Maidam is a special ritual by which Ahom's were buried after death. Mainly Ahom kings and their family members were buried in this place after death. Maidam has similarity with Pyramid of Misor. After conversion of Ahom's to Hinduism the Maidam system was lost. There are 150 above "Maidam" in Charaideo 30 Maidams are conserved by Indian Archeological Survey of Assam. The structural constitution and the process of royal burials are explained in historical documents called " Chang - Rung Rhukanor Buranji", excavation shows that is vaulted chamber has centrally raised plateform where the body was lied.
Here lies the mausoleum or the burial mounds of the Ahom royals, called Charaideo Maidam. It is home to over 90 royal burial mounds, also referred to as the Pyramids of Assam. The Centre has decided to nominate this historic site for the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site. Central Government has decided to send a proposal to UNESCO nominating Charaideo Maidam of Ahom Kingdom as a World Heritage Site.
Maidams commonly known as ‘Pyramids of Assam’ was the original capital of the Ahom Kings. Charaideo remained the symbolic center of Ahom Kingdom even though the capital of the kingdom moved many times. It was built by Chaolung Sukhapa the founder of the dynasty in about 1229 CE. It contains sacred burial grounds of Ahom kings and queens and is also the place of the ancestral Gods of the Ahoms. Before the arrival of Sukaphaa the place was a place of worship for local tribes like Moran, Borahi. Though the capital of the Ahom kingdom moved many times, Charaideo remained the symbolic center. It contains sacred burial grounds of Ahom kings and queens and is also the place of ancestral Gods of the Ahoms. The Ahom kings and Queens were buried after extensive and long royal burial rituals. The tombs (Maidam) of Ahom kings and queens at Charaideo hillocks resemble the shape of the pyramids and are objects of wonder revealing the excellent architecture and skill of the sculptors and masons of Assam of the medieval days. The actual number of Maidam were more than 150 but only 30 Maidams are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India and Assam State Archaeology Department, and the remaining Maidams are unprotected. Most of these unprotected Maidams are encroached by people and getting damaged. The biggest unprotected Maidam is the Bali Maidam near Nimonagarh. This Maidam is called Bali Maidam, because while British plundered it, they got obstruction from excess sand (bali) in the surrounding of the Maidam.
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