Ahom Dynasty's Moidams of Assam declared India's 43rd World Heritage Site

The Moidams of Assam were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 26, making the site the first cultural property from India's northeast to receive the coveted tag.

The Moidams are the mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty in Assam.

The decision to include the Moidams was made during the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC).

"The Moidams make it to the UNESCO World Heritage list under the category Cultural Property — a great win for Assam. It is the first time a site from the Northeast has made it to the UNESCO World Heritage List under the Cultural Category, and third of Assam after Kaziranga and Manas National Parks," Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posted on X.

"The Moidams of Charaideo embody the deep spiritual belief, rich civilizational heritage, and architectural prowess of Assam’s Tai-Ahom community. Apart from the fact this announcement has been made from the soil of Bharat, its entry also stands out for two more reasons," Sarma added.

The Moidams were submitted as India's nomination for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for the years 2023–24.

“The Tai-Ahom clan, migrating from China, established their capital in various parts of the Brahmaputra River Valley from the 12th to the 18th century CE. One of the most revered sites among them was Choraideo, where the Tai-Ahoms established their first capital under Chau-lung Siu-ka-pha at the foothills of the Patkai Hills,” read the official release by the Ministry of Culture.

“This sacred site, known as Che-rai-doi or Che-tam-doi, was consecrated with rituals that reflected the deep spiritual beliefs of the Tai-Ahoms. Over centuries, Choraideo retained its significance as a burial ground where the departed souls of the Tai-Ahom royals transcended into the afterlife,” the release added.

According to the release, the Tai-Ahom people believed their monarchs were divine, which resulted in the formation of a unique funerary tradition: the construction of Moidams, or vaulted mounds, for royal burial.

“This tradition spanned 600 years, marked by the use of various materials and architectural techniques evolving over time. Initially using wood and later stone and burnt bricks, the construction of Moidams was a meticulous process detailed in the Changrung Phukan, a canonical text of the Ahoms. Rituals accompanying royal cremations were conducted with great grandeur, reflecting the hierarchical structure of Tai-Ahom society,” the Ministry of Culture further added.