India Nominates Rangpur-Sivasagar Ensemble for UNESCO World Heritage Status
Rangpur-Sivasagar Ensemble's UNESCO Nomination
A file image of Rang Ghar in Sivasagar. (Photo:@himantabiswa/X)
Guwahati, Sep 5: India has put forward the Rangpur-Sivasagar Ensemble, the historical capital of the Ahom dynasty, for consideration to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
In a recent social media update, Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the country has officially nominated the Rangpur-Sivasagar Ensemble, which served as the capital for the Ahom dynasty that governed the Brahmaputra Valley for six centuries, for UNESCO World Heritage status under criteria (iii) and (iv).
Criterion (iii) requires that the site provides exceptional evidence of a cultural tradition or civilization, whether living or extinct, while criterion (iv) indicates that it must exemplify a significant architectural or technological ensemble that marks an important phase in human history.
Sarma highlighted that the nominated complex features Assam's most remarkable Ahom temples, palaces, water tanks, and engineering feats, including Rang Ghar, recognized as Asia's oldest surviving amphitheater.
He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts in promoting Assam's heritage on a global scale, noting that this nomination complements the UNESCO recognition of the Charaideo Moidams in 2024, which together narrate the complete story of the Ahom dynasty.
This nomination follows the recent UNESCO acknowledgment of the Charaideo Moidams, another significant site from the Ahom period. The Ahom dynasty was established by Swargadeo Chaolung Sukapha in 1228 and lasted until 1826.
In addition to its historical importance, this nomination comes amid rising concerns regarding the preservation of Assam's heritage, particularly in light of severe weather events like the catastrophic floods that impacted Upper Assam in July.
The floods on July 19 affected numerous archaeological sites in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts, leading to reports of damage from silt accumulation, algae growth, and the deterioration of lime plaster on various historic structures.