Meteora

In the 9th century AD, an ascetic group of hermit monks moved up to the ancient pinnacles; they were the first people to inhabit Metéora since the Neolithic Era. They lived in hollows and fissures in the rock towers, some as high as 1800 ft (550m) above the plain. This great height, combined with the sheerness of the cliff walls, kept away all but the most determined visitors. Initially, the hermits led a life of solitude, meeting only on Sundays and special days to worship and pray in a chapel built at the foot of a rock known as Dhoupiani.

The exact date of the establishment of the monasteries is unknown. By the late 11th and early 12th centuries, a rudimentary monastic state had formed called the Skete of Stagoi and was centered around the still-standing church of Theotokos (mother of God). By the end of the 12th century, an ascetic community had flocked to Metéora.

In 1344, Athanasios Koinovitis from Mount Athos brought a group of followers to Metéora. From 1356 to 1372, he founded the great Meteoron monastery on Broad Rock, which were perfect for the monks; they were safe from political upheaval and had complete control of the entry to the monastery. The only means of reaching it was by climbing a long ladder, which was drawn up whenever the monks felt threatened.

At the end of the 14th century, the Byzantine Empire's 800-year reign over northern Greece was being increasingly threatened by Turkish raiders who wanted control over the fertile plain of Thessaly. The hermit monks, seeking a retreat from the expanding Turkish occupation, found the inaccessible rock pillars of Meteora to be an ideal refuge. More than 20 monasteries were built, beginning in the 14th century. Six remain today.
Source: Wikipedia

Thanks to Arnold for the great card of Meterora!

Sent: 3 June 2016   Received: 23 June 2016  Travelled: 20 days

Tanah Lot, Bali

Tanah Lot is a rock formation off the Indonesian island of Bali. It is home to the pilgrimage temple Pura Tanah Lot (literally "Tanah Lot temple"), a popular tourist and cultural icon for photography and general exoticism.

Tanah Lot means "Land [sic: in the] Sea" in the Balinese language. Located in Tabanan, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Denpasar, the temple sits on a large offshore rock which has been shaped continuously over the years by the ocean tide.

Tanah Lot is claimed to be the work of the 16th-century Dang Hyang Nirartha. During his travels along the south coast he saw the rock-island's beautiful setting and rested there. Some fishermen saw him, and bought him gifts. Nirartha then spent the night on the little island. Later he spoke to the fishermen and told them to build a shrine on the rock, for he felt it to be a holy place to worship the Balinese sea gods. The main deity of the temple is Dewa Baruna or Bhatara Segara, who is the sea god or sea power and these days, Nirartha is also worshipped here.

The Tanah Lot temple was built and has been a part of Balinese mythology for centuries. The temple is one of seven sea temples around the Balinese coast. Each of the sea temples was established within eyesight of the next to form a chain along the south-western coast. In addition to Balinese mythology, the temple was significantly influenced by Hinduism.

At the base of the rocky island, venomous sea snakes are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruders. The temple is purportedly protected by a giant snake, which was created from Nirartha's selendang (a type of sash) when he established the island.

In 1980, the temple's rock face was starting to crumble and the area around and inside the temple started to become dangerous. The Japanese government then provided a loan to the Indonesian government of Rp 800 billion (approximately US$130 million) to conserve the historic temple and other significant locations around Bali. As a result, over one third of Tanah Lot's "rock" is actually cleverly disguised artificial rock created during the Japanese-funded and supervised renovation and stabilization program.

Source: Wikipedia

A beautiful temple card card sent by an 

anonymous member from PostcardUnited,

 Received: 22 June 2016

Kiyomidu-dera Temple

 

Kiyomizu-dera  is an independent Buddhist temple in eastern Kyoto. The temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) UNESCO World Heritage site.

The place is not to be confused with Kiyomizu-dera in Yasugi, Shimane, which is part of the 33-temple route of the Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage through western Japan, or the Kiyozumi-dera temple associated with the Buddhist priest Nichiren.

Kiyomizu-dera was founded in the early Heian period. The temple was founded in 778, and its present buildings were constructed in 1633, ordered by the Tokugawa Iemitsu. There is not a single nail used in the entire structure. It takes its name from the waterfall within the complex, which runs off the nearby hills. Kiyomizu means clear water, or pure water.

It was originally affiliated with the old and influential Hossō sect dating from Nara times.However, in 1965 it severed that affiliation, and its present custodians call themselves members of the "Kitahossō" sect.

Source : Wikipedia

Thanks to Akiko via Postcrossing for this lovely Temple card 

for my thematic collection!

Sent: 6 June 2016   Received: 16 June 2016   Travelled: 10 days

Wat Phra Mahathat

The Ayutthaya Historical Park covers the ruins of the old city of Ayutthaya, Thailand. The city of Ayutthaya was founded by King Ramathibodi I in 1350. The city was captured by the Burmese in 1569; though not pillaged, it lost "many valuable and artistic objects." It was the capital of the country until its destruction by the Burmese army in 1767.

