Guwahati, Jan 14: Assam’s Charaideo Maidams have officially been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The World Heritage Certificate of Inscription was presented to Assam’s Culture Minister Bimal Bora in Paris on Monday.
The certificate was handed over by UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture, Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, in the presence of India’s Ambassador to France, Vishal B Sharma.
Bimal Bora expressed his pride over the recognition, calling it a “Grand Magh Bihu Gift” for Assam and congratulating the people of the state on this historic achievement.
He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for their unwavering support. CM Sarma, celebrating the milestone, described it as a sweet “Bhogali Bihu” gift and highlighted that 2024 had been a significant year for Assam.
The Charaideo Maidams are the first cultural site from Northeast India to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Assam’s Kaziranga and Manas national parks had previously received recognition under the natural heritage category.
The Maidams are renowned for their unique mound burial tradition of the Tai Ahoms, who ruled Assam for over 600 years.
The site includes 90 well-preserved royal burials dating from the 13th to 19th centuries, which enshrine the remains of Ahom kings and other royals. Initially, the deceased were buried with personal belongings, but from the 18th century onwards, the Ahom rulers adopted cremation, entombing the bones and ashes in the Maidams.
The site holds great cultural significance for the Tai Ahom community as the final resting place of their kings, or “Swargadeos,” and other royals.
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