First post office of Sikkim set to get heritage tag
Rhenock (Sikkim)

Rhenock (Sikkim), July 31(ANI): The old charming blue painted post office in the sleepy town of Rhenock in Sikkim would soon get heritage status from the Central government.

Rhenock post office, perhaps the first in Sikkim, came into existence in 1910.


Ganesh Kumar Pradhan, owner of museum Ram Gauri Sangralaya, said that a catalogue of Rhenock's famed Chandra Nursery that began in 1910 has a stamped seal of the Rhenock Post Office imprinted on it. He further added that the organisation always mentioned the Rhenock Post Office in its address.


"The famous Chandra Nursery began its service in 1910, this post office would have existed even before that. The catalogue shows its postal address at Rhenock post office that is why I believe the post office has been there before that," said Pradhan.


Pradhan added that the post office deserved to be accorded the heritage status, as it was the oldest in the state.


"We obviously are very happy that it is getting heritage status and it should get since it is Sikkim's oldest (post office)," he said.


The post office moved from its earlier one-storied office to a new building in 1957.


Though locals visit the new office for postal service, but they recall the old post office and its architecture with sweet memories.


"I had seen the post office when I was a kid and from here used to send flower saplings to outside Sikkim and clients in Britain. From there, mail also used to be sent to Tibet through the Jelep La Pass," said 91-year-old Chaygu Tshering Bhutia, headman at the time of Sikkim kingdom.


The government is optimistic that tourism in the state would receive the necessary impetus after the post office is accorded the heritage status. (ANI)