General Post Office Shimla
When you hear the word, Post office, it reminds you of the coveted letters from your mother, grandparents and the father. It reminds you of a place which smells of ink and loved messages from your relatives and the friends. You can also hear the sound of stamping letters and the Morse code, which brings the tidings from the outer world. It reminds you about the sound of the postman’s cycle that brings the glad tidings of the marriage or a job for you.
A post office embodies all this and more, a medium of communication between the people all over the world since 1650s. In 1635, the private mail service was legalized in the England. The post office can be broadly defined as the customer services facility related to the mail services. These services include such as the acceptance and delivery of the parcels and the letters and the sale of postage stamps. Some post offices also provide post office boxes. Some post offices also provide the additional services such as the banking services, providing and the acceptance of the government forms, processing the govt. fees and other services. The post office is mainly administered by the post master. The term general post office is used for the main office of the region or the nation.

One of the main general post office in India, which has been also been declared as the heritage general post office, Shimla. This GPO or general post office was opened during the British era, when Shimla was the summer capital of British India. The building of the General Post Office is one of the finest examples of the British Colonial or Hilly Architecture.
About General Post Office
General Post office, Shimla is located in the centre of the Shimla thoroughfare, where Scandal Point meets the Mall. The building was constructed in 1882, for the Director- General of the Post Office for whole British India. The building also provided the space for the Postmaster General of Punjab. The building of the Shimla GPO is a timber framed structure which is an eclectic mix of different styles similar to the other British era buildings in Shimla.
The mix of the styles includes the part-Alpine, part-Gothic and the part-Tudor which has been described by a writer as the Wild West Swiss. The building is mainly a structure of timber, which has a tin-roof. It is a fine example of English hill architecture with the design, which comprises the hollow larges pillars constructed from stone. It also includes the bricks which transverse the height.
On 21 September, 1972 the first floor of the building was gutted by the fire in which most of old records were burnt. The govt. renovated the building with the intact architectural features. In 1992, the Shimla GPO was declared as one of the six heritage Post office building in India. On this occasion the govt of India commissioned a set of commemorative postage stamps, which included the Shimla GPO. The price of each stamp in this set is Rupee five. These postal stamps were released in London.
Since, its construction the colors of the building included the green and white livery. But, recently, the building which is an important heritage site has been painted in red and white.
The oldest post office in Northern India, Shimla GPO was constructed in 1882 when it was known as the Conny Cottage. It was purchased from a Mr. Peterson. The first Post Master of this post office was Mr. F. Dalton and Mr. L. G. Pigott was the last Post Master who retired at December 1946 before Indian Independence. After India became Independent in 1947, Mr.A. K, Hazari had the distinction of being the first Indian Post Master of Shimla GPO.

The mail was sent through a special dak gari from Kalka to Ambala, before the establishment of the roads or rail link. The postal employees transported the mail by using elephants, ponies and horses. The mail was distributed to the people by using tonga mail delivery. Today, also the post office has continued this tradition.
How to reach General Post Office
The General Post office is located at the Mall, Shimla. It is in centre of the city. You can have a very easy access to the place from all parts of the city. You can hire a cab or taxi to reach at the place. You can also take the buses.Nearest Airport - Shimla Airport is 21 km away
Nearest Railway Station - Shimla Train Station is 3 km away
Best Time to Visit General Post Office
If you are interested in the architecture, you should visit this heritage building, which has been commemorated in the postage stamps at the heritage GPO. The General Post Office is open on weekdays from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm for the public services all year. There is no entry fee. There are no restrictions for taking photos.Address of the General Post Office
General Post Office, Shimla
Address:
The Mall
Shimla GPO
Shimla - 171001
Phone no.: 0177 265 7258 / 0177 265 1565
Website: www.indiapost.gov.in
9864
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Comments / Discussion Board - General Post Office Shimla

My grand father Sh. Brij Kishore was Postmaster General 1955 to 1958 and retired from here. Can anyone give contact and share his archives on my email id. Looking forward and thanks in advance.
A tool under speed post number EH777125261IN was sent to me from paunckula. One of my colleague collected this from your office at AG Shimla. To my utter surprise the tool is missing and only bill is there inside. Donot you think it is pathetic that in a packet from paunckula to shimla the main article is missing. Should I trust Post Office service onwards?
My numbers are 8219706890, 9418233052
Gen. Post office Shimla. Respect Sir, Sir meri shikayat hai ki Nalagarh bus stand ke pass ko post office ki Branch hai usme cash deposit krne ke liye sirf ak mulazim kam krta hai. Yaha per logon ki line 9 to 4 baje tak lagi rahati hai. Logon ka 5 minutes ke kam ke liye pura din kharab ho jata hai. Kripa krke yaha per ak mulajim or bheja jae. Ager aap iske uper jruri action lete hai to garib janta ka bahut sa time bach skta haiThanks. Krishan Lal Nalagarh. 7018540951
Speed post from Narkanda to Noida has taken more than a week,, I think Indian postal service has become a liability on nation,, with out a minutes delay, u must close ur shop and go home so hard earned money of honest people are not spent on irresponsible deppt like IPS,
Sorry I forgot to give you my PH no 8628964826 and Speed post Rgs No is EE7518529556IIN
IPS is pathetic, but there is no one to do anything.
Passport
irresponsible behavior by postman of shilaroo pin 171213 Narkanda never deliver the dak in time often deliver after lapse of month..kindly take strict action against him
Chief aa gy Kya
Sanjauli Post Office sanction memo to Nominee Mrs Anjali Magoo, my Wife for the Savings certificates has been posted to our local address in Shimla whereas She is situated in Delhi.We had authorised her brother Sanjay Bahl to collect the Payorder and send it to us/her. Sanjauli Post office telephone dicussion with Post master refused to either handover the Payorder or send the same to our Delhi Address. ID Proof and Address Proof of Anjali Magoo, Nominee was also sent to them. But they insist that unless the nominee comes personally this can not be given. I fail to understand having spent my entire life in Banking & Finance that how could one insist for such presence while the documentation is complete. If you so desire you may directly by RTGS/NEFT pay the dues to her bank account for which her Bank account details can be given. Else my request is to mail the Payorder directly to her by Regd Post/Speedpost as the receipt has already been signed by her and sent to Sanjauli Post office before processing the case. Please help in resolving this issue urgently as we need the money.
Sir ,my courier had arrived at GPO shimla yesterday .Whether you send it to me or I have to recieve it myself
Sir, As per verbal talk with you about five months back regarding fixing of two post boxes. One on the Mall road near Rotary Club and one in the lower bazar near old post office lower bazar. In this regard the permission for fixing both the post boxes have already been granted to you by Municiapl Corporation Shimla. Sir, but till date the work of fixing the post boxes have not done. You are requested to please arrange for fixing of two post boxes as stated above.
Sir, Govt.of India repeatedly announced on all TV channels that all banks & post office will promptly exchange the old currency of Rs.500&1000. But it is very sorry to point out that main post office Rohru refused even to deposit the RD with notes of old currency. This is my complaint against sub post master working there.It is my request kindly to take appropriate suitable disciplinary action against them accordingly please under intimation to me.
a very helpful article and thanks for the information