A 200-year-old floating post office in Jammu and Kashmir attracts many tourists

This post office in India's Jammu Kashmir is believed to be the only one of its kind in India offering postal services on the water. 

Set in a huge houseboat against the snow-clad mountains on the beautiful Dal Lake in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, India's only floating post office has been attracting people over the years. 

While being afloat this post office offers regular postal services available in the country.

Apart from the regular posts, this post office has been converted into an India Post Payments Bank where locals deposit their earnings.

The banking facility has increased the popularity of this post office.

Dated 200 years old, it came into existence during the British rule in India and was given a facelift in 2011 to attract more people.

Colorful stamps from the 1980s are placed in a museum with a collection of rare philately stamps on display.

The post office lives beyond its reputation of being a floating one as locals like it for its efficient and hassle-free services.

"Since postal banking service was extended, we have received an overwhelming response. Local businessmen deposit heir savings every alternate day with us", an official said.

The post office is popular among the tourist who often discovered by them accidentally.  

The boat is studded with lattice wooden artwork to give it a traditional look with a picture of romantic Kashmiri poet Mehjoor fixed on the wall. 

"We have all facilities here for locals and tourists. This is the only such post office around the world. We are lucky to be working here," says Farooq Ahmad Khan, an employee.

''While you are on a trip to Kashmir, you can also customize a stamp with your picture and sent it to your loved ones. We have tourists, who customize their stamps as memorabilia," says another employee while working on his computer.

During the peak tourist season, the floating post office witnesses a huge rush.  

Officials say that this is also believed to be the only one of its kind in India.

(All images by WION's Ieshan Bashir Wani)