Bridges made of stone and wood are scattered over the landscape of Karnali region. Especially found in the Jumla District of West Nepal, these monuments are locally known as sā̃ghu.

They are built on the cantilever principle that is also seen in other Himalayan regions. The Jumla bridges stand out for the unique sculptural decorations found on vertical posts, with iconographies ranging from images of soldiers with rifles, planes, protectors or geometric shapes. Usually not older than fifty years, their cyclical construction requires large trees (a material more and more rare to procure) and a special knowledge of the technology. Although recently built suspension bridges are sometimes built next to them, traditional bridges often remain the preferred mode of crossing. One of the aims of NHDP is to document these bridges and the knowledge of their builders, in order to safeguard them for future generations.

For more information about such bridges, please visit DANAM.