2018-09-20 Thu

On 15th August 2018, India Post released a set of two 15 Rupees stamps on the theme “Holiday Destinations in India”. 1.10 lakh miniature sheets and 5 lakh stamps were printed using wet offset technology at Security Printing Press, Hyderabad.

Nationwide Stamp design and photography competitions have been organised by the Department of Posts since 2015 on Republic Day, Independence Day and Children’s Day. The theme for this year’s photography contest was “Holiday Destinations of India”. The winning entries have been featured on Stamps, Miniature Sheets, First Day Covers and Brochures.

Thar Desert

The Miniature Sheet depicts the Thar Desert or the Great Indian Desert. It’s the 18th largest desert in the world and is known for its annual festival that’s organised every winter. Locals dress in colourful traditional attires as they sing and dance ballads of courage, romance and tragedy. Snake charmers, puppeteers, acrobats, and folk performers bring celebrations to life. Desert safaris on camels give tourists an overview of the beautiful ecosystem of Thar Desert.

Udaipur Palace

One stamp depicts the City Palace of Udaipur which is known for its sublime water lakes, green hills of Aravallis and stunning palaces. Founded by Maharana Udai Singh II in 1553, Udaipur was the new capital of Mewar Kingdom. The City Palace is located near Lake Pichola and is one of the most popular architectural wonders in India. One can enjoy the picturesque views of the lake and city from the balconies, cupolas and towers of the palace or explore the historical artefacts at the museum inside the palace.

Stone Chariot of Hampi

The other stamp depicts the Stone Chariot located at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Hampi in Karnataka. Hampi became the capital of Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century and over 1,600 surviving remains are spread across 4,100 hectares of this site. It comprises of forts, riverside features, royal and sacred complexes, temples, shrines, pillared halls, mandapas, memorial structures, water structures and a lot more. The Stone Chariot is actually a temple built like a chariot using huge granite blocks. The carvings and other decorative elements intelligently hide the joints.

Image Courtesy: India Post