There are some places you don’t just visit…
You return to them.
For me, the Double Decker Living Root Bridge in Nongriat is one such place.
First time – Oct 2011
Second time – Oct 2019
Third time – 1 Jan 2026
Previous Blogs
2011 (Shillong + Double Decker extract):
https://meghalayaadventuretrip.blogspot.com/2012/02/meghalaya-jaana-tha-ruus-pahuch-gaye.html?m=1
2019 (Only Double Decker):
https://meghalayaadventuretrip.blogspot.com/2019/11/double-decker-zero-point-one.html?m=1
This Time It Was Different
Unlike previous trips, this was not a leisure trek.
This time… I literally rushed through the trek to reach Blue Lagoon as early as possible.
Missed my SONY HX9V — photos didn’t come that great this time.
Trek Start
Descent from Tyrna village – 12:31 PM
Enroute Landmarks
Reached Church – 12:59 PM
13:04 – Old Iron Hanging Bridge (Now Closed)
Walked on this in 2011… nostalgic moment.
Sacred Grove 13:15
First Hanging Bridge 13:18
First Living Root Bridge 13:26
Entry Point
Ticket Counter – 13:33
Double Decker Bridge
Reached Double Decker – 13:34 PM
Did not wait here…
👉 Straight decision: reach Blue Lagoon first.
Towards Blue Lagoon
Football Ground 13:44
I was amazed to see that one family in the background had brought their toddler with them. I personally feel this is a very hard trek that should be taken from late teens to 50s.
Second Hanging Bridge 13:56
Thanks to the stranger girls who clicked my pic.
Broken Bridge (Active in 2019, now closed)
Need to cross dry river.
Blue Lagoon
Reached Junction – 14:17 PM
Reality Check 😄
OMG… the crowd!
In 2019 → No one
In 2026 → Too crowded
Initially felt:
👉 Villagers have commercialized it too much
Then Everything Changed…
Took life jacket.
Swam till the big boulder near waterfall.
Went beneath the waterfall…
👉 The force was so strong, my head literally started spinning.
But…
👉 Totally worth it.
The Jump Attempt 😄
Saw people jumping from big boulder.
Tried 2–3 times…
One stranger even encouraged me…
But couldn’t do it 😄
Finally jumped from the corner.
Time Spent
- ~30 min in water
- 10–15 min getting ready
Started return – 15:01
Cost Info
(Rate list for swimming gear)
Return Journey
Makeshift trail (due to broken bridge)
Back to Football Ground – 15:30
Back to Double Decker
No long queue this time.
Old Memories
Old Fish Pond (active in 2011)
Random Moments
[IMG: IMG_20260101_160057]
Special Thanks
- Thanks to strangers who helped clicking my pics. 🙏
- Stranger in Blue Lagoon, who was encouraging to take the run and jump from the boulder, as he did the same for his friend. Though I could not.
- My sister's family, who let me do my trek to Blue Lagoon alone. They have three kids, and it was their first time. They trek till Double Decker Bridge.
- Sam Altman. From 2011 to 2026, many responsibilities and debts added up, which left very little time for hobbies. ChatGPT helped me to start with this blog, with my notes, timestamps, and pics from the trek. Also, I do not need a proofreader this time who checks my English and grammar, which was done by my girlfriend (now wife) in the 2011 blog.
Comparing 2011 vs 2019 vs 2026
2011
- Raw experience
- No crowd
- Missed swimming pool
2019
- Balanced
- Peaceful Blue Lagoon
- Best experience overall
2026
- Crowded
- Organized
- But more adventurous (thanks to life jacket)
Final Thoughts
Yes… things have changed.
More crowd.
More commercialization.
But…
👉 Experience is still magical — if you live it fully.
My Advice
- Start early
- Don’t rush (I had to 😄)
- Take life jacket
- Don’t skip Blue Lagoon
- Stay overnight if possible
Closing
2011 was bachelor trekking; 2019 came for my first kid's birth, and in 2026, my brother-in-law's marriage brought me back to the double-decker bridge. This i was more fit, since i was prepared that what I was getting into after having the bad experience of 2019 late evening, and post trekking 2-3 days leg pain.
From missing the experience in 2011…
To fully living it in 2026…
This trek came full circle.
And somewhere…
👉 I know I will go again, sasural hai afterall.