В день независимости почтовое отделение в Муннаре сохраняет колониальное наследие и обслуживает более тысячи семей

As the country celebrates another Independence Day on Saturday (August 15), a quaint post office in the hill station of Munnar continues to preserve its colonial heritage. Established in 1912 in the plantation hamlet of Surianelle (also known as Suryanelli), the facility was an integral part of the early communication network built by British planters in the high ranges of Idukki. Operating from the exact same building for the past 114 years, the post office with PIN code 685618 was once the sole lifeline connecting British planters and estate workers to the outside world. It was administered under the Tiruchirappalli division before being shifted to the Madurai division, Periyakulam division and later brought under the Kottayam division in 1969 following the formation of the Kerala State. The building housing the post office now belongs to the Harrisons Malayalam Limited (HML), who are paid a token rent of ₹25 every month, up from its previous rate of ₹5 per month. “The post office serves over 1,000 families across five divisions of the HML estate, including Gundumala, Nagamala, Upper Surianelle, Lower Division, and Pappathichola,” says postmaster Ravi M. “The building retains its original British-era architecture, and we still preserve historical estate records here.” Officials note that the office was also crucial for migrant workers, who arrived from Tamil Nadu to work on the tea estates, serving as their only medium to stay in touch with families back home. Currently staffed by three employees, including the postmaster, the Surianelle post office oversees two branch offices at Chinnakkanal and Singukandam, covering a large jurisdiction. The surrounding Surianelle estate, spanning approximately 2,200 acres, was originally established by Henry Mansfield Knight, a prominent British planter in the high ranges and Central Travancore. Published - August 15, 2026 07:00 am IST