India Mint Stamp

Lokith Philately

Permanent Pictorial cancellation of Bihar

Permanent Pictorial Cancellation inaugural day covers

Date of issue: 08.10.2024

Pin code: 824202

Status: Active

PO Name: Deo Aurangabad

Description: Sasaram, also known as Saharam, is a historic town in the Rohtas district of Bihar. It is the birthplace of Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri, founder of the Suri dynasty and the location of the famous 'Grand Trunk Road'. During the Vedic era, Sasaram was a part of the ancient Kashi Kingdom. The name Sasaram is derived from Sahastrarama, meaning a thousand groves. It was also once called Shah Sarai, meaning the place of the king. Sher Shah Suri ruled Delhi, much of northern India, present-day Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan for five years as the Suri Empire after defeating the Mughal emperor Humayun. Many of his government practices were adopted by the Mughals and later the British Raj, including taxation, administration and the construction of the Grand Trunk Road, a paved road from Kabul to Bengal. His 37-metre-high red sandstone mausoleum, built in the Indo-Afghan style, stands in the middle of an artificial lake in Sasaram. It was influenced by the Lodhi style and was once covered with blue and yellow glazed tiles reflecting Iranian influence. 

The tomb also has an aesthetic aspect of the Buddhist stupa style of the Mauryan period. The tomb of his father Hasan Khan Suri is also in Sasaram and is situated in the middle of a green field in Shergani, known as Sukha Rauza. About a km to the northwest of his tomb is the unfinished and dilapidated tomb of his son and successor Islam Shah Suri. Sasaram also has a Bawali, a tank used for bathing by the emperor's wives. His fort at Rohtasgarh is in Sasaram. Rohtas is believed to have been the residence of King Harishchandra, who was named after his son Rohitashva. The history of this fort dates back to the 7th century AD. It was built by Raja Harishchandra in the name of his son Rohitashva and served as the headquarters of Raja Man Singh as the governor of Bihar and Bengal during the reign of Akbar. Rohtas Fort in Sasaram was also built by him when he drove Humayun out of Hindustan. There is a temple of Goddess Tarachandi at a distance of two miles from here and there is an inscription of Pratap Dhawal on the rock near the temple of Chandi Devi. Dhoon Kund, a notable waterfall, is located about 15 km away. It is also famous for an inscription of Ashoka, which is located in a small cave on Kaimur Hill.