Joint Issue Serbia-India: 70 years of Diplomatic Relations

On 15th September 2018 Serbia and India jointly issued a set two of stamps to celebrate friendship as cofounders of the Non-Aligned Movement. India-Serbia relations are warm and friendly drawing their strength from the shared values of Non-Alignment as the pillar of the Foreign Policy and the personal friendship of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Marshall Tito the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement.

This joint set pays tribute to two great personalities of the two countries, Serbian inventor Nikola Tesla, genius in the field of electricity, energy, wireless transmission and magnetism and Svami Vivekananda, philosopher and spiritual master, who introduced Hinduism to the western world and inspired the movement for the independence of India.

 Here you can see Serbian version of this joint issue.

Thank you Sayam!

Registered cover from India

On this cover from India you can see miniature sheet The 250th Anniversary of the Survey of India, issued on 22.06.2017. The Survey General of India was established by the British East India Company in 1767. Later it came to be known as the Survey of India. Today, the Survey of India, the National Survey and Mapping Organization of the country under the Department of Science & Technology, it is said to be the oldest scientific department under the Government of India.

Rest of stamps are Bharat Ratna Institute of Telecom Training, issued on 22.04.2017. and The 100th Anniversary of Champaran Satyagraha (from set of three), issued on 13.05.2017.

Inside this cover was this mini sheet Bharat Ratna Institute of Telecom Training, issued on 22.04.2017.


Thank you Ravindra!

Polar regions preservation on cover from India

I received a cover from India with minisheet Preserve Polar Regions and Glaciers, issued on 19.12.2009. This is a joint stamp issue involving several countries to bring awareness to the effects of climate change. Each issuing administration was permitted to use whatever design they desired so long as it incorporated the crystal snowflake insignia. The original series was started by Chile and Finland and involved several nations with interests in the polar regions. The series ran from 2007 to 2009. Through the UPU, the series was extended in 2010 and 2011 to other nations that had not participated in the initial series.

Rest of the stamps are Samrat Vikramadittya, issued on 22.12.2016. and The 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Marudur Gopalan Ramachandran, 1917-1987, issued on 17.01.2017.


Thank you Bibhudatta!

Coffee cover from India

Scented Coffee stamp in the form of Souvenir sheet was released on 23rd April 2017. The saga of Indian coffee began on a humble note, with planting of ‘Seven seeds’ of ‘Mocha’ during 1600 AD by the legendary holy saint Baba Budan, in the courtyard of his hermitage on ‘Baba Budan Giris’ in Karnataka. For quite a considerable period, the plants remained as a garden curiosity and spread slowly as back yard plantings.

It was during 18th century that the commercial plantations of coffee were started, thanks to the success of British entrepreneurs in conquering the hostile forest terrain in south India. Since then, Indian coffee industry has made rapid strides and earned a distinct identity in the coffee map of the world.

Thank you Akhil!

Ladybugs on cover from Floating Post Office in India

India Post released a set of four stamps and a Miniature sheet featuring Ladybird Beetles on 23 rd February. Ladybugs, also called lady beetles or ladybird beetles, are a very beneficial group. They are natural enemies of many insects, especially aphids and other sap feeders. A single lady beetle may eat as many as 5,000 aphids in its lifetime .Lady bird beetles are found in most agricultural and garden habitats. Their presence indicates that natural biological control is occurring.

This cover was sent from famous floating post-office on Dal Lake, Srinagar, in Kashmir. The seal used on everything posted from the Floating Post Office is unique – along with the date and address, it bears the design of a boatman rowing a shikara on the Dal Lake.


Thank you Kamran!

Cover from India with philatelic stuff

My great friend Subu from India sent me another nice cover. Inside was two mini sheets, FDC, maxicard and postcard. He used nice stamps on cover:

mini sheet Tourism in India - Independence Day, issued on 15.08.2016.
Moulana Abul Kalam Azad (1888-1958), politician and writer, issued on October 2015.
two stamps Olympic Games 2016 - Rio (from set of four), issued on 05.08.2016.
Airplanes - Induction of the C-130, issued on 04.10.2016.

This is mini sheet Tadoba-Andhari National Park - Tigers, issued on 29.07.2016.

Exotic Birds, issued on 05.12.2016.

maxicard Olympic Games 2016 - Rio (from set of four), issued on 05.08.2016.

 FDC Varanasi City, issued on 24.10.2016.