In 1969 the Fine Arts Department began with renovations of the ruins, which became more serious after it was declared a historical park in 1976. A part of the park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. Thirty-five kings ruled the Ayutthaya kingdom during its existence. King Narai (1656-1688) held court not only in Ayutthaya but also from his palace in the nearby city of Lopburi, from where he ruled 8–9 months in the year.
In 1991, a part of Ayutthaya Historical Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site under criteria III as an excellent witness to the period of development of a true national Thai art. The inscribed area covered only 289 ha on central and southwest part of Ayutthaya island; as a result, only certain groups of historical sites are under UNESCO protection. The sites including Wat Ratchaburana, Wat Mahathat, Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, Wat Phra Ram and Wiharn Phra Mongkhon Bopit. The sites that are not part of World Heritage Sites are the sites outside Ayutthaya Island; for example, Wat Yai Chai Mongkon, Wat Phanan Choeng, Wat Chaiwatthanaram and Wat Phu Khao Thong.
Source: Wikipedia

Thanks to Memu for the beautiful card and superb stamps!!!

Sent: 3 April 2016   Received: 22 April 2016   Travelled: 19 days

Borobodur Temple

Borobudur, or Barabudur, is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist Temple in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. It is the world's largest Buddhist temple, as well as one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world.

Evidence suggests Borobudur was constructed in the 9th century and abandoned following the 14th-century decline of Hindu kingdoms in Java and the Javanese conversion to Islam. Worldwide knowledge of its existence was sparked in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, then the British ruler of Java, who was advised of its location by native Indonesians. Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations. The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO, following which the monument was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[

Borobudur is still used for pilgrimage; once a year, Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak at the monument, and Borobudur is Indonesia's single most visited tourist attraction.

Source: Wikipedia

Thanks to Pratami via Postcard United for this beautiful

sunset view of Borobodur.

Sent: 17 October 2015   Received: 24 November 2015   Travelled: 38 days

Pontianak

Pontianak, a city in the Indonesian part of
Borneo Island. Thanks to Anis for this beautiful view card of the Kwan Im temple with lovely
lanterns.
Sent: 5 May 2015   Received: 19 May 2015
Travelled: 14 days

Kyaiktiyo Pagoda

Kyaiktiyo Pagoda also known as Golden Rock is a well-known Buddhist pilgrimage site in Mon State, Burma. It is a small pagoda (7.3 metres ) built on the top of a granite boulder covered with gold leaves pasted on by devotees. According to legend, the Golden Rock itself is precariously perched on a strand of the Buddha's hair. The balancing rock seems to defy gravity, as it perpetually appears to be on the verge of rolling down the hill. The rock and the pagoda are at the top of Mt. Kyaiktiyo. It is the third most important Buddhist pilgrimage site in Burma after the Shwedagon Pagoda and the Mahamuni Pagoda. A glimpse of the "gravity defying" Golden Rock is believed to be enough of an inspiration for any person to turn to Buddhism.

In the Mon language, the word 'kyaik'  means "pagoda" and 'yo'  means "to carry on the hermit's head". The word 'ithi' in Mon means "hermit". Thus, 'Kyaik-htiyo' means "pagoda upon a hermit's head".

A fabulous card from a fellow traveler who was recently in Myanmar. Thanks to Abang

for this legendary Pagoda card!

Sent: 5 March 2015   Received: 23 March 2015   Travelled: 18 days

Nagadeepa Buddhist Temple

 

 

Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple situated in Jaffna district of Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is among the country's sixteen or seventeen holiest Buddhist shrines (Solosmasthana). According to contemporary history, the Gautama Buddha visited the site after five years of attaining Enlightenment to settle the dispute between two warring Naga kings, Chulodara and Mahodara.

Ancient history according to the Mahavamsa chronicles and the Tamil Buddhist epic Manimekalai mentions a gem-studded throne and a stone with the Buddha’s footprint at the island Nainativu, (also known as Nagadeepa) which pilgrims from India visited.

Thank you Menusha for this holy temple card!

Sent: 24 April 2014   Received: 9 May 2014   Travelled: 15 days

Swayambhu temple, Kathmandu

 

Swayambhunath is an ancient religious complex atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, west of Kathmandu city. It is also known as the Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in the north-west parts of the temple. The Tibetan name for the site means 'Sublime Trees' (Wylie:Phags.pa Shing.kun), for the many varieties of trees found on the hill. However, Shing.kun may be a corruption of the local Newari name for the complex, Singgu, meaning 'self-sprung'.For the Buddhist Newars in whose mythological history and origin myth as well as day-to-day religious practice, Swayambhunath occupies a central position, it is probably the most sacred among Buddhist pilgrimage sites. For Tibetans and followers of Tibetan Buddhism, it is second only to Boudhanath.

