Another heritage jewel from India has now been added to the World Heritage List of UNESCO. Assam's 700-year-old Moidams, which are the mound-burial system belonging to the Ahom dynasty and is located in the eastern part of the Indian state, was added to the prestigious list on Friday (July 26).

This is also the first heritage site from India's northeast province which has made it to the list. The officials had sent the Moidams' nomination dossier more than a decade ago.&nbsp;

India's Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, reacting to the announcement, said that the “day would be etched in golden letters”.&nbsp;

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🔴 BREAKING! 
 
New inscription on the <a href="https://twitter.com/UNESCO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNESCO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldHeritage?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldHeritage</a> List: Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a> 🇮🇳. 
 
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“This was made possible through the efforts of the Assam government and the leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are proud and grateful for the 43rd Indian addition to the World Heritage List. We thank UNESCO, World Heritage Committee for understanding the outstanding universal value of ‘Moidams’," said the minister.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/assams-maidams-as-indias-entry-for-unesco-tag-a-look-into-ahom-kingdom-its-history-and-significance-555197">Assam's 'Moidams' as India's entry for UNESCO tag: A look into Ahom kingdom, its history and significance</a>

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma said: “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 North East has made it to the UNESCO World Heritage List under the Cultural Category and after Kaziranga and Manas National Parks, it is Assam’s third World Heritage Site.”

<h2>What are the Ahom dynasty's Moidams?</h2>

The Moidams is the burial site of Assam's Ahom dynasty and is set in the foothills of the state's Patkai Ranges in Assam.

The heritage site houses the royal necropolis of the Tai-Ahom. There are 90 moidams, which are hollow vaults made using stone, earth or brick, and each of these has&nbsp;a different size.&nbsp;

According to the UNESCO's statement, these moidams were created by the Tai-Ahom over a span of 600 years to accentuate the area's natural topography and form a sacred geography.

Every moidam is a mound of earth created above the grave of Ahom royalty and aristocracy.&nbsp;

In Assam, although Charaideo is filled with ones of Ahom royals, other moidams of aristocrats and chiefs are present in the state's eastern part, between&nbsp;Jorhat&nbsp;and&nbsp;Dibrugarh.

Watch:&nbsp;Climate related displacement causes education loss, drop-outs latest UNESCO report reveals

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The funerary method of the Ahom dynasty came from the Tai people which was burial and not cremation, unlike Hindu people.

Every moidam's height indicates the stature and power of the dead who were buried inside. However, all the moidams remained unidentified except those of Gadhadhar Singha and Rudra Singha.

In the chambers beneath the moidam, the dead king was buried with the items which were believed he would need in the “afterlife”, which included livestock, horses, servants and wives.&nbsp;

The World Heritage Committee has till now added 1,199 sites from 168 countries to the list, among which 43 are in&nbsp;India.

(With inputs from agencies)

Another heritage jewel from India has now been added to the World Heritage List of UNESCO. Assam's 700-year-old Moidams, which are the mound-burial system belonging to the Ahom dynasty and is located in the eastern part of the Indian state, was added to the prestigious list on Friday (July 26).

Another heritage jewel from India has now been added to the World Heritage List of UNESCO. Assam's 700-year-old Moidams, which are the mound-burial system belonging to the Ahom dynasty and is located in the eastern part of the Indian state, was added to the prestigious list on Friday (July 26). This is also the first heritage site from India's northeast province which has made it to the list. The officials had sent the Moidams' nomination dossier more than a decade ago. India's Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, reacting to the announcement, said that the “day would be etched in golden letters”. 🔴 BREAKING! New inscription on the @UNESCO #WorldHeritage List: Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty, #India 🇮🇳. ➡️https://t.co/FfOspAHOlX #46WHC pic.twitter.com/H3NU2AdtIq — UNESCO 🏛️ #Education #Sciences #Culture 🇺🇳 (@UNESCO) July 26, 2024 × “This was made possible through the efforts of the Assam government and the leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are proud and grateful for the 43rd Indian addition to the World Heritage List. We thank UNESCO, World Heritage Committee for understanding the outstanding universal value of ‘Moidams’," said the minister. Also Read: Assam's 'Moidams' as India's entry for UNESCO tag: A look into Ahom kingdom, its history and significance Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma said: “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 North East has made it to the UNESCO World Heritage List under the Cultural Category and after Kaziranga and Manas National Parks, it is Assam’s third World Heritage Site.” What are the Ahom dynasty's Moidams? The Moidams is the burial site of Assam's Ahom dynasty and is set in the foothills of the state's Patkai Ranges in Assam. The heritage site houses the royal necropolis of the Tai-Ahom. There are 90 moidams, which are hollow vaults made using stone, earth or brick, and each of these has a different size. According to the UNESCO's statement, these moidams were created by the Tai-Ahom over a span of 600 years to accentuate the area's natural topography and form a sacred geography. Every moidam is a mound of earth created above the grave of Ahom royalty and aristocracy. In Assam, although Charaideo is filled with ones of Ahom royals, other moidams of aristocrats and chiefs are present in the state's eastern part, between Jorhat and Dibrugarh. Watch: Climate related displacement causes education loss, drop-outs latest UNESCO report reveals The funerary method of the Ahom dynasty came from the Tai people which was burial and not cremation, unlike Hindu people. Every moidam's height indicates the stature and power of the dead who were buried inside. However, all the moidams remained unidentified except those of Gadhadhar Singha and Rudra Singha. In the chambers beneath the moidam, the dead king was buried with the items which were believed he would need in the “afterlife”, which included livestock, horses, servants and wives. The World Heritage Committee has till now added 1,199 sites from 168 countries to the list, among which 43 are in India. (With inputs from agencies)

