Best Photo Spots in Nongriat
Nongriat sits in a deep, shaded gorge, so the light arrives late and leaves early. The best photos come from being there before the day walkers, which in practice means staying the night.
Medium crowdEntry Free
Nongriat Natural Pools
- Best timeMidday in the dry months, when sun reaches the bottom of the gorge and the water shows its colour; early morning for still, empty pools.
- ColorsTealCoralForest green
Low crowdEntry Free
Nongriat Village
- Best timeEarly morning, when mist lifts off the gorge and villagers set out; late afternoon for warm light on the betel-nut trees.
- ColorsForest greenRustCream
Low crowdEntry No separate entry fee at Rainbow Falls. The village charges a small entry fee at the double-decker bridge on the way in, and sometimes a separate camera fee — carry small notes.
Rainbow Falls
- Best timeLate morning on a clear day, when the sun reaches the spray and the rainbow appears; early morning for an empty pool in even light.
- ColorsTealForest greenCoral
Medium crowdEntry No separate entry fee for the single-decker bridges. The village charges a small entry fee at the double-decker bridge, and sometimes a separate camera fee — carry small notes.
Single Decker Root Bridges
- Best timeMid-morning, when some light filters through the trees onto the roots; overcast days for even light with no harsh patches.
- ColorsForest greenRustCream
Medium crowdEntry The village charges a small entry fee at the double-decker bridge, and sometimes a separate camera fee. Pay at the bridge — carry small notes.
Umshiang Double Decker Root Bridge
- Best timeEarly morning, before the day walkers from Tyrna arrive, for an empty bridge in soft light; early afternoon for sun on the pool below.
- ColorsForest greenRustCream
Light in a gorge
The sun clears the gorge walls well after sunrise and drops behind them in mid-afternoon. For much of the day the root bridges sit in green shade with bright patches of sky above. Expose for the leaves and the roots, not the sky, and frame the sky out where you can. A phone copes with this better than you might expect if you tap to expose on the bridge.
The double-decker bridge
The double-decker root bridge is the picture everyone walks down for. Day walkers from Tyrna reach it from about mid-morning, and by midday people stand on both spans. If you sleep in the village, walk over before 8 am and you may have it alone. The classic view is from the rocks downstream, with both tiers and the pool below.
Water that changes with the season
The natural pools near the bridge are clear blue-green in the dry months and brown and fast in the monsoon. Polarising filters help cut glare off the surface. Rocks by the water are slick even in winter, so watch your footing when you step back for a wide frame.
Rainbow Falls
Rainbow Falls is a further walk beyond the village. The rainbow that gives it its name forms in the spray when sun reaches the water, usually around late morning on a clear day. Leave early enough to be there for it and still get back before the light goes.
The way down
The single-span root bridges and the two steel-wire bridges on the descent are good frames too. Stop on the wire bridges only when no one is waiting behind you, as they sway and carry few people at a time.
People and drones
Ask before photographing villagers, children or anyone at their homes. Homestays are family houses first. Drone rules in the gorge are not posted clearly, so ask the village before you fly.
Questions
Nongriat — FAQ
What time does the double-decker root bridge get crowded?
Day walkers from Tyrna usually start arriving from mid-morning, and the bridge is busiest around midday. Early morning, before 8 am, is quiet if you stayed in the village.
Is there a camera charge at the root bridges?
Often, yes. The village has charged a small camera fee at the double-decker bridge on top of entry, with a higher rate reported for action cameras. Carry small cash.
Can I fly a drone at Nongriat?
There is no clear posted rule. Ask the village headman or your homestay first, and keep it away from people on the bridges.
Do the pools look blue in the monsoon?
Rarely. Heavy rain turns the streams brown and fast. The blue-green colour is at its clearest from about November to March.