. We took a short break there, surrounded by fog and rain, and then resumed our trek.

Eventually, the steps ended, and we started walking on wet, slippery rocks.

We finally reached the Double-Decker Root Bridge around 11:00 a.m. It was only then, seeing the large crowd, that we realized we had taken a tougher route. There was a line for tickets, which took around 15 minutes, and a queue for photos on the bridge!

Despite the crowd, we spent some time exploring, taking pictures, and enjoying some hot Maggi noodles.

Knowing the hike back would be challenging, we began our return around 1:00 p.m. Luckily, the rain had stopped, giving us clear views of the incredible scenery around us. We saw a blanket of clouds, golden sunlight at sunset, and waterfalls in the distance—moments we were grateful for as they added beauty to our journey back.

The climb back was tough, taking us nearly 4 hours. Darkness set in around 4:00 p.m., making each step harder. Finally, we completed the trek by 5:00 p.m., exhausted but proud. What we thought would be a half-day trek became a full-day adventure—challenging, surprising, and unforgettable!

Note:

* Its not good idea to start trek from Pyndemdkhar village

* The Double-Decker Root Bridge is closed to visitors on Sundays. We didn’t know this and only found out after arriving there.