The Moidams in eastern Assam, a burial system from the Ahom dynasty that is about 700 years old, have been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List. This is a significant milestone, as it marks the first cultural site from Northeast India to be included on this prestigious list.
The nomination for the Moidams was submitted over ten years ago. Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat praised the decision, calling it a historic moment. He expressed gratitude to UNESCO for recognizing the Moidams universal value. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma also celebrated the inclusion, noting that the Moidams are listed as cultural property. He highlighted that this is Assam’s third World Heritage Site, along with Kaziranga and Manas National Parks.
The Moidams are located at the base of the Patkai Ranges in Assam and serve as the royal burial sites of the Tai-Ahom rulers. There are 90 of these tombs made from brick; stone is spread across the area. For 600 years, the Tai-Ahom people constructed these burial mounds, integrating them with the natural landscape of hills, forests, and water, creating a sacred environment.
India now has 43 sites on the World Heritage List. Out of a total of 1,199 sites in 168 countries, The Moidams are mounds built over the graves of Ahom royalty and aristocracy. While the Charaideo site is known for its royal Moidams, Other similar structures can be found throughout eastern Assam, between Jorhat and Dibrugarh. The Ahoms, who were originally from the Tai ethnic group, practiced burial instead of cremation, which was common among Hindus.
The size of a Moidam often reflects the status of the person buried inside. Inside these burial mounds, along with the deceased, were placed items for the afterlife, as well as servants, horses, livestock, and sometimes wives. This practice bears resemblance to the ancient Egyptian burial customs, earning the Charaideo Moidams the nickname “Pyramids of Assam.”.
