UNESCO expert team to assess Charaideo Maidam for World Heritage status 

HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Sept 10: An expert team from UNESCO is scheduled to visit the Charaideo Maidam site on October
7, with the aim of evaluating preservation efforts, management strategies, future plans, and the roles of various
stakeholders involved.
Charaideo Maidam is renowned for housing over 90 royal burial mounds and is often referred to as the ‘Pyramids of
Assam’. The Indian government has proposed this historic site for inclusion in the prestigious UNESCO World
Heritage list. If granted this status, Assam will boast three world heritage sites, alongside Kaziranga National Park
and Manas National Park.
Located approximately 30 km from Sivasagar town, Charaideo was the original capital of the Ahom dynasty, which
ruled Assam from the 13th to the 18th centuries. The site stands as a symbol of Ahom power and culture.
Prior to the UNESCO team’s visit, a group of ministers (GoM) appointed by the Assam government to oversee the
restoration efforts at Maidam site inspected the archaeological site on Saturday. The ministerial team, comprising
Keshab Mahanta, Nandita Gorlosa, Jogen Mohan, and Jayanta Mallabaruah, assessed structural conservation work,
protective measures, excavation requirements, infrastructure development, and landscaping at the site. They also
visited the museum situated within the archaeological site’s premises.
Following the site inspection, the GoM convened a meeting at Suikapha Museum to review the renovation activities.
In this meeting, chairman Barthakur instructed all relevant officials to expedite necessary preparations ahead of the
UNESCO team’s visit.
During their two-day visit, the UNESCO experts will engage with government officials, archaeologists, and local
stakeholders to discuss preservation and site management strategies. This visit holds the potential to propel
Charaideo Maidam onto the global stage as a recognised World Heritage Site.