The Unique Floating Post Office of the World

The Floating Post Office, Dal Lake, Srinagar, India (Picture source: Internet)

This is an era of electronic communication. There are verities of electronic modes viz. email, sms, Whatsapp etc. for almost real time transfer of messages, data, files, pictures etc. On the other hand traditional post services are slow and hence termed as snail mail, at times. Many have thought that the days of normal mail is likely to get over and in due course of time they may be extinct like Dinosaurs.  

However, in India, the scenario is little different. Post offices have dotted the Indian topography which no other Government service centre can match. Be it urban area or rustic rural segment, post offices are found at every nook and cranny of the country.

According to the Annual Report of India Post for the year 2019-20, as on 31.03.2019, the total number of Post Offices was 1,56,600. Out of this, the number of Rural Post Offices was 1,41,001. It is matter of pride that India Post has largest postal network in the world, even surpassing the most populous country - China. At the time of independence (1947) the number of post offices in India was just 23,344.

It had made a humble beginning with the first post office established in Calcutta  way back in 1727, under British rule. Subsequently, three General Post offices were set up in the Presidencies of Calcutta (1774), Madras (1786) and Bombay (1793). In the year 1854, Railway Mail Service was introduced. The same year, Sea Mail Service commenced for carrying mail from India to Great Britain and China. 

People visit post offices for variety of purposes - starting from sending letters or parcels to meeting various savings and banking needs. In most of the places, people simply walk across the road to the post office. Interestingly, there is one post office in India, which is not on a lane or in the midst of a busy commercial locality, but actually functioning from a boat in a lake. It is not an ordinary post office. The post office is on a houseboat, floating on the aquamarine water of Dal Lake of Srinagar in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, India.

Picture source: Internet

Beauty of Dal Lake, nestled in the lap of Himalaya has attracted tourists since ages. In fact, Dal Lake along with its shikara was first featured in Indian postage stamp issued on 15th March 1967. The stamp was printed by photogravure process on un-watermaked paper at India Security Press, Nasik. Valued at Rs. 2/- , this was one stamp out of six stamps issued under 4th definitive series i.e. for regular use by post on that date.

A stamp depicting Dal Lake

Another stamp on Dal Lake was issued on 23 Jan 1978, in connection with Pacific Asia Travel Association, Delhi.

A shikara floating in Dal Lake

Postal service is an integral part of thriving tourism, both domestic and international, in the state. On 22 August 2011, a post office was inaugurated in Srinagar, Kashmir by Sachin Pilot, Minister of State for Communications & Information Technology (IT),  and Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, and was presided over by Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Minister for New and Renewable Energy. The function was graced by Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister for Tourism; Nasir Aslam Wani, Minister of State for Tourism  and John Samuel, Chief Post Master General (CPMG), Jammu and Kashmir Circle. 

Special Cover issued on 22.08.2011, Black Cancellation (Picture courtesy: Dr. Sudhakar, MD)

There was Nehru Park Post Office at Dal Lake since British era. It was the brain child of John Samuel, the then CPMG to reposition that heritage post office and rename as Floating Post Office.

Special Cover issued on 22.08.2011, Blue Cancellation (Picture courtesy: Dr. Sudhakar, MD)

In the bygone era, in Dal Lake, mails were delivered and collected from shikaras through small boat. Presently, since the floating post office is already there, it is happening other way round - people visit it to meet their needs. The post office can be reached by walking through the boulevard alongside the houseboat and climbing a few steps on wooden ladder.

Floating Post Office on a Special Cover

It has been set on a intricately carved huge house boat, floating on the placid water of Dal Lake, at the backdrop of picturesque snow clad Pir Panjal mountain range. The boat has been moored on the western side (in between ghat no. 14 and 15) of the Dal Lake, floating majestically on turquoise waters. India Post is paying a monthly hire charge Rs. 30,000/- for the houseboat. 

A Special Cover of 13.09.1978 with Pictorial Cancellation (Picture courtesy: Dr. Sudhakar, MD)

The post office was established keeping in mind the growing need of postal services by the tourists flocking in this picturesque town of natural beauty. It provides both of postal services as well as banking services to locals and tourists.  The Post Office ‘complex’, other than a post office, comprises a Philatelic Museum and one exclusive Philatelic shop. The post office room has intricate hand crafted lattice wood-craft, in local parlance known as Khatam-bhand, meaning several polygons closed by joining together using wooden beads.

A Special Cover of 13.09.1978 with  Dal Lake Stamp (Picture courtesy: Dr. Sudhakar, MD)

The shop sales stamps, first day covers, special covers issued in Jammu and Kashmir, picture post cards, greeting cards, local souvenir items, stationary, even Saffron (Jafran) and several books on Kashmir. The history of the post office was displayed at the museum. However, the museum is presently closed.

Famous Saffron of Kashmir

One of the objectives of setting the post office at Dal Lake was to promote tourism and focus Kashmir as an attractive tourist destination, across the globe. For that purpose, what can be better way than putting a Permanent Pictorial Cancellation on letters posted at this post office?

In the postal term, cancellation is a round shaped (normally) postal marking put on the letter or stamp, to indicate that it has been used by the post. A postmark contains date, time (sometimes) and the location of the post office through which it has been processed.

