Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty World Heritage Site

Official name

Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty | UNESCO

Country

India | Map

Continent

Asia

Location

26.9411° Lat, 94.8763° Lon | Map

Code

1711

Time Zone

Asia/Kolkata (IST, +0530)

Current Time

Category

Cultural

Description

Inscribed 2024. Set in the foothills of the Patkai Ranges in eastern Assam, the property contains the royal necropolis of the Tai-Ahom. For 600 years, the Tai-Ahom created moidams (burial mounds) accentuating the natural topography of hills, forests and water, thus forming a sacred geography. Banyan trees and the trees used for coffins and bark manuscripts were planted and water bodies created. Ninety moidams – hollow vaults built of brick, stone or earth – of different sizes are found within the site. They contain the remains of kings and other royals together with grave goods such as food, horses and elephants, and sometimes queens and servants. The Tai-Ahom rituals of “Me-Dam-Me-Phi” and “Tarpan” are practiced at the Charaideo necropolis. While moidams are found in other areas within the Brahmaputra Valley, those found at the property are regarded as exceptional.