Permanent Pictorial Cancellation (PPC) issued by Malpe Sub Post Office, PIN 576108, Udupi District, Karnataka. The cancellation design depicts the St. Mary's Islands, a group of small islands off the Malpe coast, famous for their unique hexagonal basalt rock formations created by volcanic activity millions of years ago. Status: Active.
St. Mary's Islands, located off the coast of Malpe near Udupi in Karnataka, are a group of small islands renowned for their dramatic hexagonal basalt rock formations. These columnar basalt formations, created by sub-aerial volcanism during the Cretaceous period approximately 88 million years ago, are a protected geological monument. The islands have historical significance as the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama is believed to have landed here in 1498 during his first voyage to India. The islands are also a wildlife sanctuary and home to diverse marine life. They were declared a protected geological monument by the Geological Survey of India.
Interested in this item? Send a trade request to the collector.