INDIA ~ Valley of Flowers National Park - UNESCO ~

... A blossomy breathtaking valley surrounded by the mighty Himalayas...a variety of wild flowers, which appear as a bright carpet of color against a backdrop of the mountains... the meadows are filled with orchids, poppies, marigold, daisies, primulas and anemones of nearly 520 species of which 498 are flowering plants.......for miles and miles on all four directions, there are flowers🌼🌹🥀....  with exotic floral scents... the Valley of Flowers is only open from the beginning of June until the end of October... pure and untouched nature at its best... the magnificent Valley of Flowers has been a major attraction for trekkers from all over world... once more a stunning new place discovered thanks to *postcard* collecting❤️👍... Thanks a lot Nithesh!❀◕ ‿ ◕❀

© Photo: Natalia Davidovich
The Valley of Flowers National Park is in located northern India's state of Uttarakhand, bordered by Nepal and Tibet. It was declared a national park in 1982.

This valley is situated at an altitude 3.658m in Bhyundar Valley. It's spread over 87.5 square kilometers. The main Valley of Flowers is a glacial corridor of 8km long and 2km wide.

This richly diverse area is also home to rare and endangered animals, including the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, musk deer, brown bear, red fox, and blue sheep. Birds found in the park include Himalayan monal pheasant and other high attitude birds.

Declared as World Heritage Site in 2005 by UNESCO.

Stamps:

2016 Definitives - Makers of India January
(Issued -- 01-2016)

 Handicrafts of India
(Issued 31-12-2018)

INDIA ~ Virupaksha Temple - Hampi - UNESCO ~

... Nice view of a stunning piece of architecture and a great religious place... Virupaksha temple is the only intact temple in Hampi amongst the surrounding ruins... situated in the heart of Hampi... the most famous ancient temple and still remains an active Hindu worship site dedicated to Lord Shiva.... one of the oldest living temples in India... this temple is a major highlight during the tour of Hampi...  the carvings on the main temple facade and structure are absolutely gorgeous...  the temple will always be crowded by  pilgrims and tourists, as its the only one where prayers are offered... Thanks a lot Thomas Abraham! (ヅ)

Hampi is situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in Karnataka near the city of Hosapete, Hampi's ruins are spread over 4,100 hectares.

The Group of Monuments at Hampi represent the ruins of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara empire. This was a South Indian empire, dating from 1336 to 1646. The buildings in the city are mostly built in the original native traditions of southern India, associated with the Hindu religion. Some of them show a certain amount of Islamic influence due the interaction with Islamic kingdoms.

Assumed to be built in the 7thC, Virupaksha Temple it is the oldest temple in Hampi and can be viewed from most places near the bazaar area and across the river. It is constructed in Dravidian architecture style.

The Group of Monuments at Hampi are on the UNESCO WHS list since 1986.

Stamp:

Flowers - Orchids
(Issued 08-08-2016)

INDIA ~ The Ujjayanta Palace - Agartala ~

... Great view of a King's Palace converted into an excellent Museum... one of the major attractions of a visit to Agartala city...  a well maintained full white imposing structure and the reflection in two water bodies on both sides adds to its beauty... spread over an expanse of 28 hectares of parkland, this exotic palace has several Hindu temples... the museum at the palace have preserved the local culture of the North Indians... it showcases the lifestyle, arts, culture, tradition and utility crafts... along with a lot of stone sculptures, coinage of the Manikya dynasty and some other artifacts...Thanks a lot Justin!!【ツ】

The Ujjayanta Palace is a formerly royal palace of the Tripura, situated in the state of Agartala. The palace was constructed between 1899 and 1901 by the King of Tripura, Maharadja Radha Kishore Manikya and stands on the banks of two lakes surrounded by gardens inspired by the Mughal Style.

The name Ujjayanta Palace was given by Rabindranath Tagore, the first Nobel Prize laureate in Literature in Asia and a frequent visitor to the princely state as guest of the Tripura royal family.

