The hills of Meghalaya, India – in pictures

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

The villagers have built bridges from the roots of living trees to cross rivers during the monsoon Photograph: Nick White

This double-decker should cope with the wettest of years Photograph: Nick White

Steel wire bridges have replaced the traditional bridges in some places Photograph: Nick White

But the living root bridges are at least as sturdy Photograph: Nick White

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

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

The Catholic influence continues to this day Photograph: Nick White

Friendly faces await those hiking into the valleys and between the bridges Photograph: Nick White

The village houses are wooden but metal roofs keep out most of the monsoon rain Photograph: Nick White

Cherrapunjee market is as much a social gathering as a weekly shop Photograph: Nick White

In Cherrapunjee, the garment of choice for women is a gingham apron Photograph: Nick White

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

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