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Mussoorie: Today is World Post Day, and in Mussoorie, locals are celebrating a living piece of history: the Landour Post Office, which has stood for 188 years.
This post office is not only a symbol of colonial-era architecture, but also deeply tied to the life of Jim Corbett’s father, Christopher William Corbett, who served as postmaster here from 1850 to 1863.
Post Office was founded by the same man who helped found Mussoorie
The Landour Post Office was founded in 1837 by Captain Frederick Young, the same man who helped found Mussoorie. It was built in a prime location—amid narrow lanes, old markets, and British-style buildings. For many years, this was Mussoorie’s main post office, handling mail for British officers, soldiers, and ordinary citizens.
Historian Gopal Bhardwaj says that until 1909, the Landour Post Office was the primary mail center. In that year, a new General Post Office (GPO) was established at Rock Stone House in the Kulri area of Mussoorie. Earlier, the GPO had been located in places like Devonshire House and later moved to Rock Stone House, as maps and old documents suggest.
It used to be an important hub of communication
In British times, post offices were not just for letters—they were important hubs of communication. The British chose locations like Mussoorie, Almora, Chakrata, and Dehradun for their strategic value. For example, Dehradun’s first post office was built near the then Army headquarters in the cantonment area.
Many branches once operated in Mussoorie, such as one in Charleville Hotel (from 1854), another in Library Bazaar (linked to St. George’s College), and others in Barlowganj, Oak Grove School, and Jharipani. Over time, some closed or merged. Still, the Landour Bazaar post office remains open, serving locals even today.
Jim Corbett connection
The tie to Jim Corbett adds special charm: his father, Christopher Corbett, guided the post here for over a decade. Stories say postmen once carried spears with bells to traverse steep paths, both for protection and to announce their arrival. The bells would echo across hills and tell villagers a letter had come.
Ruskin Bond also used this post office
Author Ruskin Bond, a long-time Landour resident, has used this post office since 1964. In his writings, he often mentions the waiting for letters, the footsteps of postmen, and how much hope letters brought to remote places.
Today, the Landour Post Office shows wear. Many locals hope it will be declared a heritage post office, so it can be restored and preserved. It could also become a tourist spot, where visitors can feel history and send postcards from this classic site.
A bridge between past and present
On World Post Day, which commemorates the founding of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874, we reflect on how mail connected distant places. The Landour Post Office reminds us that beyond modern communication, there’s value in traditions, stories, and heritage. Mussoorie’s Landour Post Office, with its 188-year journey and connection to Jim Corbett’s family, stands as a bridge between past and present.
There are 2,722 post offices in Uttarakhand
Though communication has evolved, the importance of post offices remains. In Uttarakhand, there are 2,722 post offices, many in remote villages. They now manage parcels, banking services, verification of government documents, and more. Still, the charm of receiving a handwritten letter or a personal parcel remains timeless.
