UPSC Prelims 2026 Question:

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?

1. They acted as army fortresses. 
2. They were recreation centres of the Royals and Nobles. 
3. They were burial grounds of the Royals and Nobles. 
4. They were battle drill centres of the Royals and Nobles.
   
   

Select the answer using the code given below:

Explanation: 

Moidams are the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty are the royal mound-burial structures of the  Tai-Ahom kingdom located mainly at Charaideo in Assam. Built between the 13th and 19th centuries CE,  they formed a sacred necropolis where Ahom kings, royals and nobles were buried along with grave goods such  as food, horses and elephants. UNESCO recognised them as an outstanding example of Tai-Ahom funerary  traditions and cosmological beliefs.  

• The Moidams were not constructed as army fortresses. They had a funerary and sacred purpose rather than a military function. So, statement 1 is not correct  
• There is no evidence that the Moidams served as recreation centres for the royals and nobles. They  were sacred burial sites associated with ancestor worship and rituals like Me-Dam-Me-Phi and Tarpan. So, statement 2 is not correct. servants, horses, elephants, and grave goods. The word “Moidam” itself means “home-for-spirit.” So,  statement 3 is correct.  
• The Moidams were not battle drill or military training centres. Their purpose was religious and funerary  in nature. So, statement 4 is not correct.|
  
  

Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.