And postcard of Varanasi City, most sacred city in India.

Thank you very much Subu!

Andaman Islands

The Andaman Islands form an archipelago in the Bay of Bengal between India, to the west, and Myanmar, to the north and east. Most are part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Union Territory of India, while a small number in the north of the archipelago, including the Coco Islands, belong to Myanmar. The Andaman Islands are home to the Sentinelese people, who have had no contact with any other people! The Andamans are theorized to be a key stepping stone in a great coastal migration of humans from Africa via the Arabian peninsula, along the coastal regions of the Indian mainland and towards Southeast Asia, Japan and Oceania.

Andaman Islands use regular Indian stamps. Here you can see:

Tadoba-Andhari National Park, issued on 29.07.2016.
B. R. Ambedkar, issued on 01.03.2009.
Varanasi City, issued on 24.10.2016.


Thank you Prakash Raj!

Cover from India

I have received cover from India with two postcard, one mini sheet, one FDC and six mint stamps.

This place in thickets of the Sahyadri hills of the Western Ghats is around 45 km from Sirsi, Karnataka. Huge rocks are the center of attraction. There are two temples, temple of Shiva inside a cave, and a Ganesha temple nearby.

The Elephanta caves area network of sculpted caves located on Elephanta Island in Mumbai Harbour. The island, located on an arm of Arabian Sea, consists of two groups of caves  - the first is a large group of Hindu caves, the second, a smaller group of two Buddhist caves. The Hindu caves contain rock-cut stone sculptures, representing Shaiva Hindu sect. The rock-cut architecture of the caves is dated between the 5th and 8th centuries. The caves are hewn from solid basalt rock. The caves were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

This is FDC Gaiety Theatre Complex, Shimla, issued on 26.08.2014.

This is mini sheet Rabindranath Tagore's "Dakghar", issued on 31.10.2008.

Stamps:
Charkha Spinning Wheel (whole set), issued on 15.10.2015.
The 50th Anniversary of Diplomatis Relations with Singapore - Joint Issue with Singapore (whole set), issued on 24.11.2015.
International Day of Yoga, issued on 21.06.2015.
International Fleet Review, issued on 06.02.2016.

Stamps on cover:
C V Raman, issued on 11.05.2009.
Makers of India: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, issued on 10.10.2015.


Thank you Subramanya!

Cover from India

I have received cover from India with two beautiful mini sheets.

First mini sheet is Vibrant India, issued on 25.01.2016.

Second mini sheet is Ganges River Dolphin and Whale Shark - India-Philippines Joint Issue, issued on 16.11.2009.

Stamps on cover:
Cricket - The 200th Test Match of Sachin Tendulkar, issued on 14.11.2013.
Indian Border Security Force, issued on 21.10.2015.
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, 1891-1956 , issued on 01.03.2009.


Thank you Anushka!

India: Qutb Minar

Qutub Minar, at 120 meters, is the tallest brick minaret in the world, and the second tallest minar in India after Fateh Burj at Mohali. Qutub Minar, along with the ancient and medieval monuments surrounding it, form the Qutub Complex, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tower is located in the Mehrauli area of Delhi, India. Made of red sandstone and marble, Qutub Minar is a 73-meter tall tapering tower with a diameter measuring 14.32 meters at the base and 2.75 meters at the peak. Inside the tower, a circular staircase with 379 steps leads to the top.

In 1200 AD, Qutub-ud-Din Aibak, the founder of the Delhi Sultanate started construction of the Qutub Minar. In 1220, Aibak's successor and son-in-law Iltutmish added three storeys to the tower. In 1369, lightning struck the top storey, destroying it completely. So, Firoz Shah Tughlaq carried out restoration work replacing the damaged storey with two new storeys every year, made of red sandstone and white marble.

Stamps:
Mahatma Gandhi, issued on 01.03.2009.
The Kuka Movement, issued on 24.12.2014.


Thank you Shashi!

India: Bibi Ka Maqbara (Tomb of the Lady)

The Bibi Ka Maqbara is a maqbara located in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India. It was built by Azam Shah, son of Aurangzeb, in 1678 in memory of his mother, Dilras Banu Begum. It bears a striking resemblance to the famous Taj Mahal, the mausoleum of his grandmother, Mumtaz Mahal. Aurangzeb was not very interested in architecture, though he had built the small, but elegant, Pearl Mosque at Delhi. The Bibi Ka Maqbara was the largest structure that he had to his credit.

