Where is the World's Highest Post Office
Hikkim is a village in Himachal Pradesh State located in Lahaul and Spiti Districts. The village is near the Kaza location and is one of the highest year-round inhabited villages in India. The Komik village neighbors Hikkim on the southeast with the village often mistaken as an extension of Langza. Hikkim is about 3.7 miles southward of Langza. The majority of the people in Hikkim are Buddhists. The region remains secluded from the rest of India for the most part of the year for heavy snowfall and residents are forced to use stones extensively to build houses. The tiny village of Hikkim is known for being the home to the highest post office in the world with a pin code of 172114, located at 14,567 feet above the sea level. The village is also the location for the highest polling station and also recorded in the Limca Book of Records.
Overview Of Hikkim
The town of Hikkim is located at an altitude of 14,400 feet above the sea level and houses the highest polling booth and post office in the world. At first glance, the village can be mistaken as an extension of either Komik or Langza since it has a similar bowl-shaped setting and it is also located between the two villages. The houses in Hikkim are constructed using stones and mud with the wall painted in white. The houses have Buddhist flags hanging around to symbolize the Buddhist influence in the village. The houses are built close to each other just below the road. The monastery is located at the far end of the village overlooking the entire village. A Hindu government school at Hikkim village was started in 1965 and offers classes up to the eighth grade. Hikkim, just like Langza, is reach in fossils since it was part of the Indian Ocean before the formation of the Himalayan fold mountains. Fossils are found more quickly in Hikkim than in Langza which is known as a fossil village. In Hikkim, fossils are everywhere and all one needs to do is to look around.
About The Hikkim Post Office
Hikkim post office is part of India’s extensive postal system. It was established in November 1983 with Rinchen Chhering as the postmaster. The post office also doubles as Chhering’s home. Just like the rest of the village, the post office is also shut for almost half the year during snow. Monks from the areas receive their postcards and passports from the post office while farmers maintain their savings account there. Tourists visiting the areas also have an opportunity to send postcards. Mails are delivered on foot by runners from Hikkim to Kaza every morning from where they are delivered to Reckong Peo by bus.
How To Reach Hikkim?
Hikkim is a 40-minutes uphill drive from Kaza. There are two options for getting to the village from Kaza town. One can hire a taxi from Kaza or take the HRTC government bus from the town to Hikkim. The taxis are available throughout the week and at any time of the day. However, the bus runs twice a week, Tuesdays and Saturdays and departs the town at 2 pm taking 70 to 90 minutes to get to Hikkim before proceeding to Komik.
