The Moidams of Assam has received the prestigious 43rd UNESCO World Heritage Site tag in the cultural category. Nearly seven hundred years old, Moidams are hollow vaults of brick, and stone and contain the remains of kings and royals. The inclusion of Moidams was decided unanimously by the World Heritage Committee meeting held in New Delhi. Moidams is the 1st cultural site (from the cultural heritage category) and the 3rd overall site from the North East to be inscribed on the World Heritage list. The two others are Kajiranga and Manas which were inscribed under the Natural Heritage category. India now stands at the 6th position globally for the most number of World Heritage Properties.
Announcing its inclusion, Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that this is a great achievement for the North-East and Assam. He said, this is a testimony to New India’s relentless pursuit of highlighting Bharat’s heritage on the world forum. The Minister highlighted that this esteemed status will go a long way for conservation and tourism around the site. Mr Shekhawat also noted that India has six more proposals pending nomination at the World Heritage Committee meeting and 57 overall with UNESCO. He added that visiting and supporting these sites contributes to their preservation and the broader narrative of India’s rich and diverse history.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed happiness and pride as Assam’s Charaideo Moidam added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. In a tweet, Mr Modi said that the Moidams at Charaideo showcase the glorious Ahom culture, which places utmost reverence on ancestors. He hoped that now more people would learn about the great Ahom rule and culture.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has expressed pride that the icon of Ahom culture – the Moidams at Charaideo – has been listed as a cultural world heritage site by UNESCO today. In a social media post, Dr Jaishankar said this is the first such cultural site in the North East. He added that its selection underlines the priority that the Government has given to the development of the North East in the last decade.
