varanasi post restante

challengechappers · Aug 17th, 2006, 04:34

hi- do you know if varanasi post office offers a reliable poste restante service?
i was thinking of sending a couple of books (novels) there to pick up later on our travels. (i know people will say i can buy books in india cheaper/from secondhand stores/swap with other travellers etc but we are on a short trip....lots of trains...don't want to waste time searching for a couple of good novels to read when i can't sleep...)

crvlvr · Aug 17th, 2006, 06:57

From an India post office website:

Quote:

POSTE-RESTANTE
Mail superscribed TO BE KEPT TILL CALLED FOR, TO AWAIT ARRIVAL or in any similar way, or addressed to CARE OF POST-MASTER or CARE OF POST OFFICE is called Poste-Restante article. This is intended to facilitate delivery of mail to travellers having no specific address at a station.
Such mail is kept in deposit ordinarily for one month.

They do offer the service. But you will have know which postoffice the mail will be held. Also, Indian post office employees are not the most honest ones. Parcels from abroad may be opened and "inspected"

capt_mahajan · Aug 17th, 2006, 08:53

inspected, maybe. books stolen? probably not as they dont have much value.

varanasi is in an area not quite known for its honesty, though. but thats me getting cynical again.

wonderwomanusa · Aug 19th, 2006, 11:39

I don't believe there's an international book rate, and paper is heavy; do you think having a couple of books waiting for you in Varanasi is worth the postage? I don't!

Carry books with some sort of "universal appeal" so that you can trade with other travellers or with used bookstores. Classics are always good, so are big fat adventure books (Shogun, for one). And you'll find lots of good South Asian writers' work in the bookstores!

challengechappers · Aug 19th, 2006, 14:56

Thanks for the helpful suggestions. although i knew i'd get some negative responses too !

. the point of sending them is so that i don't have to carry 'em. we're trekking before we hit varanasi. the books cost me 50p from the charity shop anyway and i've checked postage and it's only a few quid. taking books that have "universal appeal" defeats the object. do you suggest john grisham ?!!

Aug 17th, 2006, 04:34	#1
challengechappers Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: brighton, uk Posts: 40	varanasi post restante hi- do you know if varanasi post office offers a reliable poste restante service? i was thinking of sending a couple of books (novels) there to pick up later on our travels. (i know people will say i can buy books in india cheaper/from secondhand stores/swap with other travellers etc but we are on a short trip....lots of trains...don't want to waste time searching for a couple of good novels to read when i can't sleep...)

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Aug 17th, 2006, 08:53	#3
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	inspected, maybe. books stolen? probably not as they dont have much value. varanasi is in an area not quite known for its honesty, though. but thats me getting cynical again.

Aug 19th, 2006, 11:39	#4
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 3,518	I don't believe there's an international book rate, and paper is heavy; do you think having a couple of books waiting for you in Varanasi is worth the postage? I don't! Carry books with some sort of "universal appeal" so that you can trade with other travellers or with used bookstores. Classics are always good, so are big fat adventure books (Shogun, for one). And you'll find lots of good South Asian writers' work in the bookstores!

Aug 19th, 2006, 14:56	#5
challengechappers Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: brighton, uk Posts: 40	Thanks for the helpful suggestions. although i knew i'd get some negative responses too ! . the point of sending them is so that i don't have to carry 'em. we're trekking before we hit varanasi. the books cost me 50p from the charity shop anyway and i've checked postage and it's only a few quid. taking books that have "universal appeal" defeats the object. do you suggest john grisham ?!!

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