Early post-independence definitive Indian stamps
showing places of tourist interest

Exactly two years after independence, on August 15, 1949, India issued a set of stamps showing places / objects of tourists' interest. These included historical monuments, temples, stupas, forts, ancient sculptures, rock carvings etc. (Some of these places were later declared by UNESCO as National Heritage Sites). Many of these stamps were commemorative stamps, while others were definitive stamps. On this page some of the definitive stamps are shown. Click on the stamp image to see a larger picture of the attraction and/or to learn more about it. Ajanta Panel, Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra Konarak Temple Horse, Konarak Temple, Orissa Trimurti, Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra Bodhisattva. Click on stamp to read definition. Lions atop Ashokan Pillar, Sarnath (near Varanasi), Uttar Pradesh Nataraja. The dancing form of Lord Shiva. The Bodhisattva stamp shown above is a re-drawing of the original Bodhisattva stamp issued in 1949, which was a mirror image of this one. This corrected version of the Bodhisattva stamp was issued in 1950. <<Back Next>> Return to Top HOME | NORTHERN INDIA TOUR | WESTERN INDIA TOUR | SOUTHERN INDIA TOUR | EASTERN INDIA TOUR |