Stamp:

UNESCO WHS Hill Forts of Rajasthan
(Issued 29-12-2018)

INDIA ~ Hikkim Village - World's highest post office ~

... Amazing postcard nr2... a lovely post office view coming from a very special place... from the top of the world...  situated in a beautiful valley with the Himalayan mountains all around... a true little ♥gem♥ for a postcard collector... must have been a great feeling to be at the world's highest post office and sending postcards from one of the highest inhabited village... I've seen it on a documentary on TV... with great selection of stamps and "Hikkim" cancellation...Thanks soooo much Dwari!!¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The village of Hikkim is situated at a towering altitude of around  4,572 m (15,000 ft) above sea level, on the India-Tibet border in the Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh. The village is is one of the highest year-round inhabited villages in India. The majority of the people in Hikkim are Buddhists.

This tiny village is known for being the home to the highest post office in the world and also the location for the highest polling station.

The Hikkim post office was opened on November 5, 1983, and Mr. Rinchon Chhering has been the postmaster here since it started at the age of 22. This little post office  (also Chhering’s home) is the only mode of communication for the residents of Hikkimis, there is no cell phone signal or internet to connect with. Like the rest of the valley, the post office is also shut for six months of the year because of snow.

Two runners take turns in carrying mail on foot from Hikkim to Kaza, 23 kms away, every morning. From Kaza, mail bags are taken by bus to Reckong Peo, onward to Shimla. From here it’s moved to a train to Kalka, then loaded on to a bus again headed to Delhi. From there the mail is sorted to make their journey by train or plane towards its destination.


Stamps:

Legendary Singers of India
(Issued 30-12-2016)

Nature - Drawing Competition
(Issued 25-01-2017)

Dancing - Joint Issue with Portugal
(Issued 07-01-2017)

INDIA ~ The Clipper Butterfly - Hikkim ~

... First of two really fantastic postcards... beautiful butterfly view... a large wingspan of around 10cm makes them strong fliers and gliders... they are mostly blue-green in color in the sub-continent of India... with great selection of stamps postmarked at the highest post office "Hikkim" in the world... Thanks a lot Dwai!!【ツ】

Photo: Praveen G Nair
The Clipper (Parthenos sylvia) is a species of nymphalid butterfly found in South and South-East Asia, mostly in forested areas. It is a fast flying butterfly and has a habit of flying with its wings flapping stiffly between the horizontal position and a few degrees below the horizontal. It may glide between spurts of flapping.

The Clipper butterfly mostly feeds on the nectar of the flowers of Adenia plant and the caterpillars feed on the young leaves of the plant.

Stamps:

1&3 Nature - Drawing Competition
(Issued 25-01-2017)

250th Year of Survey of India
(Issued 22-06-2017)

INDIA ~ Humayun's Tomb - Delhi - UNESCO ~

... Beautiful view of  the first garden tomb on the Indian subcontinent... a magnificent monument surrounded by beautiful gardens... picturesque and lovely place with fascinating historical background...  one of the major attractions in Delhi... a quiet oasis... Thanks a lot Justin!!【ツ】

From backside postcard:
"Humayun's Tomb, Delhi the first tomb built with several innovations, set at the centre of luxurious gardens with water channels, was the precursor monument to the Taj Mahal (built a century later). It was built in 1570 and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage monument in 1993 for its cultural importance. The tomb set on an octagonal plinth has a raised dome of 42.5m height covered by marble slabs and decorated with canopies"
Humayun Tomb is located on the bank of river Yamuna in the capital city Delhi.

This mausoleum was built in the memory of Emperor Humayun, the second Mughal ruler to ascend the throne. The tomb was commissioned by Bega Begum, Humayun’s Persian wife  nine years after the Emperor’s death.

The Humayun's Tomb was added to the UNESCO WHS list in 1993.

