Which one of the following statements with regard to the Moidams, built by the Tai-Ahom kingdom and inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is/are correct?
- They acted as army fortresses.
- They were recreation centres of the Royals and Nobles.
- They were burial grounds of the Royals and Nobles.
- They were battle drill centres of the Royals and Nobles.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Moidams are the mound-burial system of the Tai-Ahom dynasty of Assam, located at Charaideo, and were inscribed as India's 43rd UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2024 (46th session, New Delhi). They served as burial grounds (tumuli) of Ahom royalty and nobility — hollow vaults housing the body of the king along with belongings and sometimes attendants — and reflect ancestor worship and the Tai cosmology. They were never army fortresses, recreation centres, or battle drill grounds, ruling out statements 1, 2 and 4. Only statement 3 is correct, giving option (c).