Denmark - Kronborg Castle

Located on a strategically important site commanding the Sund, the stretch of water between Denmark and Sweden, the Royal castle of Kronborg at Helsingør (Elsinore) is of immense symbolic value to the Danish people and played a key role in the history of northern Europe in the 16th-18th centuries. Work began on the construction of this outstanding Renaissance castle in 1574, and its defences were reinforced according to the canons of the period's military architecture in the late 17th century. It has remained intact to the present day. It is world-renowned as Elsinore, the setting of Shakespeare's Hamlet." Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1 - Aerial View
Awesome aerial view of Kronborg Castle, Helsingor. Thanks to Kirsten of Denmark.

Postcard 2 - Kronborg

Multiview of Kronborg. Thanks to Gerald of Germany.

Postcard 3

Another multi-view of Kronborg, Helsingor, Denmark. Thanks to Pedrotti of France.

Palestine - Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem

"The inscribed property is situated 10km south of Jerusalem on the site identified by Christian tradition as the birthplace of Jesus since the 2nd century. A church was first completed there in 339 A.D. and the edifice that replaced it after a fire in the 6th century retains elaborate floor mosaics from the original edifice. The site also includes Latin, Greek Orthodox, Franciscan and Armenian convents and churches, as well as bell towers, terraced gardens and a pilgrimage route." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage 

Postcard 1
View of Bethlehem with Bethlehem Hills in the background. A nice postcard by Palestine Post. Thanks Bahjat of Gaza, Palestine.

Postcard 2

Church of Nativity of Bethlehem of West Bank, Palestine. The postcard was bought from Bethlehem and later mailed from Russia using both Palestine Authority stamp bought there and Russian stamps. Thanks so much to Alexander who had visited Bethlehem for sending this postcard.

Uzbekistan - Itchan Kala

"Itchan Kala is the inner town (protected by brick walls some 10 m high) of the old Khiva oasis, which was the last resting-place of caravans before crossing the desert to Iran. Although few very old monuments still remain, it is a coherent and well-preserved example of the Muslim architecture of Central Asia. There are several outstanding structures such as the Djuma Mosque, the mausoleums and the madrasas and the two magnificent palaces built at the beginning of the 19th century by Alla-Kulli-Khan.” Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
Postcard of Khiva. Thanks to Patrik of Estonia.

Postcard 2

Kalta Ulinor is the main landmark of Khiva. Nice Uzbekistan stamp. Thanks to Alice of Israel who visited Uzbekistan.





Postcard 3
The walled city of Khiva - Itchan Kala. I bought this postcard at Uzbekistan Pavilion at 2010 Shanghai World Expo in October 2010.




Postcard 4
Mohammed Rakhim Khan Madrassah 19th century in Khiva. I bought this postcard at Unzbekistan Pavilion, 2010 Shanghai World Expo, China in October 2010.




Postcard 5
Islomkhoja Minare of Ichan Kala, Khiva. I bought this postcard at Uzbekistan Pavilion in 2010 Shanghai World Expo in October 2010.

Japan - Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama

"Located in a mountainous region that was cut off from the rest of the world for a long period of time, these villages with their Gassho-style houses subsisted on the cultivation of mulberry trees and the rearing of silkworms. The large houses with their steeply pitched thatched roofs are the only examples of their kind in Japan. Despite economic upheavals, the villages of Ogimachi, Ainokura and Suganuma are outstanding examples of a traditional way of life perfectly adapted to the environment and people's social and economic circumstances." Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1 - Gokayama
View of traditional village house of Gokayama. Postmarked March 30, 2011 in Fukuoka Shi and arrived in Penang on April 5, 2011. Thanks to Kenji-san of Japan. Doumo arigatou gozaimashita.

Postcard 2A - Shirawaka

Shirawaka in Autumn. Thanks to Phoebe of Hong Kong who visiting this lovely place.

Postcard 2B - Shirakawa

This unique farming community with triangle thatched roofs houses is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Water is frequently sprayed to avoid fire. Thanks to Adriana for sending me this lovely card.

Postcards 2C - Shirawaka

Postcard mailed from Shirakawa and a set of postcards of Shirawaka in all seasons bought there. Thanks to YL and family who were visiting in December 2014.

and other postcards from the postcard set.

