New Delhi: India has formally submitted the nomination dossier of the “Jingkieng Jri / Lyu Chrai Cultural Landscape” in Meghalaya to UNESCO, marking a major step towards securing World Heritage status for an Indigenous living cultural landscape shaped by Khasi and Jaintia traditions.
The nomination was submitted by India’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Vishal V. Sharma, to the Director of UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre for consideration during the 2026–27 evaluation cycle. The proposed site spans the Khasi and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya and reflects centuries-old cultural practices rooted in harmony between people, nature, and spirituality, according to a media release.
The cultural landscape showcases traditional systems of land use, community governance, and ecological care maintained by Indigenous Khasi and Jaintia communities. Central to this heritage is the worldview of Mei Ramew or Mother Earth, which emphasises respect, reciprocity, and collective responsibility towards nature.
During the submission, Sharma acknowledged the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, and state and central institutions, including the Archaeological Survey of India and the Ministry of External Affairs. He also credited local communities for safeguarding the site and its traditions.
In a post on X, Sangma expressed delight at the development and said: “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.”
The nomination underlines India’s broader commitment to protecting cultural and natural heritage and promoting Indigenous knowledge systems through international platforms such as UNESCO.
