Ahom Moidams recommended for inclusion in UNESCO World Heritage List
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) has recommended inclusion of Assam’s Ahom Moidams in UNESCO World Heritage List.
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) has recommended inclusion of Assam’s Ahom Era Moidams in UNESCO World Heritage List.
- ICOMOS is an advisory body of UNESCO World Heritage Committee for implementation of World Heritage Convention of UNESCO.
About Ahom Moidam
- Situated in Assam’s Charaideo district, they are the burial grounds of rulers of Ahom kingdom, and are often compared to pyramids of Egypt.
- In 13th century, Chau-lung Siu-ka-pha, the founder of Ahom kingdom, established his first capital at Che-rai-doi or Charaideo (at the foothill of Patkai hills).
Also Read: Who was General Zorawar Singh: Zorawar tank
Architectural features of Ahom Moidam:
- Exterior of Moidams is hemispherical and their sizes vary depending upon the power and status of the person buried.
- Moidam consists of three major features:
- A Vaulted Chamber with a centrally raised platform where the body was laid,
- A hemispherical earthen mound covering the chamber with a brick structure (Chaw-chali), and
- Octagonal boundary wall around mound’s base having an arched gateway on its west.
- Several objects used by deceased during his life, like royal insignia, objects made in wood or ivory or iron, gold pendants etc. were buried with them.
- The Changrung Phukan (canonical text developed by the Ahoms) record the materials used to construct Moidams which include wood, stone and burnt bricks.