Thanks to Neil for this astounding temple card of Nepal and the cool

Scorpio stamp! (I'm a scorpion :D)

Sent: 7 March 2014   Received: 14 March 2014,   Travelled: 7 days

Khoo Kongsi, Penang

The famous Khoo Kongsi is the grandest clan temple in the country. It is also one of the city's major historic attraction. The clan temple has retained its authentic historic setting, which includes an association building, a traditional theatre and the late 19th century rowhouses for clan members, all clustered around a granite-paved square. It is located in Cannon Square in the heart of the oldest part of the city of George Town, in the midst of narrow, winding lanes and quaint-looking pre-War houses exuding a palpable old world charm.

I really would love to visit Penang one day, it feels like it has retain very much the old traditional charm of a bygone era. I'm not a traditional Chinese and I find it very fascinating to read and learn about the Chinese diaspora in Malaysia and the different Chinese clans. I'm Hakka by the way and I don't know whether that falls into Han Chinese or a different minority group.

Thank you Violet for this lovely postcard of Khoo Kongsi

Sent: 28 January 2014

Reeived: 30 January 2014 (hah! on the Lunar New Year's Eve!)

Travelled: 2 days

Monks from Fujian

 Amoi, Fujian Province

A beautiful card of Chinese monks from China, thank you Rita!

Special postmark too 11.12.2013

Sent: 11 December 2013,   Arrived: 31 December 2013,   Travelled: 21 days

Prambanan

Sewu temple,is a Mahayana Buddhist temple, lies about 1km north of

Tourism Park in Prambanan

 

Thank you Anis for this great temple card!

Sent : 8 November 2013   Received: 27 November 2013   Travelled: 19 days

White temple

 

Wat Rong Khun (Thai: วัดร่องขุ่น;Northern Thai: LN-Wat Rong Khun.png), more well-known among foreigners as the White Temple, is a contemporary unconventional Buddhist temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand. It was designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat in 1997

 

Thank you KrisMaureen for this postcard of Thailand, postcard photo shot by sender :)

 

Sent:  ??

Received: 28 September 2013

Burma

 

Many thanks to Anya for this beautiful view of Burmese Buddhist temples!

 

Sent: ??

Received: 9 April 2013



Moon Embracing Pavilion

Black Dragon Pool with the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Like a scene out of Avatar (the animated series) and

with the cheesy English translations of the Chinese titles, this

card shows the amazing wonders of China!

xie xie Hu Ying Chen for this gem!

Sent: 6 March 2013,   Received: 19 March 2013,   Travelled: 13 days

Bagan

 Bagan is an ancient city located in the Mandalay Region of Burma(Myanmar). From the 9th to 13th centuries, the city was the capital of the Kingdom of Pagan, the first kingdom to unify the regions that would later constitute modern Myanmar. During the kingdom's height between the 11th and 13th centuries, over 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were constructed in the Bagan plains alone, of which the remains of over 2200 temples and pagodas still survive to the present day. Read more here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagan

Thank you Ethan for the beautiful postcard from Myanmar!

Sent: 12 February 2013
Received: 19 March 2013
Travelled: 35 days

Srirangam Temple

 

Srirangam Temple - India's largest temple in Tamil Nadu

 

It is one of the most illustrious Vaishnava temples in South India rich in legend and history. Its location, on an island in Cauvery river, has rendered it vulnerable to natural disasters as well as the rampaging of invading armies – Muslim and European – which repeatedly commandeered the site for military encampment. The main entrance, known as the Rajagopuram (the royal temple tower), rises from the base area of around 13 cents (around 5720 sq ft) and goes up to 237 feet (72 m), moving up in eleven progressively smaller tiers. The annual 21 day festival conducted during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December–January) attracts 1 million visitors. Srirangam temple is often listed as the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world, the still larger Angkor Wat being the largest existing temple. The temple occupies an area of 156 acres (631,000 m²) with a perimeter of 4,116m (10,710 feet) making it the largest temple in India and one of the largest religious complexes in the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Ranganathaswamy_Temple,_Srirangam

 

Thank you Girimallika!

Sent: 15 January 2013

Received: 29 January 2013

Travelled: 14 days

My first card from India

 

Dilwara Temple, Rajasthan

Thank you Sudhir for this beautiful view of the temple.

Sent: 12 January 2013

Received: 22 January 2013

Travelled: 11 days

Kashgar

The Uystige of Kashgar Moor Buddist Pagoda

(the remote west Buddhism ruins in China)

What an incredibly desolate ruin! Thank you Pu Xumiao

for this card from Urumqi, no doubt Xinjiang has many historical

treasures!

Sent: 22 December 2012   Received: 16 January 2013   Travelled: 25 days