India: Elephanta Caves

"The 'City of Caves', on an island in the Sea of Oman close to Bombay, contains a collection of rock art linked to the cult of Shiva. Here, Indian art has found one of its most perfect expressions, particularly the huge high reliefs in the main cave."
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Site List

The construction time of the famous Elephanta Caves is still very much debated and varies from the 6th century to the 8th century according to different specialists. They constitute one of the most striking collections of rock-art in India. The above postcard features a dancing but broken sculpture of Shiva as Nataraja and is dancing the celestial dance.
There are two groups of caves. To the east, Stupa Hill (thus named because of a small brick Buddhist monument at the top) contains two caves, one of which is unfinished, and several cisterns. To the west, the larger group consists of five rock-cut Hindu shrines. The main cave is universally famous for its carvings to the glory of Shiva, who is exalted in various forms and act ions. The cave consists of a square plan mandapa whose sides measure about 27 m.
The postcard was sent to me by Anuradha Shankar from Mumbai in Maharashtra State of India.

The postcard also features a beautiful Butterfly Stamp of India. This Red Butterfly Indian Stamp was issued by India Post on 20 November 2000 and is of Rupees 15 denomination. It is a part of definitive series - Wildlife. The back of the postcard also shows a nice monogram of India Post.

Russia: Historic Center of St. Petersburg and Related Group of Monuments

"The 'Venice of the North', with its numerous canals and more than 400 bridges, is the result of a vast urban project begun in 1703 under Peter the Great. Later known as Leningrad (in the former USSR), the city is closely associated with the October Revolution. Its architectural heritage reconciles the very different Baroque and pure neoclassical styles, as can be seen in the Admiralty, the Winter Palace, the Marble Palace and the Hermitage."
Source : UNESCO World Heritage Site List

The ensembles designed in St Petersburg and the surrounding area by several international architects exerted great influence in the 18th and 19th centuries on the development of architecture and monumental arts in Russia and Finland. The site links outstanding examples of Baroque imperial residences with the architectural ensemble of St Petersburg, the Baroque and neoclassical capital par excellence. St Petersburg was, moreover, directly associated with events of universal significance.

 The card also feature two beautiful stamps - one with a castle issued in 2011 and the other showing a boat, issued in 2009.
I am sure that you will like this postcard. You can see another post regarding the same postcard at my regular postcard blog here.
Please leave your comments, if you like this poatcard.

Russia: Volcanoes of Kamchatka

"This is one of the most outstanding volcanic regions in the world, with a high density of active volcanoes, a variety of types, and a wide range of related features. The six sites included in the serial designation group together the majority of volcanic features of the Kamchatka peninsula. The interplay of active volcanoes and glaciers forms a dynamic landscape of great beauty. The sites contain great species diversity, including the world's largest known variety of salmonoid fish and exceptional concentrations of sea otter, brown bear and Stellar's sea eagle."
Source: Volcanoes of Kamchatka - UNESCO WHS List

 Here's an official postcrossing postcard to add to my UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is always nice to receive an official postcard featuring a UNESCO site and helping my project. It is the 2nd postcard in my collection from Russian Federation or Russia. The postcard features "Volcanoes of Kamchatka" in Northern Russia, which is a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site.
More than 300 volcanoes are found in Kamchatka, 29 being currently active, including caldera, strata-volcano, somma-volcano and mixed types, the largest included in the World Heritage site being Kronotskaya Sopka (3,528 m). In addition there is a multitude of thermal and mineral springs, geysers and other phenomena of active vulcanism.
If I am not wrong, then the postcard shows a view of Koryaksky Volcano. If you have any knowledge, then please feel free to share with us.

Anna sent this beautiful postcard to me and pasted 4 beautiful stamps at the back of the card and an amazingly lovely heart sticker too. Anna has  a 10 years old daughter, who is also a postcrosser. I am sure that she must be enjoying this fun activity already.

Thanks a lot Anna for this lovely postcard from Siberia.
If you have any question or any details to share, please feel free to leave a comment below.

Australia: Sydney Opera House

"Inaugurated in 1973, the Sydney Opera House is a great architectural work of the 20th century that brings together multiple strands of creativity and innovation in both architectural form and structural design. A great urban sculpture set in a remarkable waterscape, at the tip of a peninsula projecting into Sydney Harbour, the building has had an enduring influence on architecture. The Sydney Opera House comprises three groups of interlocking vaulted ‘shells’ which roof two main performance halls and a restaurant. These shell-structures are set upon a vast platform and are surrounded by terrace areas that function as pedestrian concourses. In 1957, when the project of the Sydney Opera House was awarded by an international jury to Danish architect Jørn Utzon, it marked a radically new approach to construction."
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Site List

Postcard # 1
This beautiful real-posted Australian Postcard shows Sydney Harbour and the architectural marvel, Sydney Opera House itself. The postcard showcases 3 distinctive scenes as follows (from right top, clockwise):-

• Sydney Opera House
• Fort Denison with ferries in the foreground
• HMA Naval Dockyard garden Island

The Sydney Opera House constitutes a masterpiece of 20th century architecture. Its significance is based on its unparalleled design and construction; its exceptional engineering achievements and technological innovation and its position as a world-famous icon of architecture

This UNESCO postcard was sent to me by Ann Wiggins who has added 3 magnificednt stamps at the back too.  The stamp on the left was issued to mark Australian Day in 1981, where as the the centre stamp shows the portraits of the explorers Eyre (1841) and Vancouver (1791).

The stamp on the right shows the same image as on the postcard showing "HMA Naval Dockyard garden Island".

What do you think about this post?