New Special Covers

Two Special covers were released during   Ballaripex-2016  recently held from 24 - 26 September 2016 at Ballari .

Ballari Fort: Situated in the historic city of Ballari, the fort was built in two parts, namely, the Upper Fort and the Lower Fort. The upper part was built by Hanumappa Nayaka, a feudatory of Vijayanagara Empire while the lower part was built by Hyder Ali, The Sultan of Mysore. The fort has fine ramparts with several historical and religious monuments. The upper fort has a citadel with several ancient tanks while the lower fort housed the arsenal.

Lotus Mahal , Hampi: This is an exquisite pavilion in the walled area of 'Zenana' (women's quarters). it is believed that the women of the royal family, who lived in the nearby Queen's Palace, disported themselves in the water pavilion within their protected enclosure and met in the Lotus Palace. The palace is a complex and intricate blend of Indo-Islamic architecture and gets its name from the lotus bud carved on its domed and vaulted ceiling. Hampi ruins, the former capital of the Vijaynagara Empire are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

-Suresh R. - Bangalore : email : suresh.hobbies@gmail.com