“Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty” from Assam has been officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- The announcement was made on 26th July, 2024, during the ongoing 46th session of the World Heritage Committee at New Delhi. This makes it the 43rd property from India and third from Assam to be included in the World Heritage List.
- India is now at the 6th position globally for the most number of World Heritage Properties.
- The Moidam is the first from the North East to be recognised as a World Heritage Site in cultural category.
- This is the third World Heritage Property from Assam, following Kaziranga National Park and Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, both inscribed under the Natural category in 1985.
About Charaideo Moidams
- Charaideo Moidams is a unique 700-year old mound-burial system of the Tai-Ahom dynasty from Assam.
- Similar to the pyramids of Egypt, the Moidams are earthen burial mounds of the members of the Ahom royalty whose 600-year rule was ended by the British takeover of the region.
- Moidams is situated in the foothills of the Patkai Ranges in eastern Assam. These burial mounds are considered sacred by the Tai-Ahom and reflect their unique funerary practices.
- The Tai-Ahom people arrived in Assam in the 13th century, establishing Charaideo as their first city and the site of the royal necropolis.
- For 600 years, from the 13th to the 19th century CE, the Tai-Ahom constructed moidams, or “home-for-spirit,” using natural elements like hills, forests, and water to create a sacred geography.
- They enshrine the mortal remains of Ahom rulers apart from their belongings.
- The Ahoms adopted the Hindu method of cremation after the 18th century and began entombing the cremated bones and ashes in a Moidam at Charaideo.