Stamps:
Personalities
(Issued 01-03-2009)

Dancing - Joint Issue with Portugal
(Issued 07-01-2017)

Personalities
(Issued 26-04-2017)

INDIA ~Kaziranga National Park - UNESCO ~

..Beautiful postcard nr2 showing a rhino... one of the largest mammals in the world that faces always the threat of poaching for its horn and continuing habitat loss... poachers killed 18 rhinos in the Park in 2016 ☹ ... I wonder what can be done to convince people not to buy rhino horns...Thanks a lot Som!【ツ】

photo: Diganta Talukdar
From backside postcard:
"Kaziranga National Park, located in the North eastern state of Assam in the flood plains of the Brahmaputra River's south bank was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 for its unique natural environment. The park, which covers an area of 42.996 ha (106.250acres), has the distinction of being home to the world's largest population of the Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros."
Beginning with a few rhinos in 1905, the park today still accounts about 85% of the total population of Rhinos.

The greater one-horned rhinoceros is the largest of the three Asian rhinos and, together with African white rhinos, is the largest of all rhino species. Males can weigh up to 2.7 tonnes. They have a single black horn between 20-60 cm long and a grey-brown hide with skin folds, which give it an armor-plated appearance. The upper lip is semi-prehensile.

Kaziranga National Park was added to the UNESCO WHS list in 1985.


Stamp:

The 250th Anniversary of the Survey of India
(Issued 22-06-2017)

INDIA ~ Sundarban National Park - UNESCO ~

... This makes collecting National Parks so much funヅ... you can get plenty of postcards from the same NP... but they all look so different... this one shows the breathing roots of mangrove forest in Sundarbans... it stands out to be the largest tangle of mangrove wetland in tropical Asia....unfortunately overflowing salty water and less rain has been a great threat for this unique natural beauty...Thanks a lot Chetan!!【ツ】

From backside postcard:
The Surdarban is a contiguous natural region in India and Bangladesh formed on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers. It is the largest estuarine mangrove forest in the world. It is a NP, Tiger Reserve, Biosphere Reserve, UNESO WHS and a Ramsar wetlands.
Sonneratia species grow in oxygen-poor sediments. The underground root system needs and demands oxygen, the soil is not able to support the underground root system with enough oxygen. Therefore, the underground root system outgrows aerial roots that grow vertically up to the air above the soil. The cone roots have numerous lenticels that enable gas exchange directly above the surface. The cone roots provide the additional needed oxygen which can't be taken from the soil.
The Sundari tree (Heritiera fomes), from which Sundarban derives its name, breathes through pneumatophores or breathing roots that look like stilts. It is spread out in an area of almost 1,330 square kilometer in India.

Surbandans National Park was added to the UNESCO WHS list in 1987.

Stamps:

Defenitives:
2X Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(Issued 10-03-2016)
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
(Issued 19-05-2016)

The 50th Anniversary of the State of Haryana
(Issued 01-11-2016)

INDIA ~ Manas National Park - UNESCO ~

... Once more a great new National Park... the Golden Langur has been listed in the "World's 25 Most Endangered Primates" ☹... mostly due to habitat destruction... only a very few individuals survive in the wild... Manas is one of the rare national parks that is built across two countries, while one half lies in India and other half  in Bhutan... Thanks a lot Vinay!!  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

photo: Yathin
From backside postcard:
Manas National Park, located in the Northeastern state of Assam on the border with Bhutan. It covers an area of 50.000 hectares in the plains of the Manas river in the foothills of the Himalayas.  The sanctuary is the habitat of 21 most threatened species of mammals, out of 55 mammals species in the sanctuary. The endangered species include Golden Lagur, tiger, pypmy hog, clouded leopard, sloth bear, Indian rhinoceros, wild buffaloes, Indian elephants and Bengal florican.

The langurs are named so for the striking golden colour of their coat. These animals form troupes of 8 to 50 individuals and are herbivorous and arboreal in nature.

It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Natural) in 1985 for its unique natural environment. The sanctuary is the habitat of 21 most threatened a national park in 1990.

