ASI move to preserve Charaideo maidams
By A Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Feb 5 The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is carrying on
conservation activities in four maidams of Charaideo areas in Sivasagar
district. It is also taking up exploration activities in some other maidams
the tombs used to bury the last remains of the members of the States Ahom
royal families, in the area during the current year.
Conservation activities are also going on in the Gargaon Palace and the
Sivasagar Talatalghar. Similar activities are also on in Suryapahar site in the
district of Goalpara.
Disclosing this to this newspaper here, sources in the ASI said that they have
plans to explore the archaeological sites of the entire Sivasagar district this
year. They also said that one of the maidams belonging to the 18 th century AD
is being kept open for the visitors with the provision of gateway, pathway,
staircase, etc. This maidam is 15 metres in height and 30 metres in dia meters
and is the biggest of the Charaideo maidams.
It needs mention here when the Ahoms entered Assam under the leadership of
Swargadeo Siu-ka-Pha in the early 13 th century AD, via the Patkai range of
hills, they first settled in the Charaideo areas.
Sources said that there have been problems in opening the underground chambers
of the Talatalghar due to the topography of the area and the structural
problems of the tunnel. These factors, along with the high ground water table,
lead to water seepage beneath the floor of the superstructure of the building.
Moreover, the siltation in the nearby tanks has also added to the problem of
water seepage inside the underground tunnel, which is around four metres
beneath the surface.
Despite such problems, the underground chambers of the structure are opened
stretch wise. However, it requires a lot of investment and engineering skill,
as, the structure is around 400 years old.
Meanwhile, Ranghar, the first amphitheatre in Asia, which is also an important
monument of Sivasagar district, has been provided with garden, toilet block,
etc. Repair of its structure is also going on, said the sources.
Conservation activities are also on at Suryapahar in Goalpara district. This is
a rare site of religious tolerance. Visitors lobby in the site museum and
other amenities at the site have also been attracting visitors in an increased
manner to the site.
But the ASI is facing problems due to frequent bandhs called by various
organisations. Sources said that the ASI has plans to install signage
indicating maps, monuments and cultural texts in local, English and Hindi
languages during the next financial year.
On the ASI survey plans, sources said that the ASI could not expect to conduct
archaeological surveys in more than one district in a year, as, village to
village survey takes a lot of time and needs sufficient man power.
Visitors: This winter, the Sivasagar archaeological monuments placed under the
ASI witnessed an increased number of visitors compared to the previous seasons.
The archaeological monuments of the district under the ASI supervision include
the Gargaon Palace, the Talatalghar, the Ranghar and the Charaideo maidams.
The rush of the visitors to the Gargaon Palace, Talatalghar, Ranghar and the
Charaideo maidams was comparatively higher because of the public amenities,
proper gardening for beautification of the monuments, etc., said the sources.
According to sources, the collection from the entry fees of the visitors of
these sites during December last was around Rs 80,000. For Indian visitors, the
rate of entry charge is Rs 5 per head, while it is Rs 100 per head in case of
the foreign tourists.
The ASI has not introduced entry fees in the other monuments placed under its
supervision in the State and other parts of the NE region. The entry fees
charged for the above Sivasagar monuments are also very nominal. But it helps
the ASI in providing better public amenities, to determine the number of
visitors and also to regulate their flow, said the sources.
(The Assam Tribune.06.02.2008)
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