In the ongoing 46th World Heritage Committee meeting in New Delhi, India may witness the inclusion of Assam’s Moidams in the World Heritage List as the Committee will review the nomination. The Moidams are the 700-year-old mound-shaped burial system of the Ahom dynasty from the state and are sometimes referred to as the “Pyramids of Assam”. At present, Moidams are on the tentative list of the World Heritage Site.
Key Highlights
- UNESCO’s advisory body, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) has recommended the inclusion of Moidams into the heritage list. It has recognised Moidams for their unique cultural significance and architectural beauty.
- If the nomination gets approved, it will be the first cultural site in the world heritage list from northeast India.
- At present, Assam has two UNESCO World Heritage sites– the Kaziranga National Park, known for one-horned rhinos, and the Manas National Park, known for biodiversity and spectacular scenery.
About Moidams
- Moidams belong to the royals of the Ahom dynasty in Assam’s Charaideo district, located at the foothills of the Patkai range. They are comparable to the royal tombs of ancient China and Egypt’s pyramids.
- The Ahom dynasty, founded by Chao Lung Siu-Ka-Pha in 1253, ruled Assam for around 600 years until the British invasion in 1826.
- Earlier, Ahoms used to bury the deceased with their belongings. Later, they adopted the Hindu practices of burial, entombing the immolated bones and ashes in a Moidam.
About World Heritage Sites
- World Heritage Sites are those which demonstrate outstanding universal value as per the definition by the World Heritage Convention 1972, which provides a solid structure for international cooperation for the conservation of cultural treasures.
- The heritage sites are divided into three groups:
- Cultural Heritage Sites: Historical buildings, monumental sculptures, paintings, and significant ancient architecture are kept in this category. India has 34 cultural World Heritage sites.
- Natural Heritage Sites: Natural areas with excellent flora and fauna are included in this category. India boasts 7 natural World Heritage Sites which astounds the world.
- Mixed Heritage Sites: These contain sites having both cultural and natural value. India has one mixed World Heritage Site.
- With 42 World Heritage Sites, India is second after China (57) in the Asia Pacific Region in terms of the number of sites on the World Heritage List. Moreover, 57 Indian sites are on the tentative list. Italy tops the list with 59 heritage sites.