Stamps:
Dr B R Ambedkar Jayanti- Personalities
(Issued 01-03-2009)

Unity Day
(Issued 31-10-2016)

INDIA ~ Periyar National Park - UNESCO ~

...Great postcard nr2 from this Indian National Park... one of the "fun" things about collecting National Parks is that there are so many different kind of wonderful views of the same parkツ... Thanks Pdokt!!

The Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve is situated high in the ranges of the Western Ghats, in south Indian state of Kerala - known as the God's Own Country.. Periyar wildlife sanctuary in Kerala has a scenic lake at the heart of the sanctuary. Formed with the building of a dam in 1895, this reservoir runs around the contours of the wooded hills, providing water to the local wildlife through out the year.

From Backside postcard:
The Nilgai is the largest Asian Antelope. It is one of the most commonly seen, wild mammals of central and northern India, often seen in farmland or scrub forest. The mature male appears ox-like and is also known as the blue bull. Nilgai are diurnal and tend to form single-sex herds outside of the breeding season. Herds are not of fixed composition, with individuals joining and rejoining through the year. Female herds typically contain three to six adults, together with their calves, whereas bulls form herds of two to 18 individuals.

Periyar National Park is part of the UNESCO WHS Western Ghats since 2012.

Stamps:

Exotic Birds
(Issued 05-12-2016)

Zoological Survey of India
(Issued 03-12-2015)

INDIA ~ The Khangchendzonga National Park - UNESCO ~

...Fantastic vew of the most magnificent attraction of this National Park... in the heart of the Himalaya ... and India's newest UNESCO site... it includes areas of high religious significance... some of them  are sacred and pilgrimage sites.... Thanks a lot Prashanth!!  ❀◕ ‿ ◕❀

Photo: Jakub Michankow
Mout Khangchendzonga is the third highest mountain in the world, and lies partly in Nepal and partly in Sikkim, India and  is the second highest mountain of the Himalayas after Mount Everest.

The park gets its name from Khangchendzonga (which means The Abode of the Gods) which forms an impressive background in the park at an imposing 8,586 meters in height. It was declared as a National Park in the year of 1977.

The park  includes a unique diversity of plains, valleys, lakes, glaciers and is a spectacular wilderness, with snowy peaks towering above some fine forests that remain virtually undisturbed. The Park must rank as one of the most important protected areas in the entire Himalayas. It has more than 550 species and subspecies of birds, which is nearly 30% of the entire bird families found in the entire sub-continent.

It was inscribed to the UNESCO WHS list on July 17, 2016, becoming the first "Mixed Heritage" site of India.

Stamps:

Surya Namaskar
(Issued 20-06-2016)

Valour & Sacrifice - 1965 War
(Issued 15-09-2015)

Personalities -Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
(Issued 01-03-2009)

INDIA ~The Qutab Minar-New Delhi-UNESCO ~

... A great new UNESCO site showing one of the oldest monuments in Delhi and one of the tallest stone towers in India. Thanks a lot Gian Luca for thinking of me during travelling!! (Blog: World Postcards)

Qutub Minar at 73 meters (240 feet), is the second tallest minar in India after Fateh Burj at Mohali, with a diameter measuring 14.32 meters (47 feet) at the base and 2.75 meters (9 feet) at the peak. Inside the tower, a circular staircase with 379 steps leads to the top.

The tower is located in the Mehrauli area of Delhi, India. It is made of red sandstone and marble.

The foundation of the tower was laid in 1199 by the then ruler Qutub-ud-din Aibak, which was later completed by his successor Shams-ud-din Iltutmish.

 Qutub Minar, along with the ancient and medieval monuments surrounding it, form the Qutb Complex, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Stamp:

J.R.D. Tata-"Builders of Modern India".

(Issued 01-03-2009)

INDIA ~ Periyar National Park - UNESCO ~

...Third fantastic National Park card from India...this time showing an elephant family...it must be awesome to see this "gentle giants of the jungle" in their natural habitat ツ....Thanks a lot kbdessai!

