Sending Parcels and Money Home from Kalamassery

Key facts

India Post’s Speed Post Parcel takes items up to 35 kg, with track-and-trace and optional insurance up to ₹1 lakh.
From 1 August 2026 India Post revised Speed Post tariffs and added time-bound 24 Speed Post and 48 Speed Post services.
Currency notes and coins, dangerous goods and flammable liquids are on India Post’s prohibited list; batteries go by surface mail only.
Delhivery Direct, launched in 2021, lets individuals book doorstep pickup for parcels to family and friends online.
You never need to enter your UPI PIN to receive money; a request to do so is a scam signal.

Front of the Ashraf Gents Hostel building with its upstairs balcony and green shade net, Kalamassery. See all hostel photos

Pick the right service for what you are sending

Sending	Usually best	Why
Certificates, signed forms, ID copies	Speed Post (document)	Tracked, with proof of booking and delivery; accepted by most offices
Clothes, books, gifts up to a few kg	Speed Post Parcel or a private courier	Compare price and pickup convenience
Heavier boxes when moving out	Courier or India Post parcel by surface	Ask for a quote by weight; heavy boxes cost much less by surface
Urgent item to a big city	24 or 48 Speed Post, or an express courier	Time-bound services cost more but say when it arrives
Money	UPI or bank transfer	Instant, traceable; cash cannot be posted

Your nearest post offices are the HMT Colony (683503) and Kalamassery (683104) sub-offices; our post office and PIN code guide explains which is which and what else they do. This page is about getting things out of Kalamassery.

India Post: Speed Post and parcels

Speed Post Parcel takes items up to 35 kg, is tracked online with SMS updates, and can be insured up to ₹1,00,000.
New in August 2026: India Post revised its Speed Post tariffs and introduced 24 Speed Post and 48 Speed Post, which aim at delivery within 24 or 48 hours. Prices depend on weight and distance — use the calculator on indiapost.gov.in or ask at the counter rather than relying on old rate charts.
Carry an ID. Counters may ask for it, and the receipt shows your tracking number — photograph it.
Write the receiver’s full address with PIN and a phone number. A missing phone number is a common reason for delays in other states.

Keep the receipt until the parcel is delivered. If India Post loses or damages a Speed Post item, its stated compensation is limited, so insure anything valuable.

Private couriers

DTDC, Delhivery and Blue Dart all serve Kochi. For an individual sender the practical differences are pickup and price:

Delhivery Direct was launched for consumer-to-consumer parcels with online booking and doorstep pickup.
DTDC has the MyDTDC app for booking, pickup in many cities and drop-off at its franchise counters.
Blue Dart is an express courier; check its website for the nearest counter and whether it accepts walk-in bookings.
Get a quote for the exact weight and box size — couriers charge by volumetric weight, so a big light box can cost more than you expect.
Ask whether the destination PIN is serviceable; some rural PINs in other states are not.

We do not list specific courier counters in Kalamassery because franchises open and close. Search the courier’s own website with PIN 683503 or 683104.

Packing that survives the trip

Use a strong carton, not a plastic bag; fill gaps with old newspaper or clothes so nothing moves.
Put documents in a plastic sleeve first, then an envelope, against monsoon damp. Our monsoon guide explains why.
Write both addresses on the box and slip a second copy inside.
Do not send: currency, anything flammable (deodorant cans, lighters), liquids that can leak, or medicines without checking the rules. Phones and power banks contain lithium batteries, which India Post sends only by surface.
Kerala specialities like banana chips and halwa travel well if sealed; home-made pickles leak — double-bag them or skip them.

Sending money home safely

Most families now receive money by UPI or bank transfer. A few habits keep it safe:

Add family members as saved contacts and check the name the app shows before you pay.
You never need your UPI PIN to receive money. Anyone asking you to enter a PIN or scan a QR code to get money is attempting fraud.
Never share an OTP, even with someone claiming to be from your bank, a courier company or the police.
If something goes wrong, call 1930 immediately and file a report at cybercrime.gov.in; see our emergency numbers page.
If a family member has no bank account, India Post Payments Bank accounts can be opened at a post office; more in banks and ATMs.

Planning how much you can send each month? The expense calculator and the monthly budget guide help you see what is left after rent and food.

Receiving and sending from Ashraf Gents Hostel

The hostel’s address for couriers is Ashraf house, NAD Rd, signal, Kalamassery, Aluva, Kerala 683563. When you book a pickup, add your own phone number and “near NAD Road signal” so the pickup rider finds you. Ask on the call how parcels are handled when you are out.

Many men from other states stay here while working in Kalamassery — see our guide for workers from other states. Monthly stays (indicative ₹2,000–3,000 per head, confirmed on the call) and daily rooms are both available: rooms and rates. Call or WhatsApp +91 90746 23855.

Frequently asked questions

Which post office is nearest to NAD Road?

The HMT Colony sub-office (PIN 683503) serves the NAD Road side; the Kalamassery sub-office uses 683104. Check India Post’s locator for the exact counter and hours.

Can I send cash in a parcel?

No. India Post lists currency notes and coins as prohibited articles. Use UPI or a bank transfer.

What is 24 Speed Post?

A time-bound Speed Post service India Post introduced with its tariff revision from 1 August 2026, aimed at delivery within 24 hours; 48 Speed Post aims at 48 hours. Check availability for your destination at the counter.

Can a courier pick up from my hostel?

Several couriers, including DTDC and Delhivery, offer online booking with doorstep pickup in many cities. Enter your PIN on their site to check.

Is it safe to send money by UPI?

Yes, if you check the receiver’s name before paying and never share your PIN or OTP. Report fraud on 1930 at once.

Sources

Facts about Ashraf Gents Hostel come from the hostel’s own profile and photos; rates are indicative and confirmed on the call. Last reviewed 7 October 2026. How we write these guides: editorial notes. Map embeds © Google.