Grand Canyon National Park

This is probably the most well known canyon in the world. At least, is the one that comes to my mind when I think of canyons...

Grand Canyon

This postcard was sent by Claudia

The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona, United States. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide and attains a depth of over a mile (6,093 feet or 1,857 meters).

Grand Canyon

Nearly two billion years of Earth's geological history have been exposed as the Colorado River and its tributaries cut their channels through layer after layer of rock while the Colorado Plateau was uplifted. While some aspects about the history of incision of the canyon are debated by geologists, several recent studies support the hypothesis that the Colorado River established its course through the area about 5 to 6 million years ago. Since that time, the Colorado River has driven the down-cutting of the tributaries and retreat of the cliffs, simultaneously deepening and widening the canyon. - in: wikipedia

Grand Canyon

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Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath

Among the places of great importance for Buddhist pilgrims in Sarnath are the Dhamek Stupa, the Dharmarajika Stupa, and the Ashoka pillar.

Sarnath

This postcard was sent by Tirtha

The serial property contains the architectural and archaeological remains of Sarnath, the sacred site where the Buddha is believed to have delivered his first sermon in the 6th century BCE and met his earliest disciples. Identified by the Buddha himself as one of the four principal Buddhist pilgrimage sites, Sarnath grew over many centuries through royal, monastic, and lay patronage, resulting in the construction of numerous stupas, temples, and viharas. After flourishing as a major Buddhist centre, Sarnath declined in the 12th century CE and fell into obscurity until its rediscovery in the 18th century. Today preserved as two archaeological zones, it remains both an important tourist destination and a revived pilgrimage site for Buddhists worldwide. - in: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/927/

Maratha Military Landscapes of India

This property includes twelve major fortifications, mostly in Maharashtra State.

Salher Fort

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Salher is a place located near Salher Village in Satana tehsil in Nashik district of Maharashtra, India. The old name of Salher was Gavalgarh. It is the site of the highest fort in the Sahyadri mountains and the second highest peak at 1,567 metres (5,141 ft) after Kalsubai in Maharashtra and 32nd highest peak in Western Ghats. This was a fort of the Maratha Empire. 

Salher Fort was under Shrimant Sardar Suryajirao Kakade in 1671. The Mughals attacked the fort in 1672. Almost one lakh soldiers fought in this war. Many soldiers died in this battle but finally Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj sent Suryajirao Kakade who won the Battle of Salher. Of all the face to face battles between the Mughals and Suryajirao Kakade's troops, the battle of Salher takes first place. After winning Salher, the Marathas also captured Mulher and established their reign over the Baglan region. In the 18th century, the Peshwas occupied this fort and later by the British.

The Marathas defeated the Mughals at the Battle of Salher in 1672 in an open battlefield on a plain. This was an extremely bloody battle as over 10,000 Mughal soldiers were slaughtered by the Maratha army. This battle shattered the myth of Mughal invincibility and proved that the Marathas could defeat the Mughals even in direct, pitched warfare. - in: wikipedia

The 12 fortifications (in red what I have):

• Salher Fort
• Shivneri Fort
• Lohagad
• Khanderi Fort
• Raigad
• Rajgad
• Pratapgad
• Suvarnadurg
• Panhala Fort
• Vijaydurg
• Sindhudurg
• Gingee Fort

Itsukushima Shinto Shrine

Itsukushima Shrine is known for its beautiful torii gate, that appears to float on the water

The Torii of Itsukushima Shrine

This postcard was sent by Saori

Itsukushima Shrine is a Shinto shrine on the island of Itsukushima (popularly known as Miyajima), best known for its "floating" torii gate.

The shrine has been destroyed several times, but the first shrine buildings were probably erected in the 6th century. The present shrine dates from the mid-16th century, and is believed to follow an earlier design from the 12th century. 

The Torii of Itsukushima Shrine

This postcard was sent by Hiroko

The dramatic gate, or torii, of Itsukushima Shrine is one of Japan's most popular tourist attractions, and the most recognizable and celebrated feature of the Itsukushima shrine. Although a gate has been in place since 1168, the current gate dates back only to 1875. The gate, built of decay-resistant camphor wood, is about 16 metres high. The placement of an additional leg in front of and behind each main pillar identifies the torii as reflecting the style of Ryōbu Shintō (dual Shinto), a medieval school of esoteric Japanese Buddhism associated with the Shingon Sect. - in: wikipedia