Photo: Manish Poddar The Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve is situated high in the ranges of the Western Ghats, in south Indian state of Kerala - known as the God's Own Country. Periyar wildlife sanctuary in Kerala has a scenic lake at the heart of the sanctuary. Formed with the building of a dam in 1895, this reservoir runs around the contours of the wooded hills, providing water to the local wildlife through out the year. Though Periyar Kerala is a Tiger Reserve, tourists visit this place to view the Indian elephants in the act of sprinkling water and playfulness by the Periyar lake.

From backside card:
Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri Mountains are a mountain range along the western side of India and one of the world's ten "Hottest biodiversity hotspots". A total of thirty nine properties (including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forests) are designated as UNESCO WHS - 20 in the state of Kerala, 10 in Kamataka, 5 in Tamil Nadu and four in Maharashta. Periyar National Park in Kerala is one such property.

Stamps:

Dr B R Ambedkar Jayanti
(Issued 01-03-2009)
Flora - Wild Flowers of India 
(Issued 03-09-2013)

INDIA ~Kaziranga National Park - UNESCO ~

...India's National Park nr 2...more beautiful wildlife... one of the largest mammals in the world that faces always the threat of poaching for its horn and continuing habitat loss... Thanks a lot kbdessai!

photo: Kangkan From backside postcard:
Kaziranga National Park, located in the North eastern state of Assam in the flood plains of the Brahmaputra River's south bank was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 for its unique natural environment. The park, which covers an area of 42.996 ha (106.250acres), has the distinction of being home to the world's largest population of the Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros.

Beginning with a few rhinos in 1905, the park today boasts of more than 70 per cent of the world’s population of the Indian Rhinoceros.

The greater one-horned rhinoceros is the largest of the three Asian rhinos and, together with African white rhinos, is the largest of all rhino species. Males can weigh up to 2.7 tonnes. They have a single black horn between 20-60 cm long and a grey-brown hide with skin folds, which give it an armor-plated appearance. The upper lip is semi-prehensile.

Stamps:

Mahatma Gandhi
(Issued 01-03-2009)
Olympic Games - Beijing, China
(Issued 08-08-2008)
 Drukpa Lineage of Buddhism
(Issued 14-05-2014)

INDIA ~Sundarbans National Park - UNESCO ~

First of three fantastic National parks postcards...this one is showing the National Animal of India, the Royal Bengal Tiger also called the lord of Jungles....more to see here in the following days...Thanks a lot kbdessai!!

Photo Rajika Travels From backside postcard:
Surdanbans National Park, the largest estuarine mangrove forest in the world is a National Park, Tiger reserve, UNESCO WHS and a Biosphere Reserve located in the Sundarbans Ganges river delta bordering the Bay of Bengal in West Bengal. It is also on the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserve.

The Sundarbans as a whole encompasses 10.000km² of land and water, about 5.980km² in India and the balance in Bangladesh. The entire basin is traversed by a complex network of interconnecting waterways. This region is densely covered by mangrove forests, and is one of the largest reserves for the Bengal tiger. It is also home to a variety of birds, reptile and invertebrate species including the salt-water crocodile.

:
Stamps:
1. Mahatma Gandhi
(Issued 01-03-2009)
2. The 50th Anniversary of the KVS
 (Issued 15-12-2014)
3.The 100th Anniversary of the Patna High Court
(Issued 18-04-2015)

INDIA ~West Bengal - The Darfeeling Himalayan Railway - UNESCO ~

...A step back in time with this also popularly known "Toy Train"...who wouldn't like a ride to the mountain top with a train named as this... it's always such a great pleasure to find "surprise" postcards in my mailbox...people who think of you when they are on a trip...it feels a bit as if you were travelling with them^^... Thanks once again Rod!!!   http://travography.com/


Nice stamps:
Traditional Indian Textiles-Kalamkari
(Issued 10-12-2009)
Definitive Issue-Builders of Modern India

©Das Studio-Darjeeling-INDIA The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is the first, and still the most outstanding example of a hill passenger Railway. Open in 1881, it applied bold and ingenious engineering solutions to the problem of establishing and effect rail link across a mountainous terrain of great beauty. It is still fully operational and retains most of its original features intact. UNESCO’S World Heritage Committee inscribed DHR as a World Heritage Site in 1999.

