India's Polar Expeditions

A comprehensive digital archive preserving India's scientific legacy at the ends of the Earth. From Dakshin Gangotri to the Weddell Sea, explore decades of climate, oceanographic, and geological research.

Indian Polar Expeditions

Key scientific voyages into the Antarctic pack ice, Arctic fjords, and Southern Ocean

Weddell Sea Ice Polynya 1989 Expedition
Weddell Sea • 1989–1990

1st Weddell Sea Expedition

Launched in parallel with the 9th IAE aboard MV Polarbjørn. Indian Navy Chetak helicopters flew missions over the Filchner Ice Shelf, Berkner Island, and Moltke Nunataks, setting up the field base 'India-1'.

MV Finnpolaris - First Indian Antarctic Expedition
Antarctica • 1981–1982

1st Indian Antarctic Expedition

Led by Dr. S.Z. Qasim, a 21-member team departed Goa aboard MV Finnpolaris on Operation Gangotri. This pioneer voyage successfully reached Queen Maud Land, laying the foundation for India's Antarctic program.

ORV Sagar Kanya
Southern Ocean • Ongoing

Southern Ocean Expedition (SOE)

Conducts multi-disciplinary oceanographic surveys across sub-Antarctic waters aboard the research vessel ORV Sagar Kanya to analyze air-sea interaction, carbon sequestration, and marine ecosystem dynamics.

Active & Historic Research Bases

Year-round and seasonal scientific stations operated in polar and high-altitude regions

Dakshin Gangotri Station
Antarctica • 1983–1989

Dakshin Gangotri

India's first scientific base in Antarctica. Eventually decommissioned after being buried in ice, it now serves as a historic transit camp and supply base.

Bharati Station
Antarctica • Est. 2012

Bharati Station

India's third Antarctic research facility located in Larsemann Hills. Constructed using 134 shipping containers, it focuses on oceanography, tectonics, and atmospheric chemistry.

Maitri Station
Antarctica • Est. 1989

Maitri Station

Situated in the Schirmacher Oasis rocky ice-free region. Maitri has hosted vital research in earth sciences, meteorology, magnetic phenomena, and biology for over three decades.

Himadri Station
Arctic (Svalbard) • Est. 2008

Himadri Station

Located in Ny-Ã…lesund, Norway. Dedicated to Arctic climate monitoring, aerosol radiation experiments, glacier dynamics, and studying polar space weather interaction.

Himansh Station Region
Himalayas (Spiti) • Est. 2016

Himansh Station

A high-altitude research station situated above 13,500 feet in Himachal Pradesh. Serves as a vital hub for monitoring Himalayan glaciology and hydrological changes.