This 700-year-old burial of Ahom dynasty in Assam is now UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here's all about Moidams

Indian state Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that the resting place of Ahom kingdom's royal families, 'Maidams', located in the Charaideo district of the state will be the sole nomination of India for UNESCO World Heritage Site's tag this year.&nbsp;

The dossier prepared on the ‘maidams’, also called “Assam’s Pyramids”, was selected by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi amongst the 52 heritage sites spread across the nation that are aiming at the coveted tag, said CM Sarma, while addressing the press conference.

The Union Ministry of Cultural Affairs “informed me of this momentous news and the nomination will be submitted to the UNESCO office in Paris tonight”, the chief minister said.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/all-eyes-on-ganga-vilas-worlds-longest-river-cruise-to-boost-tourism-in-india-550542">All eyes on Ganga Vilas! World's longest river cruise to boost tourism in India</a>

He added that the Ahom dynasty's mound burial system or ‘Maidams’ in Charaideo was listed for the first time in UNESCO’s World Heritage site's tentative list in April 2014, he said.&nbsp;

“It took nine years for the dossier to reach the nomination status from the tentative list and this was possible only due to the initiative of the prime minister,” Sarma stated.&nbsp;

He added that an exhibition was organised at New Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan during Ahom General Lachit Borphukan's 400th birth anniversary celebrations during which a model of ‘Maidam’ was put on display which showcased the marvellous architecture and Tai Ahoms' tradition.

WATCH | India@75 - Unity, culture and heritage: National symbols and how they represent incredible India

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“The prime minister had viewed the exhibition and this nomination has been possible due to his interest in this heritage of ours. It is a matter of great honour for Assam that the country has decided to forward the World Heritage Site nomination dossier to UNESCO for evaluation,” stated the chief minister said.&nbsp;

He added that Charaideo will be visited by the UNESCO team in September and the place should be declared a World Heritage site by March 2024.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Indian state Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that the resting place of Ahom kingdom's royal families, 'Maidams', located in the Charaideo district of the state will be the sole nomination of India for UNESCO World Heritage Site's tag this year.

Indian state Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that the resting place of Ahom kingdom's royal families, 'Maidams', located in the Charaideo district of the state will be the sole nomination of India for UNESCO World Heritage Site's tag this year. The dossier prepared on the ‘maidams’, also called “Assam’s Pyramids”, was selected by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi amongst the 52 heritage sites spread across the nation that are aiming at the coveted tag, said CM Sarma, while addressing the press conference. The Union Ministry of Cultural Affairs “informed me of this momentous news and the nomination will be submitted to the UNESCO office in Paris tonight”, the chief minister said. ALSO READ | All eyes on Ganga Vilas! World's longest river cruise to boost tourism in India He added that the Ahom dynasty's mound burial system or ‘Maidams’ in Charaideo was listed for the first time in UNESCO’s World Heritage site's tentative list in April 2014, he said. “It took nine years for the dossier to reach the nomination status from the tentative list and this was possible only due to the initiative of the prime minister,” Sarma stated. He added that an exhibition was organised at New Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan during Ahom General Lachit Borphukan's 400th birth anniversary celebrations during which a model of ‘Maidam’ was put on display which showcased the marvellous architecture and Tai Ahoms' tradition. WATCH | India@75 - Unity, culture and heritage: National symbols and how they represent incredible India “The prime minister had viewed the exhibition and this nomination has been possible due to his interest in this heritage of ours. It is a matter of great honour for Assam that the country has decided to forward the World Heritage Site nomination dossier to UNESCO for evaluation,” stated the chief minister said. He added that Charaideo will be visited by the UNESCO team in September and the place should be declared a World Heritage site by March 2024. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India to solely nominate Ahom ‘Maidams’ for UNESCO World Heritage Site tag

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This 700-year-old burial of Ahom dynasty in Assam is now UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here's all about Moidams

India to solely nominate Ahom ‘Maidams’ for UNESCO World Heritage Site tag