Assam's Moidams Fit UNESCO Requirement For Heritage Site

In the process of getting the World Heritage Site status, Assam’s Moidams met UNESCO technical requirements for a heritage center. This is an important topic for the IAS exam. 

News in details:

• Assam’s Moidams met all the technical requirements of UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre.
• But it needs to be noted that meeting all the technical requirements does not imply that the site has outstanding universal value and will definitely be inscribed in the World Heritage List.

Image: Assam’s Charaideo “Maidams”, the Ahom equivalent of the ancient Egyptian pyramids

Source: The Hindu

About Moidams:

• Moidams are the pyramid-like structure, mound burial tradition of the Tai Ahoms, who mainly ruled in Assam for almost 600 years, until the advent of the British in the 1820s.
• After the 18th century, the Shom rulers adopted Hindu method of cremation, later entombing the cremated bones and ashes in a Moidam.
• These remains are mainly seen in Charaideo in eastern Assam.
• Nomination of the Charaideo Moidams coincides with the 400th birth anniversary of the most celebrated Ahom general, Lachit Borphukan.

Additional Information:

      A. UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

• UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as of distinctive cultural or physical importance which is considered of outstanding value to humanity.
• UNESCO strives to encourage the conservation, identification, and maintenance of natural and cultural heritage around the world. This is exemplified by the Convention regarding the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, accepted by UNESCO in 1972.
• 50 years of UNESCO World Heritage Sites was being celebrated in 2022

      B. UNESCO World Heritage sites from India:

1. Agra Fort
2. Ajanta Caves
3. Ellora Caves
4. Taj Mahal
5. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
6. Sun Temple, Konârak
7. Kaziranga National Park
8. Keoladeo National Park
9. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
10. Churches and Convents of Goa
11. Fatehpur Sikri
12. Group of Monuments at Hampi
13. Khajuraho Group of Monuments
14. Elephanta Caves
15. Great Living Chola Temples 13
16. Group of Monuments at Pattadakal
17. Sundarbans National Park
18. Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks
19. Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi
20. Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi
21. Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi
22. Mountain Railways of India
23. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya
24. Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
25. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park
26. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus)
27. Red Fort Complex
28. The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
29. Western Ghats
30. Hill Forts of Rajasthan
31. Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area
32. Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat
33. Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar
34. Khangchendzonga National Park
35. The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement *
36. Historic City of Ahmedabad
37. Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai
38. Jaipur City, Rajasthan
39. Dholavira: a Harappan City
40. Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana

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