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India's postal system began even before the introduction of postage stamps. Back then, the kings and emperors protected their territory via specially trained police and courier services to convey information through runners, messengers, and even pigeons. The chief of this service was the postmaster since he maintained the lines of communication. The runners ran from one village to the next, carrying letters on a pole. It was a dangerous job; they worked all day and night, and were vulnerable to attacks by robbers and wild animals. In order to give them a place to spend the nights on their way to deliver mail, rest houses were built and thus the legend grew. The chimneys, slanted roofs, and cozy wooden fireplaces are from a bygone era but still give off their warmth. There is a charm about these century-old rest houses that is incomparable. The Forest Rest Houses in India were built by the British in the second half of the 19th century and many of them are located in some of the most picturesque regions in the country. Nearly all of them have a story to tell as they were used for various purposes, apart from spending the night. The one near Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, for instance, had a library as it was used as an officer’s club in the 1930s. Others are more adventurous. While chasing man-eating tigers, Jim Corbett spent a lot of time in various such rest houses in the Kumaon region. These rest houses were also the basis to legendary stories for writers, directors and artists like Rudyard Kipling and Satyajit Ray, among others. But the idea of rest houses is not entirely new nor is it a British invention. An example is the conquest of Kalinga, which marked a turning point in Emperor Ashoka's life. Instead of more war, he chose peace and sent emissaries to his Asian neighbors. He also built good roads with rest houses along the way for travelers, including establishing hospitals for both people and animals. During the reign of the Gupta Kings, when the Roman Empire was disintegrating, their rule was at the height of its grandeur, including progress in crafts and trade like furniture, leather, and household goods, among others. The cities were generally full of wealthy and middle class people who cherished pleasures like gardens, music, dancing, and theatre. They also enjoyed artistic and social activities and a variety of foods. www.portsidecafe.com
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