Darjeeling is one of India's most famous hill resorts. It is 2134 m or 7000ft above sea level. The real fun in coming to Darjeeling is on the toy train. It takes six to seven hours to cover a distance of 82 kms and the slow speed gives you enough time to watch and appreciate the beauty which nature has provided it. This train passes through the Forests, waterfalls, over deep valleys and through the mountains and tunnels.

INDIA ~Kakubha Ragini~

...Lovely "artwork " postcard from India... Thanks Jaim also for using lots of greats stamps!

With stamps:Commemorative and defenitive stamps (Issued 1-3-2009) "Builders of Modern India" Satyajit Ray and Mahatma Ghandi, the father of the Nation.
Next stamps from Rampur Raza Library -Miniature Sheet (Issued 19-6-2009)

Kakubha Ragini Deccani, 18thC Kakubha is a handsome young woman, suffering lovesickness, leaving her fine palace she enters the forest, ... Again and again she arouses the peacock's scream, forgetting soul and body in a trance upon her lord.

INDIA ~Mudumalai National Park - UNESCO (Tentative) ~

Today I received this great elephant postcard...It is so important that sanctuaries as Mudumalai exist to protect this amazing animal...
...But the cards looks as if before sending an elephant has trapped on it! :D:D...Don't mind I still like it... Thanks Nagi!

With nice stamps: Personalities Series-Veenai Dhanammal (Issued 3-12-2010) and Lakshmipat Singhania-Buisness Man (Issued 15-11-2010)

The Western Ghats mountain chain is older than the Himalayas and is recognised as one of the world's eight 'hottest hotspots' of biological diversity. Its high mountain forests influence the Indian monsoon weather system and for this reason the Western Ghats are home to many species of wildlife that are not found anywhere else in the world, including at least 325 globally threatened flora, fauna, bird, amphibian, reptile and fish species.

The Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary lies on the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills (Blue Mountains). Mudumalai, which means 'first hills’, is one of the first wildlife sanctuaries established in India. The park is most famous for its elephant population of around 950 to 1,000 elephants.

INDIA ~Taj Mahal- UNESCO~

...Amazing view of one of the world's most popular and beautiful building ever built (IN-35624)...the reflections in the water pond in front.... it looks magical...
And its also the most striking monument and symbpl of eternal love...(built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died after giving birth to her second child in 1631.Thanks a lot Rajagopal !!

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India. Its considered as the finest example of Mughal architecture and on the Unesco World Heritage site list. Is known as "the jewel of Muslim art".

With three great and interesting stamps:
The first one represents Dr B R Ambedkar Jayanti. He was the architect of Indian Constitution and is also known as the “Father of Indian Constitution and played a significant role in India’s freedom struggle.
Stamp 2 commemorate 100 years of civil aviation in the country.(issued on 14 March 2012).
And the large one shows Rashtrapati Bhavan the official residence of the President of India.(Issued 5 August 2011)

INDIA ~Mahabalipuran-UNESCO~

Wonderful view of the "Shore Temple"...Beautiful architecture and with the blue ocean in the background...I can understand why it is one of the most photographed monuments in India... As one of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, it has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Thanks Nagi!!
Stamp showing the 9th Prime Minister, Rajiv Ghandi. He became the youngest Prime Minister of India when he took office (at the age of 40).

The Shore Temple (700-728 AD) is so named because it overlooks the Bay of Bengal. It is a structural temple, built with blocks of granite, dating from the 8th century AD. It was built on a promontory sticking out into the Bay of Bengal at Mahabalipuram, a village south of Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The village was a busy port during the 7th and 8th century reign of the Pallava dynasty during the reign of Narasimhavarman II.
Shore Temple is a standing testimonial to the regal heritage of India and is one of the oldest structural (versus rock-cut) stone temples of South India.