Permanent Pictorial Cancellation featuring the iconic Stone Chariot (Garuda Ratha) at Hampi, Karnataka (Pin: 583239). The cancellation was issued by the Hampi Sub Post Office under the Ballari postal division, Karnataka Circle.
The Stone Chariot (Garuda Ratha) at Hampi, Karnataka, is one of the most iconic monuments of the Vijayanagara Empire and a symbol of India's architectural heritage. Located within the Vittala Temple complex, this masterfully crafted stone chariot was built in the 15th–16th century CE during the reign of the Vijayanagara kings. Carved entirely from granite, it features intricate carvings of elephants, lotus petals, and decorative motifs, and its wheels were once designed to rotate. Originally serving as a shrine for Garuda (Vishnu's divine vehicle), the chariot is one of the most photographed monuments in India and appears on the Indian 50-rupee currency note. The Hampi ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986, represent the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, which flourished from the 14th to 16th centuries CE as one of the greatest Hindu kingdoms in South India.
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