India - Mountain Railways of India

"This site includes three railways. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was the first, and is still the most outstanding, example of a hill passenger railway. Opened in 1881, its design applies bold and ingenious engineering solutions to the problem of establishing an effective rail link across a mountainous terrain of great beauty. The construction of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a 46-km long metre-gauge single-track railway in Tamil Nadu State was first proposed in 1854, but due to the difficulty of the mountainous location the work only started in 1891 and was completed in 1908. This railway, scaling an elevation of 326 m to 2,203 m, represented the latest technology of the time. The Kalka Shimla Railway, a 96-km long, single track working rail link built in the mid-19th century to provide a service to the highland town of Shimla is emblematic of the technical and material efforts to disenclave mountain populations through the railway. All three railways are still fully operational."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1A - Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway - DHR, was bulit between 1880-86. Thanks to Siddhart of India.

Postcard 1B - Darjeeling Mountain Railway

Darjeeling Mountain Railway mailed supposedly by sea on Nov 27, 2019 but arrived in Penang island on December 16, 2019 - perhaps by airmail. Thanks to Biju of Kerala, India.

Postcard 2 - Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Nilgiri Mountain Railway of India at Ooty. Thanks to Claus.

Postcard 3 - Kalka Shimla Railway

Kalka Shimla Railway. Thanks to Bhat of India.

South Korea - Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites

"The prehistoric cemeteries at Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa contain many hundreds of examples of dolmens - tombs from the 1st millennium BC constructed of large stone slabs. They form part of the Megalithic culture, found in many parts of the world, but nowhere in such a concentrated form.” 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1 - Hwasun Dolmen
Southern type dolmen clusters in Dasin-ri, Hwasun. Thanks to Claus of Germany.

Postcard 2 - Ganghwa Dolmen

Northern type dolmen in Ganghwa. Thanks to Claus of Germany.

Postcard 3 - Gochang Dolmen

Gochang Dolmen Sites. Historical relics used for rituals and funeral services 2,000-3,000 BC. Thanks to Irina for sending from South Korea. Kamsa hamnida.

Postcard 4

Multi-view of South Korea UNESCO World Heritage with Ganghwa Dolmen in the middle of postcard. Thanks to Hajeong of South Korea.

Dominican Republic - Colonial City of Santo Domingo

"After Christopher Columbus's arrival on the island in 1492, Santo Domingo became the site of the first cathedral, hospital, customs house and university in the Americas. This colonial town, founded in 1498, was laid out on a grid pattern that became the model for almost all town planners in the New World. " 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
Saint Mary Cathedral Prime of America, San Domingo. Thanks to Carlos of Mexico.

Postcard 2 

Multi-view of Santo Domingo. Postcard was mailed on Feb 20, 2010 in Dominican Republic and arrived in Penang on May 12, 2010. That is 3 months in postal travel time. At least it arrived. Thanks to Ruth who was travelling through.

Postcard 3
Zona Colonial - Colonial Zone of Santa Domingo, the capital and largest city of over 2 million in Dominican Republic and founded in 1496. The stamp of DR is interesting is that it has a unique serial number and barcode. It was sent on March 12, 2009 but arrived in Penang on May 5, 2009 - taking seven weeks. Better late than never. Thanks so much to Trupti of Canada who was visiting DR.

Postcard 4

Sun Clock Square, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Thanks to Michael of Luxembourg who was in Dominican Republic - postmarked Nov 5, 2019 and arrived in Penang Island on December 10, 2019.

Azerbaijan - Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower

"Built on a site inhabited since the Palaeolithic period, the Walled City of Baku reveals evidence of Zoroastrian, Sasanian, Arabic, Persian, Shirvani, Ottoman, and Russian presence in cultural continuity. The Inner City (Icheri Sheher) has preserved much of its 12th-century defensive walls. The 12th-century Maiden Tower (Giz Galasy) is built over earlier structures dating from the 7th to 6th centuries BC, and the 15th-century Shirvanshahs' Palace is one of the pearls of Azerbaijan's architecture." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
Old City of Baku, Azerbaijan. Thanks to Kate of Russia.

Postcard 2

A reprint postcard of the old photo of the walled city of Old Baku with Maiden Tower. Postcard sent from Russia by Elena. Thanks.

