History of the Head Post Office, Jammu Tawi

Chander M Bhat
chander.1831@gmail.com
The story of the Head Post Office at
Jammu Tawi is inseparable from the broader history of communication in
the Jammu & Kashmir state.

It begins in the 19th century, in an era when mountains were crossed on foot, mail bags slung across the shoulders of hardy runners, and the Dogra rulers were laying the first foundations of organized state institutions. From those humble yet heroic beginnings, the Jammu Head Post Office has evolved into a vibrant, modern, and digitized hub, symbolizing service, connectivity, and the steady march of progress.
The roots of postal services in Jammu reach back to the Dogra era, when Maharaja Ranbir Singh, in 1866, issued the first adhesive postage stamps of the princely state, granting Jammu & Kashmir a distinct postal identity. Over the years, Jammu, Kashmir, and Poonch each issued their own stamps, remaining in circulation from 1876 to 1896. Today, these rare issues, cherished by philatelists across the world, stand as enduring symbols of the state’s growing administrative sophistication and its aspiration to connect people through a modern communication system.
During this early period, communication across the kingdom was a formidable challenge. The rugged terrain between Jammu and Srinagar demanded endurance, skill, and an immense sense of duty. Mail was carried by harkaras (foot runners) who traversed nearly 290 km of mountains through the Banihal Pass. Relay stations ensured continuity, and at least 75 runners participated in this arduous chain. British officers recorded their admiration, noting that the state’s postal arrangements were “better than in many parts of British India.”
Meanwhile, postal facilities spread rapidly across the state. Under Maharaja Hari Singh’s administration, the network expanded dramatically, and by 1944, 126 post offices were functioning. The Jammu Head Post Office naturally emerged as the nerve center for the province.
A watershed moment arrived in 1890 when the Dogra postal system was merged into the Imperial British Indian Post. This integration ended the issuance of separate state stamps and harmonized operations with the all-India system. During this transition, a dedicated Head Post Office building was likely established in Jammu city.
For much of the 20th century, this Head Post Office operated from a beautiful colonial-era building in the old walled city at Pacca Danga. With arched entrances, high ceilings, and a spacious public hall, the structure became a minor architectural landmark in Jammu’s heritage quarter. It was here that generations of residents visited to buy stamps, send letters, receive money orders, or simply experience the bustling rhythm of public life.
When the princely state acceded to India in 1947, postal services came under the Indian Posts & Telegraphs Department. Unlike Srinagar’s first General Post Office, which was destroyed in the post-1947 turmoil, the Jammu Head Post Office survived intact and continued its operations seamlessly.
In the decades following Independence, it faithfully carried out essential services, registered mail, telegraph, money orders, postal banking, and later postal life insurance. Its role became even more crucial during winters when air mail became the only reliable mode of communication with Kashmir Valley and Ladakh. During crises, conflicts, and natural disruptions, the Jammu HPO served as a resilient communication lifeline for families, businesses, soldiers, and state administration.
Historically, the Jammu Head Post Office played a vital role in the administration of the Dogra kingdom, especially during the biannual Darbar Move between the two capitals. Its efficient mail lines once carried official correspondence across mountains within a day, a remarkable feat for the time.
A transformative change came in 1972 with the extension of broad-gauge railway lines to Jammu Tawi. After 25 years without railway access, Jammu re-entered the national rail network. As trains began bringing mail from across India, the area around the railway station naturally emerged as the ideal location for a mail depot and sorting center.
In the year 1973, a Railway Mail Service (RMS) office was established to handle mail arriving by train. For decades thereafter, the Jammu HPO and the RMS together handled the enormous volume of letters and parcels destined for Kashmir, Ladakh, Jammu region, and beyond.
The last decades of the 20th century witnessed rapid changes in postal operations. India Post launched Speed Post in 1986, and the Jammu HPO soon became the city’s principal booking center, extensively used by government offices, the armed forces, traders, and ordinary citizens.
In 1990, the Jammu & Kashmir Postal Administration, under the dynamic leadership of N. D. Dayal (Chief Postmaster General) and Deepak Budki (Director Postal Services), decided to celebrate the glorious centenary of the historic Pacca Danga Head Post Office. The festivities began on 1st April, marking 100 proud years of Head Post Office, Jammu Tawi. The occasion came alive with vibrant events such as Painting and Letter Writing competitions that drew enthusiastic participation from thousands of school children. A Special Cover on Sri Raghunath Temple, Jammu with a commemorative cancellation was released by the Advisor to the Governor, along with a souvenir showcasing Jammu’s rich postal legacy. Throughout the celebrations, the Pacca Danga Head Post Office shone like a beautifully adorned bride, draped in dazzling illuminations and filled with jubilation , a memorable tribute to a century of trust and communication.
In 1993, when the Pacca Danga Head Post Office finally moved to the Departmental Building at Mubarak Mandi, it wasn’t just an office shifting its address, it was a century-old chapter quietly coming to a close. The old building, which had stood for more than a hundred years, echoed with memories of dedicated hands sorting letters under its lofty ceilings and the gentle hum of age-old British-era fans that had witnessed generations of postal history. The staff who once walked those corridors carried with them countless stories, of camaraderie, of service, of the building’s unique charm, and as they spoke, one could feel the walls themselves still whispering the pride and legacy of a place that had faithfully connected hearts for over a century.
By the 1990s and 2000s, counters became computerized, e-money orders introduced, and new financial services added. Jammu HPO steadily continued to evolve into a comprehensive public service institution. The early 2010s brought the most significant structural change in the HPO’s history. Under the nationwide modernization initiative Project Arrow, India Post developed a new state-of-the-art postal complex right beside the Jammu Tawi Railway Station.
On 30 April 2013, this modernized Head Post Office was inaugurated, a first-of-its-kind facility in the region. It consolidated multiple services under one roof:
Public counters, Speed Post Centre , Mail Business Centre, Philately section, Postal savings bank, India Post ATM and a fully upgraded Mail Processing Centre
Most notably, it introduced a 24×7 operational model, a pioneering step in Jammu region. This brought immense convenience to thousands of travelers, pilgrims, and tourists who pass through Jammu Tawi daily on their way to Vaishno Devi, Kashmir, and Ladakh.
With this shift, the old Pacca Danga building was retired and repurposed, while the new complex became the beating heart of Jammu’s postal network.
By 2025, Jammu Tawi HPO had undergone complete digital integration under India Post 2.0. Real-time parcel tracking, handheld devices for postmen, online money transfer services, Aadhaar enrolment and updates, and SMS alerts have transformed the customer experience. The HPO now doubles as a multifunctional government service center, offering postal banking, bill payments, insurance, and more.
The HPO also supported trade, tourism, and pilgrimage, enabling communication for merchants, travelers, and yatris. Culturally, it has promoted Jammu’s philatelic heritage through commemorative stamps and special covers celebrating local icons, temples, and historical events.
In emergencies, from the 1947-48 conflict to later crises, it remained a lifeline, allowing families to remain connected when all other channels were disrupted.
From the days of Dogra-era runners to the era of digital tracking and 24×7 service, the Head Post Office at Jammu Tawi has continually adapted to changing times while retaining its core ethos of public service. It stands today not merely as a postal facility, but as a symbol of Jammu’s resilience, connectivity, and administrative heritage.
An institution built on trust, service, and human connection, the Jammu Tawi Head Post Office continues to carry forward the proud legacy of Dak Seva, quietly linking people, places, and generations for more than 150 years.
(The author is Assistant Director Postal Services (Rtd.) Jammu and Kashmir Circle)

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