By: Sidheswar Kumar Mishra
Founder: Assam Tours & Travels
In the long 600 years of Ahom ruling, royals constructed many architectural marvels which are time tested and still making their presents felt. Some of the architectural marvels are Rang Ghar, TalatalGhar, KarengGhar, and many maidams. The ruins of these still attract visitors to witness its grandness. AhomMaidam is one of them. Maidams are the mausoleum of the royals and aristocracy of the medieval Ahom Kingdom in Assam. The royal maidams are found exclusively at Charaideo dist. of Assam whereas many others are scattered in different places of upper Assam. Earlier it was under Sibsagar dist. but now a new dist. is created by the title name. Around 40 moidam of Ahom era are preserved on this hillock. Archaeological Survey of India is working hard to conserve the historical heritage of Assam. This maidam is situated on Sibsagar-Sonari road and around 90km away from Jorhat Airport.
Amid the lush green environment, you will witness the historical maidams of Charaideo on the hillock. It is significant of all the maidams of Assam. These tombs are unique in India. The CheraideoMaidam as it is called is having the charm of its origin. Charaideo is a blend of three Tai words Che-Rai-Doi. Che means Hillock, Rai means Shinning and Doi means town. Literally means Shinning City on the Hillock. ChaoulungShukafaa established his territory here in his initial years and later moved to the other part and established his capital in present-day Sibsagar town. But Charaideo remained the sacred place for Ahoms. It was the place of Ahom worships and subsequently, it became the place of ancestral Gods. This maidam are raised in pyramidal shape over the hillock with the help of earthen mounds. With an open pavilion at the peak called chaw chali these superstructures were constructed by an earthen mound that rises high above the ground. These superstructures consist of vaults and chambers covered by hemispherical shape. The base of the entire maidam was enclosed with an octagonal dwarf wall.
Ahoms followed unique mortuary practice in which they buried Kings and noble’s dead bodies in the coffin. After prolonging royal rituals and traditional practices these coffins were laid to rest inside these moidams or tombs. At the burial site earthen mound were raised in the pyramid shape. It is scared burial ground of different Kings & queens of Ahom dynasty. On this hillock, many tombs are there. Every tomb is of different size and shape. This denoted the power and status of buried individuals of the royals.
It is also associated with Ahom ancestral god. Maidams are traditional place of offer worship to ancestors. Held annually on 31st January tradition of paying homage is practiced and this tradition is known as Me-Dam-Me-Phi.
The Maidams of Ahom kings in Cheraideo is having some similarity with the famous pyramids of Egypt. As both the structures were used for burial purpose, both the structures are made in a triangular shape, both the structures are having very high social as well as historical values. Visiting Charaideo will be a lifetime memory. Come experience awesome Assam and see incredible India.
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