A file image of the Kamakhya Temple. (Photo: @IndiaAesthetica/X)

GUWAHATI, May 25: The North East Zone of International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) India has launched an initiative to document seven historic places and their heritage sites across Northeast under the "Historic City Series (2026-2028)" project.

The initiative aims to preserve and promote the region's history, archaeology, religious heritage and cultural traditions for future generations. The project is being jointly carried out by the Drone Foundation, National Institute of Urban Affairs and ICOMOS India.

The seven cities and towns selected for the project are Agartala, Guwahati, Hajo, Imphal, Jowai, Shillong and Tezpur.

The documentation will cover temples, mosques, churches, ancient monuments, satras, caves, forests, old houses and cultural traditions. Key heritage sites include Agaratala's Ujjayanta Palace, Kamakhya Temple and the Ambari archaeological site in Guwahati, Hayagriva Madhab Temple and Poa Macca in Hajo, Kangla Fort in Imphal, the Nartiang monoliths in Jowai, forests and caves in Shillong, and Duar and Bamuni Hills in Tezpur.

The project will also focus on Hajo's traditional brass industry and the living cultural heritage of Barjuli near Tezpur. Organizers said the initiative is expected to strengthen heritage conservation, tourism, academic research and community participation in heritage protection.

The documentation work will be supervised by MK Pragya Deb Burman (Agartala), Jayanta Sarma (Guwahati), Dr Hari Prasad Agarwal (Hajo), Dr Homen Thangjam (Imphal), Ibynta B Tiewsoh (Jowai), Dr K Bala (Shillong) and Dr Sanjib Kumar Barkakati (Tezpur), a press release said.