Stamps:
The 100th Anniversary of the Patna High Court, issued on 18.04.2015.
Mahatma Gandhi, issued on 01.03.2009.


Thank You Gaurav!

Cover from India

I have received wonderful cover from India, from my friend Subramanya. He sent me two postcards, several mint stamps and nice FDC.

Sukhoi SU-30 Aircraft in formation

The Sukhoi Su-30 is a twin-engine, two-seat supermaneuverable fighter aircraft developed by Russia's Sukhoi Aviation Corporation. It is a multirole fighter for all-weather, air-to-air and air-to-surface deep interdiction missions.

Indian Air Force operates the Su-30MKI variant. Russia built the early Su-30MKIs; later Su-30MKIs are assembled indigenously under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The IAF has 200 Su-30MKIs in service as of August 2014.

The Chennakesava Temple located at Somanathapura is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture. The temple was built by Soma, a Dandanayaka in 1268 A.D. under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysala Empire was the major power in South India.This temple is in Indian state Karnataka.

This nice FDC is dedicated to 50 years of Nagaland, date of issue is 2013-12-01. Nagaland is a state in Northeast India. It borders the state of Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam to the north, Burma to the east and Manipur to the south. It's one of the smallest states of India.Nagaland became the 16th state of India on 1 December 1963.

This very nice souvenir sheet is The 19th Commonwealth Games, issued on 2008-10-18

Other mint stamps from cover:

The Kuka Movement, issued on 2014-12-24
Samrat Ashoka, issued on 2015-08-24
Valour & Sacrifice - 1965 War (complete set), issued on 2015-09-15

Stamps on cover:

C V Raman, issued on 2009-05-11

Stamp on the right side is stolen during travel!

Thank You very much Subramanya!

India: FDC Vikramaditya and two postcards

INS Vikramaditya (meaning "Brave as the Sun") is a modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier which entered into service with the Indian Navy in 2013. She has been renamed in honour of Vikramaditya, a legendary 1st century BCE emperor of Ujjain, India.

Originally built as Baku and commissioned in 1987, the carrier served with the Soviet and later with the Russian Navies (as Admiral Gorshkov) before being decommissioned in 1996 as she was too expensive to operate on a post-Cold War budget. The carrier was purchased by India on 20 January 2004 after years of negotiations at a final price of $2.35 billion. The ship successfully completed her sea trials in July 2013 and aviation trials in September 2013.

Stamps on cover:

INS Vikramaditya, issued on 2013-12-04
Mother Teresa, issued on 2009-03-01
Rajiv Gandhi, issued on 2008-12-01

I have also received two nice postcards, both depicts UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Red Fort Complex, also known as Lal Qila is a palace fort built in the 17th century by Shahjahan (1628-58), the fifth Mughal Emperor as part of his new capital city of Shahjahanabad. Located to the north of Delhi, it represents the glory of the Mughal rule and is considered the Highpoint of Mughal architectural, artistic and aesthetic creativity. The architectural design of the structures built within the fort represents a blend of Persian, Timuri and Indian architectural styles. The palace complex has been fortified by an enclosure wall built with red send stone (hence the name Red Fort).

Kaziranga National Park, located in the Northeastern state of Assam in the flood plains of the Brahmaputra River's 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 hectares, has the distinction of being home to the world's largest population of the Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros.

I have also received nice mint stamps:

The 100th Anniversary of the Patna High Court, issued on 2015-04-18
Kerala Legislative Assembly, issued on 2013-08-07
100 Years of Indian Cinema - Raichand Boral, issued on 2013-05-03
Old Seminary, Kottayam, issued on 2015-04-21
Polo - Sagol Kangjei, issued on 2014-11-29

Thank You very much Subramanya!

India: Chitradurga Fort, Karnataka

Built on a cluster of granite hills, Chitradurga Fort literally means "picturesque fort". The fort was built in stages between 10th and 18th centuries AD by the dynastic rulers of the region. The fort is built in series of seven concentric fortification walls with various passages, a citadel, a masjid, warehouses for grains and oil, water reservoirs and ancient temples. The fort is favored location for film shooting.

Stamp is J. R. D. Tata, issued on 2009-03-01

Thank You Gopal!

India: 200th Flower Show at Lalbagh, Bangalore

Every year on Independence Day and Republic Day, flower shows are organized at the Lalbagh Botanical Garden. This event is jointly organized by the Mysore Horticulture Society and the Department of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka.

