India 1949 Archaeological Series: Bodhisattva from Ajanta Caves

India · 1949 · 12a

This definitive stamp is part of India's first major post-independence series, the Archaeological and Historical series. The design features a detailed depiction of a Bodhisattva figure from a fresco in the Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Maharashtra. The intricate artwork highlights India's rich ancient cultural and religious heritage.

Issued shortly after India gained independence in 1947, this series was a deliberate effort to replace British colonial symbols with imagery celebrating India's own long and diverse history.