A Typical Standard Cancellation

Other than regular cancellation, there are broadly two types of special cancellations done by the postal authorities of different countries. They are - commemorative and permanent (so non-commemorative) cancellations. 

A Special Cover on Post Office Passport Sewa (Service) Kendra (Center)

The cancellation used for First Day Covers and Special Covers for commemorating an event, occasion, personality etc., for a fixed and limited duration, are examples of commemorative cancellations.

Innovative Commemorative Cancellation, designed by author and approved by India Post

The another type which is used for a fairly long period, spanning several years, hence termed permanent, depicts places of tourist interest, historical importance, religious significance, cultural relevance etc. Popularly, they are called Permanent Pictorial Cancellation. They are provide by the post offices located at or near the place which features in the cancellation.

In India, Permanent Pictorial Cancellation was introduced sometime in 1950s. Some of them were Sanchi Vihara (30 Nov 1952 and 13 May 1965), Qutab Minar (10 Nov 1954, 12 Oct 1955 and 29 Nov 1960). Another batch of Permanent Pictorial Cancellation were introduced on 01 Jan 1965 with  Ajanta, Sanchi Vihara, Mahabalipuram and Khajuraho.

Besides India, such Permanent Pictorial Cancellation are being applied by post offices at Canada, China, Taiwan, UK and many other countries. The designs of such cancellations are very unique and attractive. After all, the main objective is to create awareness and promote the tourist destination.

For promoting tourism at Floating Post Office of Dal Lake, a Permanent Pictorial Cancellation was introduced during its inauguration. It depicts a famous shikara (boats made of Deodar wood which does not decay with water) of Dal Lake on the water, complete with the rowing boatman at the rear of the boat. What gondolas are to Venice, shikaras are to Kashmir.

Permanent Pictorial Cancellation looking like a shikara (Courtesy: Rajat Banerjee)

The letters going through this unique floating post office of India, carry the special seal with an open invitation to this spectacular beauty of Dal Lake, the unforgettable icon of Kashmir.

A letter with Permanent Pictorial Cancellation (Courtesy: Rajat Banerjee)

In the early morning, the famous and unique floating market does brisk business on the water of Dal Lake. Afterwards, traders row their boats to the floating post office for doing banking transactions. As the day progresses, tourists on board shikaras, head for the floating post office, some for their postal needs and rest out of curiosity. 

The entry gates both from land and water (Picture source: Internet)

During peak tourist season, when enough footfalls are encountered, entry has to be restricted keeping in mind the load bearing capacity of the post office or to be precise that of houseboat. Interesting to note that when tourist season reaches its peak, in order to handle traffic, it remains open on Sundays also.

A Pharma Company used picture of Floating Post Office to draw the attention (Picture courtesy: Dr. Sudhakar, MD)

The 'journey' of the boat on the turquoise water of Dal Lake was not free from ripples. In Sept 2014, there was massive flood in Jammu and Kashmir which was worst flood in more than a century.  Overflowing water of Jhelum river, caused by incessant rain, gushed into the city. The quiet water of the lake became furious and turbulent. In the heavy deluge, the boat was tossed like a paper-boat. Civil administration had to extend hand to save this heritage post office. The houseboat was taken to safer corner, anchored securely and was brought back to its original position, after the fury of nature subsided.

Whenever any of you visit Srinagar, please keep some time to drop in at this floating post office. Also please don’t forget to post a few letters from there to your near and dear ones, which will make nice memorable souvenirs from the only floating post office of the world.

Posting a letter (Picture source: Internet)

And when rest is snow covered, it is business as usual at Post Office -

Beauty and business (Courtesy: India Post)

A short video on Floating Post Office (Courtesy: Brut Footage: Newsflare). No commercial interest involved. No liability. Only sharing of knowledge. 

https://www.newsflare.com/video/386279/would-you-visit-this-200-year-old-floating-post-office-in-north-india

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The story was published in July 2020 issue of Ananthapuri Stamp Bulletin, an e-magazine on philately. The printed version is given below:

Additional information:

According to Annual Report of Post & Telegraph Department for 1955-1956,  three different floating post offices operated in Shikaras during that period. In that financial year, the Floating Post Office, Jhelam, Srinagar was operational from 10 Apr to 31 Oct 1955. Similarly the Floating Post Office, Naginbagh, Srinagar functioned from 02 July to 31 Oct 1955. Another Floating Post Office, Dal Lake which we talked about was at service of tourists and locals during 16 Apr to 31 Oct 1955. They operated during peak tourist seasons (Apr - Oct) every year for quite some time. The Floating Post Office of Dal Lake was commissioned for the second time on 13 Sept 1978 and after a long gap of more than 30 years, it was again put into service on 22 Aug 2011. 

Courtesy: stampofindia.com (FloatingPO)

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Disclaimer:

The information provided in the article is for general informational purposes only. All information is provided in good faith. This is only for the sharing of knowledge of Philately with philatelist fraternity. No commercial angle, whatsoever, is involved.

Under no circumstances I shall have any liability for reliance on any information provided in the story.