Charaideo Maidam Becomes Northeast India’s First Cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The Charaideo Maidam, a 700-year-old mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty in eastern Assam, has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list under the 'cultural property' category.

An Overview of the News

• The decision was made during the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) held in New Delhi.

• Charaideo Maidam was India’s nomination for UNESCO’s World Heritage Site status in the cultural category for 2023-2024.

• Out of 52 sites, Assam’s Charaideo Maidam was selected by the Government of India.

Announcement and Celebrations

• Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announced the inclusion, sparking celebrations in various parts of Assam.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on July 21 that Charaideo Maidam would be India’s 43rd UNESCO World Heritage Site and the first in the northeast region in the cultural property category.

Significance of Charaideo Maidam

• It is the first time a site from the northeast has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage list under the cultural category.

• It is Assam’s third World Heritage Site after Kaziranga and Manas National Parks.

• The Charaideo Maidams are highly venerated, embodying the unique burial architecture and tradition of the Tai Ahoms.

Nomination Process

• On January 16, the Assam government submitted the World Heritage Nomination Dossier for the Maidams to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for UNESCO's evaluation in the 2023 cycle.

Historical Context

• Out of 386 Maidams explored, 90 royal burials at Charaideo are the best preserved, representative, and most complete examples of this tradition.

• The Maidams enshrine the mortal remains of Ahom royalty.

• Initially, deceased Ahoms were buried with their paraphernalia, but after the 18th century, the Ahom rulers adopted the Hindu method of cremation, later entombing the cremated bones and ashes in a Maidam at Charaideo.

400th Birth Anniversary of Lachit Borphukan

• During the nation’s celebration of the 400th birth anniversary of Lachit Borphukan, Prime Minister Modi viewed an exhibition showcasing a model of a Maidam, highlighting the unique burial architecture and tradition of the Tai Ahoms.

About UNESCO

• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN).

• It is also a member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UN SDG), a coalition of United Nations agencies and organisations that aims to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

  • Headquarters:- Paris, France

  • Director General: Audrey Azoulay

  • Founded: 16 November 1945in London, United Kingdom

  • The organisation has -193 members and 11 associate members.

About Assam:

• Formation (as a state) - 26 January 1950

• Language: Assamese

• Capital - Dispur

• Chief Minister - Himanta Biswa Sarma

• Governor - Gulab Chand Kataria

• Rajya Sabha - 7seats

• Lok Sabha - 14 seats

• Official Dance - Bihu Dance

• Official river - Brahmaputra