India Mint Stamp

Lokith Philately

Permanent Pictorial cancellation of Telangana

Permanent Pictorial Cancellation inaugural day covers

Date of issue: 01.12.2021

Pin code: 500029

Status: Active

PO Name: Himayath Nagar

Description: The Buddha statue in Hyderabad is a must-see landmark that bears testimony to Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao's (NTR) vision for the city. Shri N.T. Rama Rao was the Chief Minister of United Andhra Pradesh before the formation of Telangana state. He installed many statues of people from the political and religious history of the region during his tenure. During a foreign trip, he saw the Statue of Liberty and was inspired by it and then with his efforts he decided to build the statue of Gautam Buddha because "Buddha was a humanist and a messiah of peace who gave the message of world peace. 

He got a solid white granite rock from the mountain near Raigiri in Bhuvangiri (Yadadri Bhuvangiri district), 46 km from Hyderabad and then he inaugurated the work on this structure in October 1985. For more than a year, hundreds of labourers built the temple. Renowned architect and builder S.M. Ganapathy helped to build and install the statue. Five years later the 18-metre tall statue weighing 350 tonnes was completed, making it the world's tallest monolithic Buddha statue. To aid in erecting the statue, a 15-foot (4.6 m) concrete platform was built in the middle of Hussain Sagar, now known as the Rock of Gibraltar. The city roads were also widened for this purpose. The statue was brought to Lumbini Park on Hussain Sagar Island by boat. Can be reached in 15 minutes. This statue is near Lakdi-Ka-Pul, Khairatabad and Vidhansabha Hyderabad Metro Stations. Its grandeur is the pride of Hyderabad and has become one of the most iconic monuments of Hyderabad.