Today (July 26) is a good day for India. Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announced that the 700-year-old Charaideo Moidams in Assam have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
“This is a day of great pride for us. We expect tourism and sites around the moidams to be given a great boost,” he said. “Our multi-diverse culture will be exhibited once again.”
The unique burial mounds, represented by pyramid-like structures known as ‘Moidams’, were used by the Tai-Ahom dynasty that ruled Assam for around 600 years.
‘Moidams’ are vaulted chambers (chow-chali), often double-storied, that has an arched passage for entry. Atop the hemispherical mud mounds, layers of bricks and earth are laid. The base of the mound is reinforced by a polygonal toe-wall and an arched gateway on the west, according to the UNESCO website.
“Eventually, the mound would be covered by a layer of vegetation, reminiscent of a group of hillocks, transforming the area into an undulating landscape,” the description of ‘Moidams’ said.
With this, India has a total of 43 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
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In Graphics | A look at all of India’s 43 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list
