My UNESCO World Heritage Postcards

Brazil - Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas

"This sanctuary in Minais Gerais, south of Belo Horizonte was built in the second half of the 18th century. It consists of a church with a magnificent Rococo interior of Italian inspiration; an outdoor stairway decorated with statues of the prophets; and seven chapels illustrating the Stations of the Cross, in which the polychrome sculptures by Aleijadinho are masterpieces of a highly original, moving, expressive form of Baroque art."

Source: UNESCO WOrld Heritage

Postcard 1
Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas. Postcard received in January 2019. Thanks to Damiao of Brazil - obrigado.

Postcard 2

Historical town of Congonhas with a famous baroque style church with soapstone statues of Testament prophets. Nice stamp of Brazil women football. Thanks to Karina of Brazil.

India - Khajuraho Group of Monuments

"The temples at Khajuraho were built during the Chandella dynasty, which reached its apogee between 950 and 1050. Only about 20 temples remain; they fall into three distinct groups and belong to two different religions – Hinduism and Jainism. They strike a perfect balance between architecture and sculpture. The Temple of Kandariya is decorated with a profusion of sculptures that are among the greatest masterpieces of Indian art."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1 - Jain Temple
Jain temple 10th Century of Khajuraho. Nice animal theme stamps. Thanks to Shishir of Bangalore, India.

Postcard 2 - Sculptures

Erotic sculpture in Khajuraho temple. Thanks to Anjalina of India.

Postcard 3 - Hindu Temple Sculptures

Lakshmana Temple of Khajuraho with erotic sculpture. Thanks to Claus of Germany.

Turkey - Göbekli Tepe

"Located in the Germuş mountains of south-eastern Anatolia, this site presents monumental circular and rectangular megalithic structures, interpreted as enclosures, which were erected by hunter-gatherers in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic age between 9,600 and 8,200 BC. It is likely that these monuments were used in connection with rituals, probably of a funerary nature. Distinctive T-shaped pillars are carved with images of wild animals, providing insight into the way of life and beliefs of people living in Upper Mesopotamia about 11,500 years ago."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Ruins of Gobeklitepe. Thanks to Gokhan of Turkey.

Russia - Lake Baikal

"Situated in south-east Siberia, the 3.15-million-ha Lake Baikal is the oldest (25 million years) and deepest (1,700 m) lake in the world. It contains 20% of the world's total unfrozen freshwater reserve. Known as the 'Galapagos of Russia', its age and isolation have produced one of the world's richest and most unusual freshwater faunas, which is of exceptional value to evolutionary science."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
Lake Baikal in winter. Thanks to Ksenia of Russia. Received in December 2018.

Postcard 2

Multi-view of Lake Baikal. Thanks to Yulia of Russia.

Postcard 3

Chivykuiskie Beaches of Lake Baikal. Nice bridge stamp used. Thanks to Polina of Russia.

Mexico - Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza

"This sacred site was one of the greatest Mayan centres of the Yucatán peninsula. Throughout its nearly 1,000-year history, different peoples have left their mark on the city. The Maya and Toltec vision of the world and the universe is revealed in their stone monuments and artistic works. The fusion of Mayan construction techniques with new elements from central Mexico make Chichen-Itza one of the most important examples of the Mayan-Toltec civilization in Yucatán. Several buildings have survived, such as the Warriors’ Temple, El Castillo and the circular observatory known as El Caracol. "

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Chichen-Itza was voted as one of the seven new wonders in the world. During the equinox, display of light and shadow made an appearance of a serpent descending down the stairs from the top.

Two great postcards of Chichen-Itza - thanks to Grete of UK who visited here.

Postcard 1 - Chacmool, Temple of Warriors

Postcard 2 - Chacmool and Jaguar inside Kukulkan Pyramid

Postcard 3

Nice postcard using $14.50 stamp. Thanks to CG of Mexico City.

Postcard 4

Chacmool and Kukulkan Pyramid with sunset. Thanks to Rafal of Germany who visited Yucatan, Mexico.

Postcard 5

Aerial view of the archaelogical zone of Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico. Thanks to Ischa of United Kingdom for mailing from Mexico on August 16, 2018 and arrived in Penang island on December 26, 2018 - the postcard took a long time to travel but arrived safely.