Postcard 3

Baku Ensemble of Shirvanshakhs Palace, Baku. Thanks to Sini of Finland for mailing from Azerbaijan. Received on November 2016.

Postcard 4

Shirvanshahs Palace in Old City of Baku, Azerbaijan. Thanks to Rafal of Germany.

Postcard 5

Palace of Shirvanshahs, Baku, Armenia. THanks to Boran of Turkey. Mailed on November 3, 2019 and arrived in Penang island on December 2, 2019.

China - Longmen Grottoes

"The grottoes and niches of Longmen contain the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art of the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316-907). These works, entirely devoted to the Buddhist religion, represent the high point of Chinese stone carving." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
From the postcard set of World Heritages of China that I bought in Beijing - Longmen Grottoes.




Postcard 2

Postcard 3

View of Longment Grottoes from the river. Thanks to Huilan  of Chongqing, China. Nice stamps used. Received in November 2019.

France - Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments

"Arles is a good example of the adaptation of an ancient city to medieval European civilization. It has some impressive Roman monuments, of which the earliest – the arena, the Roman theatre and the cryptoporticus (subterranean galleries) – date back to the 1st century B.C. During the 4th century Arles experienced a second golden age, as attested by the baths of Constantine and the necropolis of Alyscamps. In the 11th and 12th centuries, Arles once again became one of the most attractive cities in the Mediterranean. Within the city walls, Saint-Trophime, with its cloister, is one of Provence's major Romanesque monuments." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
A beautiful postcard of the Roman Coliseum in Arles, France. Thanks to Olga of Mexico who sent from Arles.

Postcard 2

Roman Theatre at Arles, France. Thanks to Pagero of France.

 

India - Hill Forts of Rajasthan

"These are the six forts:
- Amber Fort
- Jaisalmer Fort
- Kumbhalgarh Fort
- Chittorgarh Fort
- Gagron Fort
- Ranthambore Fort

"The serial site, situated in the state of Rajastahan, includes six majestic forts in Chittorgarh; Kumbhalgarh; Sawai Madhopur; Jhalawar; Jaipur, and Jaisalmer. The ecclectic architecture of the forts, some up to 20 kilometres in circumference, bears testimony to the power of the Rajput princely states that flourished in the region from the 8th to the 18th centuries. Enclosed within defensive walls are major urban centres, palaces, trading centres and other buildings including temples that often predate the fortifications within which developed an elaborate courtly culture that supported learning, music and the arts. Some of the urban centres enclosed in the fortifications have survived, as have many of the site's temples and other sacred buildings. The forts use the natural defenses offered by the landscape: hills, deserts, rivers, and dense forests. They also feature extensive water harvesting structures, largely still in use today."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1A - Amber Fort

We went up by elephant ride to Amber Fort, Jaipur. Postcard sent through a mailbox outside a small post office near Mapple Hotel in November 2016. Arrived in Penang Island in December 2016.

Postcard 1B - Amber Fort

I visited Amber Fort in November 2016. Mailed this postcard to myself using Mother Theresa stamp from Jaipur.

Postcard 1C - Amber Fort
Decorated elephants at Elephant Stand at Amber Fort. Thanks to DHRUV of India.

Postcard 1D - Amber Fort

Elephant at Amber Fort, Rajasthan, India. Thanks to Nagi of India

Postcard 2 - Chittorgarh Fort 

Chittorgarh Fort is one of the six majestic forts in Rajasthan. Thanks to Sita of India.

Postcard 3 - Jaisalmer Fort

City and Fort of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Thanks to Grete of United Kingdom.

Postcard 4A - Kumbhalgarl Fort

An amazing fort but a long climb to the top - a big complex with 100 plus temples. Thanks to Donna of USA who visited this fort.

Postcard 4B - Kumbhalgarh

Fort Panaromic postcard of Kumbhalgarh Fort with immense walls, Rajastan, India. Thanks to Grete of UK who visited here.

Postcard 4C - Within Kumbhalgarh Fort

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple (top left), Vedi Temple (top right), Badal Mahal (bottom left), Ram Pol fort entrance gate (bottom right). Thanks to Grete of UK.

Postcard 5 - Six Hill Forts

Multi-view of six Hill Forts of Rajasthan - Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambhore, Amer, Jaisalmer, Gagron. Thanks to Prashanth of India. Received in November 2019.