Japan - Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range

"Set in the dense forests of the Kii Mountains overlooking the Pacific Ocean, three sacred sites – Yoshino and Omine, Kumano Sanzan, Koyasan – linked by pilgrimage routes to the ancient capital cities of Nara and Kyoto, reflect the fusion of Shinto, rooted in the ancient tradition of nature worship in Japan, and Buddhism, which was introduced from China and the Korean Peninsula. The sites (495.3 ha) and their surrounding forest landscape reflect a persistent and extraordinarily well-documented tradition of sacred mountains over 1,200 years. The area, with its abundance of streams, rivers and waterfalls, is still part of the living culture of Japan and is much visited for ritual purposes and hiking, with up to 15 million visitors annually. Each of the three sites contains shrines, some of which were founded as early as the 9th century." Source: UNESCO World Heritage


Postcard 1 - Koyasan
An awesome postcard of Danjo-Goran monastic complex in Mount Koya, Japan - a UNESCO World Heritage. Thanks to Shaliza of Malaysia who visited Koyasan and using nice stamps of sushi and Year of Sheep 2015 stamp with special cancellation of Koyasan. Doumo arigatou gozaimashita.

Postcard 2 - Koyasan

Sacret mountain Koyasan in Wakayama - Buddhist monastery from Bentendake. Nice train stamps. Ghanks to Claus of Germany for sending from Japan.

Postcard 3 - Sanzan

Sanzan of Wakayma is located at the southeastern part of the Kii Mountain Range. It includes three shrines: Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha and Kumano Nachi Taisha, and two temples of Seigantoji and Fudarakusanji that are distributed 20 to 40 km apart from each other and connected by Kumano Sankeimichi Nakahechi.

This beautiful postcard of Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine of Kumano Sanzan is a milestone as it is my 500th UNESCO World Heritage site. Very nice stamps used on an envelope to send the postcard. Thanks so much to Fukiko-san of Japan. Hontou ni, doumo arigatou gozamashita.

India - Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

"On a gentle slope in the foothills of the Himalayas, where wooded hills give way to alluvial grasslands and tropical forests, the Manas sanctuary is home to a great variety of wildlife, including many endangered species, such as the tiger, pygmy hog, Indian rhinoceros and Indian elephant."
Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Golden Langur of Manas Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam, India. Thanks to Bishnu of India.

India - Great Himalayan National Park

"Great Himalayan National Park (GHNPCA) is located in the western part of the Himalayan Mountains in the northern Indian State of Himachal Pradesh and is characterized by high alpine peaks, alpine meadows and riverine forests. The 90,540 ha property includes the upper mountain glacial and snow melt water source origins of several rivers, and the catchments of water supplies that are vital to millions of downstream users. The GHNPCA protects the monsoon-affected forests and alpine meadows of the Himalayan front ranges. It is part of the Himalaya biodiversity hotspot and includes 25 forest types along with a rich assemblage of fauna species, several of which are threatened. This gives the site outstanding significance for biodiversity conservation."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Great Himalayan National Park in the Kullu Region Himachal Pradesh, India. Thanks to Bishnu of India.

India - Sundarbans National Park

"The Sundarbans covers 10,000 km2 of land and water (more than half of it in India, the rest in Bangladesh) in the Ganges delta. It contains the world's largest area of mangrove forests. A number of rare or endangered species live in the park, including tigers, aquatic mammals, birds and reptiles." Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
Tiger in Sundarbans National Park. Thanks to Akhil of India.

Postcard 2

Mangrove Cage Rrail, Buridabri, Sundarban of India. Thanks to Sita of India.

India - Kaziranga National Park

"In the heart of Assam, this park is one of the last areas in eastern India undisturbed by a human presence. It is inhabited by the world's largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses, as well as many mammals, including tigers, elephants, panthers and bears, and thousands of birds." Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1

Postcard 2

Kaziranga National Park, India. THanks to Das of Assam, India.

Zambia - Zimbabwe - Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls

"These are among the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. The Zambezi River, which is more than 2 km wide at this point, plunges noisily down a series of basalt gorges and raises an iridescent mist that can be seen more than 20 km away." Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1 - Zambia
Victoria Falls in Zambia. It is mailed from Livingstone, Zambia - the town named after David Livingstone who "discovered" Victoria Falls. Thanks so much to Bruce of South Africa.

Postcard 2A - Zimbabwe

Eastern Cataract of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Thanks to Ulrich of Austria who was visiting Zimbabwe.

Postcard 2B - Zimbabwe

An awesome view of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Thanks to Thea who was visiting Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia.

Postcard 2C - Zimbabwe

A transboundary UNESCO World Heritage Site of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Wow.. Victoria Falls. You can almost hear the thundering waters and feel the mist on your face. A rainbow over one of the greatest waterfalls in the world. Must thank Lenore and Daniel for sending this wonderful postcard from Zimbabwe