Maitri

Maitri is India's second permanent research station in Antarctica as part of the Indian Antarctic Programme. The name was suggested by the then PM Mrs Indira Gandhi who was tragically shot a month before the expedition left the shores of India on 03 Dec 1984. Work on the station was first started by the Indian Expedition which landed there in end Dec 1984, the team was led by DR B B Bhattacharya. I, the surgeon of the team, was the first camp commander of the tentage at camp Maitri . It was built and finished in ****, shortly before the first station Dakshin Gangotri was buried in ice and abandoned in 1990–91. Maitri is situated on the rocky mountainous region called Schirmacher Oasis. It is only 5 km away from Russian Novolazarevskaya Station.