Stamps:

Dr B.R. Ambedkar, issued on 2009-03-01
C.V. Raman, issued on 2009-05-11


Thank You Dhanush!

Two postcards and FDC from India

Tucked away from the din and bustle of the mega city, the Jain temple (Aagam Mandir) is located atop Katraj Hill. Aagam Mandir is a fine example of Jain temple architecture with intricate carvings embelishing the walls.

The HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is a multirole combat helicopter being developed in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for use by the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army.The LCH is being designed to fit into an anti-infantry and anti-armour role and will be able to operate at high altitudes. It has a maximum weight of 5.5 tonnes, and has a service ceiling of 6,500 metres. The LCH design features a narrow fuselage with stealth profiling, armour protection, and will be equipped to conduct day-and-night combat operations. According to reports, the LCH features a digital camouflage system. The LCH has a two-crew cockpit.

Engineers India Limited (EIL) is celebrating its Golden Jubilee in 2015. Established in 1965, EIL has been providing engineering consultancy and services principally focused on the oil and gas and petrochemical industries. In 50 years of its existence, EIL has contributed immensely to the cause of nation building.

Stamps on FDC:
Engineers India Limited, issued on 2015-03-27
The 50th Anniversary of Space Co-Operation with France - Joint Issue with France , issued on 2015-04-10 (one of two)
Rukmani Project, issued on 2015-02-14
C V Raman, issued on 2009-05-11
Rajiv Gandhi, 2008-12-01

Thank You very much Subramanya!

India: Humayun's Tomb

Humayun's tomb is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun in Delhi, India. The tomb was commissioned by Humayun's first wife Bega Begum in 1569-70, and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, a Persian architect chosen by Bega Begum. It was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent, and is located in Nizamuddin East, Delhi, India, close to the Dina-panah citadel also known as Purana Qila (Old Fort), that Humayun founded in 1533. It was also the first structure to use red sandstone at such a scale. The tomb was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

This postcard came in interesting FDC -  Mars Orbiter Mission: India's First Mission to Mars.

The Mars Orbiter Mission, also called Mangalyaan, is a spacecraft orbiting Mars since 24 September 2014. It was launched on 5 November 2013 by the Indian Space Research Organisation. It is India's first interplanetary mission and ISRO has become the fourth space agency to reach Mars, after the Soviet space program, NASA, and the European Space Agency. It is the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit, and the first nation in the world to do so in its first attempt.

Stamps on FDC:

Stamp: Mother Teresa
Series: Definitives
Issued on: 2009-03-01

Stamp: Rajiv Gandhi
Series: Builders of Modern India
Issued on: 2008-12-01

Stamp: Himalayan Bellflower
Series: 11th Asian Pacific Postal Union Congress
Issued on: 2013-09-03

Thank You very much Subramanya!

India: Alchi Monastery

Alchi Monastery or Alchi Gompa is a Buddhist monastery, known more as a monastic complex of temples in Alchi village in the Leh District, of the Indian state under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council of Jammu and Kashmir. The complex comprises four separate settlements in the Alchi village in the lower Ladakh region with monuments dated to different periods. Of these four hamlets, Alchi monastery is said to be the oldest and most famous. It is administered by the Likir Monastery.

Thank You very much Subramanya!

India: Nataraja temple

Thillai Natarajah Temple or Chidambaram temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the town of Chidambaram, East-Central Tamil Nadu, South India. The temple is known as the foremost of all temples (Kovil) to Saivites and has influenced worship, architecture, sculpture and performance art for over two millennium. The Sangam classics list chief architect Viduvelvidugu Perumtaccan as directing an early renovation of the shrine.

A major shrine of Lord Shiva worship since the classical period, there have been several renovations and offerings to Chidambaram by the Pallava, Chola, Pandya, Vijayanagara and Chera royals in the ancient and pre-medieval periods. The temple as it stands now is mainly of the 12th and 13th centuries, with later additions in similar style. Its bronze statues and stone sculptures depicting various deities and the famous Thillai trees  of the surrounding forest reflect the highpoints of early Chola and Pallava art while its famed gold plated gopuram towers are medieval structural additions by the royals Aditya I, Parantaka Chola I, Kopperunchinga I, Krishnadevaraya and Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan. King Kocengannan Chola was born following prayers his parents offered at the temple and later in his life he refined its structure. The shrine gave the town its name.

Thank You very much Subramanya!