Assam Tourism Minister visited Charaideo Maidam

Staff Reporter, Sibsagar, September 9: Assam Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah along with health minister Keshab Mahanta, Revenue minister Jogen Mohan and Power minister Nandita Gorlosa today visited Charaideo Maidam. The ministers took stock regarding preparedness and discussed various activities to be taken for the expected visit of the UNESCO team. During the visit, the Minister pointed out that the district administration needs to work in coordination with other authorities for the recognition of the world heritage site. Baruah also urged the local people to offer their utmost support to get the recognition. The government is closely monitoring all the necessary aspects to fulfill its goal. The decision to put forth the proposal to UNESCO for the World Heritage Site tag to Assam’s Charaideo Maidams by the Union Government was disclosed by Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma recently. There is currently not a single World Heritage Site in the category of cultural heritage not only in Assam but also in the entire North East part of India. Assam has two World Heritage Sites – the Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park – but both are listed in the natural category. It is to be mentioned that the Maidams of Charaideo known as the ‘Pyramids of Assam’ are architectural marvels with unique designs. It contains sacred burial grounds of Ahom kings and queens and is also the place of the ancestral Gods of the Ahoms. The tombs or Maidams of Ahom royalty at Charaideo hillocks resemble the shape of the pyramids and are objects of wonder, revealing the excellent architecture and skill of the sculptors and masons of Assam representing the late medieval period. The sacred place is known for its collection of Maidams, tumuli or the Ahom royalty burial mounds. On April 15, 2014, for the first time, a detailed dossier was submitted to UNESCO to recognise the Maidams – the mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty as a World Heritage Site under the cultural Heritage Site under the cultural heritage category.