Nick White 

The hills of Meghalaya, India – in pictures

Meghalaya in north-east India is a little-visted, but fascinating corner of the country. This gallery of images by Nick White takes you from the extraordinary living tree bridges of the valleys to market day in Cherrapunjee, the wettest place in the world
  
  


Meghalaya: This is the wettest place on Earth
This is the wettest place on Earth. During the monsoon clouds build up over the plains of Bangladesh before hitting the hills of Meghalaya, and releasing their load Photograph: Nick White
Meghalaya: The villagers have built bridges from living tree roots
The villagers have built bridges from the roots of living trees to cross rivers during the monsoon Photograph: Nick White
Meghalaya: This double-decker should cope with the wettest of years.
This double-decker should cope with the wettest of years Photograph: Nick White
Meghalaya: Steel wire bridges have replaced the traditional bridges in some places.
Steel wire bridges have replaced the traditional bridges in some places Photograph: Nick White
Meghalaya: But the living root bridges are at least as sturdy.
But the living root bridges are at least as sturdy Photograph: Nick White
Meghalaya: A woman carrying a case
This is a matrilineal society, where women inherit the family's property, but they still seem to do much of the physical work Photograph: Nick White
Meghalaya: Catholic church
The work of the Christian missionaries was far-reaching. This Catholic church sits in a small village at the foot of a deep valley Photograph: Nick White
Meghalaya: The Catholic influence continues to this day.
The Catholic influence continues to this day Photograph: Nick White
Meghalaya: Friendly faces await those hiking into the valley
Friendly faces await those hiking into the valleys and between the bridges Photograph: Nick White
Meghalaya: Woman and baby
The village houses are wooden but metal roofs keep out most of the monsoon rain Photograph: Nick White
Meghalaya: Cherrapunjee market
Cherrapunjee market is as much a social gathering as a weekly shop Photograph: Nick White
Meghalaya: In Cherrapunjee, the garment of choice for women is a gingham apron.
In Cherrapunjee, the garment of choice for women is a gingham apron Photograph: Nick White
Meghalaya: Fish seller
This seller of dried fish shows the effect on the teeth of chewing betel nut, a mild stimulant eaten in leaves with spicy lime paste Photograph: Nick White
Meghalaya: Presbyterian church
The Welsh Presbyterians came to Cherrapunjee in 1841 and this is their first church. Sunday services are still well attended and Meghalayans wear European-style "Sunday best" for the occasion Photograph: Nick White
 

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