Suspension bridges in Nepal

Most of the trekking routes in Nepal are equipped with excellent suspension bridges. A significant part of them were built with funds from local residents. Thick steel ropes, gratings, materials for concrete supports - all this is delivered to the construction site by ordinary porters. After all, it’s cheaper than ordering a cargo helicopter. But do not think that Nepalese suspension bridges are amateurish “homemade”.

The Swiss construction agency Helvetas has been designing them for many years. And no matter how poor Nepal may look to us, the construction of bridges here is proceeding at an enviable pace. Soon, in order to find such exotic things as in the picture below, you will need to go to the most remote and sparsely populated areas of Nepal.

If you have ever seen the Nepalese rivers (seething and unpredictable), then you understand why the construction of bridges in Nepal is given such great importance. It’s simply impossible to move around here without them. And we are talking not only about the convenience of tourists, but also about the safety of ordinary peasants and shepherds, so that Nepalese children can get to school. Therefore, it is considered very prestigious to donate money for bridge construction, and many Nepalese who have earned hard work in a foreign land (Gurkhas, builders and other guest workers) invest their hard-earned money in the development of the country in this way.

When you are in Nepal, take a closer look - next to the bridges there are often memorial plaques listing the names of donors. For Nepalis, a pedestrian bridge is as important a transport hub as a metro station is for us. Therefore, a village bearing its name could easily grow up around the new bridge - some Naya Pool or New Bridge.

How to use suspension bridges

First of all, don't be afraid. A steel rope suspension bridge is a very reliable structure. It is capable of withstanding enormous loads, and a bunch of tourists with backpacks or even a dozen loaded yaks are mere trifles for such a bridge.

When going out onto the bridge, you need to remove the lanyards of your trekking poles and take both poles in one hand. You cannot lean on them, as the tips may get stuck in the bridge grating. It makes sense to lightly hold onto the ropes with your other hand. The ends of the bridge are quite stable, but the middle can sway noticeably. There's nothing dangerous here, but caution still wouldn't hurt.

When using suspension bridges, do not forget about the rules of good manners. Before you step onto the bridge, look to see if there is a group of heavily laden porters or a caravan of yaks coming towards you. Both should give way. Do not arrange long photo sessions in the middle of the bridge, agree in advance who will photograph whom, and exchange cameras.

Bridges in Nepal are traditionally decorated with prayer flags. Local water pipelines are also often suspended from bridges - flexible rubber hoses running from a neighboring stream to the village. So if in the middle of the bridge 20 meters above the river you are suddenly splashed with splashes, do not rush to panic - most likely it is just a hole in the water supply.

Video about the suspension bridge

A short video about the suspension bridges we encountered on the trekking to Everest Base Camp. Or rather, about the bridges we encountered in just one day of trekking - on the way from Lkula to Namche Bazar.