Permanent Pictorial Cancellation: Tabo Monastery
The oldest continuously operating Buddhist enclave in both India and the Himalayas is the Tabo Monastery. It is situated at the height of 10,007 feet in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh in north India. It was founded by the Buddhist king Yeshe Ö in 996 A.D. and carries the Tibetan name ‘Place of Happiness’. Tabo is considered a ‘daughter’ monastery of Tholing Monastery in Ngari, western Tibet.
It is spread over an area of 6300 sq metres. The monastery comprises nine temples and gompas, in addition to cave shrines along the mountain slope. All of which are originally made in mud and have been standing like this for more than 1000 years. The main temple hall has all its walls painted with Buddhist stories and 33 stucco sculptures of Bodhisattvas. As murals and stucco sculptures are just like Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra. it is fondly known as Ajanta of the Himalayas.
Tabo served as a meeting point for two cultures, Tibetan and Indian cultures - usually described as Indo-Tibetan. Because of its archaeological and historical importance, the monastery is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.
India Post honored Tabo monastery with a special permanent pictorial cancellation on 22nd March 2022. Thanks to Mr. Kamran for helping me with Tabo PPC.
The cancellation depicts the new Tabo monastery with the backdrop of the Himalayan mountains.
The New Tabo Monastery
No comments:
Post a Comment