India: Postcrossing Meetup, Dehradhun

Dehradun is the capital  and the most populous city of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Dehradun is located in the Doon Valley on the foothills of the Himalayas nestled between Song River, a tributary of Ganges on the east and the Asan River, a tributary of Yamuna on the west. The city is noted for its picturesque landscape and provides a gateway to the surrounding region.

 Thanks to Ms Tripthi. She has used two Indian definitives featuring Tilak and Subhas Chandra Bose. Note the Permanent Pictorial Cancellation of Philatelic Bureau, Dehradun.

India: Sri Aurobindo Ashram

The Sri Aurobindo Ashram is a spiritual community (ashram) located in Pondicherry, in the Indian territory of Puducherry. The ashram grew out of a small community of disciples who had gathered around Sri Aurobindo after he retired from politics and settled in Pondicherry in 1910.

 Postcard 1: Samadhi of Aurobindo

 Postcard 2: Multiview of Ashram

Thanks to Mr Vallabh and Family. Mr Geetanand Bhandarkar and Veena Bhandarkar.

India: Kumbh Mela, Allahabad

The Allahabad Kumbh Mela is a mela held every 12 years at Prayag(Allahabad), India. The fair involves ritual bathing at Triveni Sangam, the meeting points of three rivers: the Ganga, the Yamuna and the mythical Sarasvati. The latest Allahabad Kumbh Mela took place in 2013 and became the largest religious gathering in the world with almost 120 million visitors. The next one is scheduled for 2025, with an Ardh Kumbh Mela scheduled for 2019.

Thanks to Mr Abhinav

India: la Darcha Festival (Posted from highest postoffice in the world)

La Darcha Festival. The Ladarcha Fair is a popular means of celebration to the people of Spiti valley. Before the closure of the Tibetan traders, the fair used to be held at Kibbar maidan in Spit in the month of July. This used to be the meeting point for traders from Ladakh, Rampur Busher and Spiti.

Thanks to my cousin Mr Prabhakar Nayak who visited the highest post office (4400m) in the world at Hikkim in Spithi Valley of Himachal Pradesh. Unfortunately they did not have any stamps. He paid him Rs 6 (Regular Postage fee)and the card arrived without a stamp in 19 days. 

India: Postcrossing Meetup, Manipal

This is a Tulunadpex 2017( Regional level Stamp Exhibition) meetup card. Even I was a part of it. The postmark on the front is that of Kaup lighthouse and was introduced on 20.08.2017 during this event. This permanent postmark is available at Kaup postoffice. This lighthouse is located on rocks of Kaup beach about 20 kms from Udupi. It was built in 1901 and is 27.12 meters tall. It is a Masonary structure and was built by British. The postmark on the reverse side is that of Philatelic Bureau, Mangalore, depicting an old lighthouse of Mangalore. 

A big thanks to Mr Mansoor

India: Postcrossing Meetup, Bangalore

The card shows Indian instrument, Tabla. The tabla is a South Asian membranophone percussion instrument, consisting of a pair of drums, used in traditional, classical, popular and folk music. It has been a particularly important instrument in Hindustani classical music since the 18th century, and remains in use in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

Thanks to Mr Shafath Ahmed and others. It was held on 11 June 2017.

June 21: International Day of Yoga

Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India. There is a broad variety of Yoga schools, practices, and goals in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Among the most well-known types of yoga are Hatha yoga and Rāja yoga. On December 1, 2016, Yoga was listed as UNESCO’s Intangible cultural heritage.

Thanks to Ms Seetas.

India: Mangalore Postcrossers Meet.

The second Mangalore Postcrossers meet was held at Head Post office, Mangalore, Karnataka.

Thanks to Mr Mansoor and other Postcrossers.

India: Rock Formation, Hyderabad

Hyderabad is blessed with a unique landscape: spectacular ancient rock formations - though almost extinct in the centre of the expanding metropolis - still dot its suburban expanses: Granite ridges and hillocks weathered into picturesque balancing forms, part of the Deccan Shield area.

This card has come from a follower of my blog in Hyderabad. Dear sir, Please email me your name and address. I would love to send you a postcard.

India: Ganges at Kashi

The Ganga, also Ganges is a trans-boundary river of Asia which flows through the nations of India and Bangladesh. The 2,525 km (1,569 mi) river rises in the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttaranchal, and flows south and east through the Gangetic Plain of North India into Bangladesh, where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. It is the third largest river by discharge.The Ganga is the most sacred river to Hindus. It is also a lifeline to millions of Indians who live along its course and depend on it for their daily needs. It is worshipped as the goddess Ganga in Hinduism. It has also been important historically, with many former provincial or imperial capitals (such as Pataliputra, Kannauj, Kara, Kashi, Patna,Hajipur, Munger, Bhagalpur, Murshidabad, Baharampur, Kampilya, and Calcutta) located on its banks.

Thanks to Mr Raghavendra Bhat for sending this card from Postcrossers meet in Bangalore.

India: Return of Portuguese.

This Sketch was done by Mario Miranda. He was an Indian cartoonist and painter based in Loutolim in the Indian state of Goa.

Thanks to my cousin Mr Kiran for sending this from Goa.

India: National Art Gallery, Chennai

The National Art Gallery situated in Egmore, Chennai, is one of the oldest art galleries in India. Constructed with red stones sourced from Satyavedu in Andhra Pradesh, the Gallery was built in 1906 in Indo-Sarsenic architecture and houses paintings from Thanjavur, Rajasthan, Kangra and Deccan areas, as well as sandalwood sculptures.

Thanks to Mr Adrian David from Chennai. He says he likes my blog and is great inspiration for youngsters like him. Thanks David and Good luck with you collection too.

India: Auroville

The card shows Matri Mandir in Auroville town. Matrimandir has its solar power plant and is surrounded by manicured gardens. It was founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa (called "The Mother" within Auroville) and designed by architect Roger Anger. As stated in Alfassa's first public message about the township, "Auroville is meant to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities".

  Thanks to Mr Akhil Kumar.

India: Pangong Tso Lake

Pangong Tso lake, Tibetian for "long, narrow, enchanted lake" is a lake in Himalayas situated at a height of about 4350 meters. This saline water lake is 134 meters long and extends from India to Tibet

Thanks to my brother Narayan who was visiting Ladak.

India: Kullu, Himachal Pradesh

Kullu is located on the banks of river Beas in Kullu Valley.

Thanks to my brother Narayan who was visiting Himachal.

Kerala: Kettuvallam

Kettuvallam is a house boat widely used in Indian state of Kerela. These have thatched roof covers over wooden huls. It is widely used for tourism.

I posted this card when I visited Kerela and stayed in these boats. Permanent Postmark of Jewish Star at Mattanchary Post office, Kerala is used.

India: Vivekananda Memorial Rock

Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a monument in Kanyakumari, southern tip of India. It stands on one of the two rocks about 500 meters from the main land. It was built in honour of Hindu spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda. It is believed he attained enlightenment after he swam to the rock and meditated there. 

 

I sent this card to My mother when I visited Kanyakumari . Vivekananda Memorial Rock Post mark is used at Kanyakumari .