Sweden - Laponian Area

"The Arctic Circle region of northern Sweden is the home of the Saami, or Lapp people. It is the largest area in the world (and one of the last) with an ancestral way of life based on the seasonal movement of livestock. Every summer, the Saami lead their huge herds of reindeer towards the mountains through a natural landscape hitherto preserved, but now threatened by the advent of motor vehicles. Historical and ongoing geological processes can be seen in the glacial moraines and changing water courses."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
Rapa Valley or Rapaatno in Sami language of Laponia. Thanks to Doris of Sweden.

Postcard 2

Staloluakta in Laponian Area in Sweden. Thanks to Merja of Sweden.

Ethiopia - Lower Valley of the Awash

"The Awash valley contains one of the most important groupings of palaeontological sites on the African continent. The remains found at the site, the oldest of which date back at least 4 million years, provide evidence of human evolution which has modified our conception of the history of humankind. The most spectacular discovery came in 1974, when 52 fragments of a skeleton enabled the famous Lucy to be reconstructed."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
Lower Valley of Awash Fossil Site of Ethiopia. Thanks to Patrik of Estonia for mailing from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Postcard received in December 2018.

Postcard 2

Received this postcard of Lucy, written stamped from Ethiopia by Solomon - thank you.

Postcard 3

The skeletons of Lucy at the National Museum of Ethiopia - the oldest hominid fossil 3.5 million years old female skeleton found at Afar, Ethiopia in 1974. Thanks to Reter of New Zealand.

Sweden - Hanseatic Town of Visby

"A former Viking site on the island of Gotland, Visby was the main centre of the Hanseatic League in the Baltic from the 12th to the 14th century. Its 13th-century ramparts and more than 200 warehouses and wealthy merchants' dwellings from the same period make it the best-preserved fortified commercial city in northern Europe".

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
A multi-view of Hnaseatic town of Visby. Thanks to Merja of Sweden.

Postcard 2

Aerial view of historic Visby with city walls and St Nicholai, St Clements and Helge Ands ruins. Thanks to Doris of Sweden. Received this postcard in December 2018.

Germany - Monastic Island of Reichenau

"The island of Reichenau on Lake Constance preserves the traces of the Benedictine monastery, founded in 724, which exercised remarkable spiritual, intellectual and artistic influence. The churches of St Mary and Marcus, St Peter and St Paul, and St George, mainly built between the 9th and 11th centuries, provide a panorama of early medieval monastic architecture in central Europe. Their wall paintings bear witness to impressive artistic activity."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
Klosterinsel Reichenau of Bodensee. Thanks to Ruth of USA. Mailed October 14, 2013 and arrived in Penang on Oct 26, 2013.

Postcard 2

A pretty multi-view of the churches of St Mary and Marcus, St Peter and St Paul and St George of Reichenau Island. Nice stamps used. Thanks to Silke of Germany.

Postcard 3

Aerial view of Monastic Island of Reichenau. Thanks to Sabine of Germany. Received in November 2018.

Ghana - Asante Traditional Buildings

"Near Kumasi, a group of traditional buildings are the last remaining testimony of the great Asante civilization, which reached its peak in the 18th century. The buildings include ten shrines/fetish houses (Abirim, Asawase, Asenemaso, Bodwease, Ejisu Besease, Adarko Jachie, Edwenase, Kentinkrono, Patakro and Saaman). Most are to the north-east of Kumasi, and Patakro, to the south.

Arranged around courtyards, the buildings are constructed of timber, bamboo and mud plaster and originally had thatched roofs. The unique decorative bas-reliefs that adorn the walls are bold and depict a wide variety of motifs. Common forms include spiral and arabesque details with representations of animals, birds and plants, linked to traditional “Adinkra” symbols. As with other traditional art forms of the Asante, these designs are not merely ornamental, they also have symbolic meanings, associated with the ideas and beliefs of the Asante people, and have been handed down from generation to generation...."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Multi-view of traditional buildings of Ghana with the top right corner picture showing Asante Traditional Buildings. Thanks to Mike of Netherlands for arrangement for mailing from Ghana.

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: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
Volcano of Kamchatka, Kronotsky of eastern Asiatic Russia. Nice traditional wedding costume stamp used. Thanks to Tatiana of Russia.