A bizarre Indian Post Office At The Antarctic Circle

• The temperature Antarctic Circle varies from -25 degrees to -128 degrees
• The Post Office was part of the research place known as Dakshin Gangotri
• India has two research stations at Antarctic Circle namely 'Maitri' and 'Bharati'

NEW DELHI: The Antarctic is the southernmost continent of the earth and is situated in the Antarctic region of the Southern Hemisphere. The entire place is surrounded by the Southern Ocean and almost 98 percent of the land is covered with ice over there.

The Antarctic is considered as the coldest, driest, and windiest continent. The temperature Antarctic Circle varies from -25 degrees to -128 degrees. This makes it an inhabitable place to survive but there are almost 4000-5000 people of different nations are stationed here on various research shelters.

So, to have Post Office at such a place in the age of social media networking is quite weird. Isn't it?

Once, India had a Post Office in the remote area of Antarctic Circle. The Post Office was part of the research place known as Dakshin Gangotri. It was set up during the third Indian expedition to the Antarctic but after six years of rigorous service, the place was decommissioned. The whole place got buried under the heavy blanket so snow and is now marked as a historical site.

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The Post Office was part of multiple support systems at Dakshin Gangotri. The other facilities included an ice-melting plant, accommodation, recreation facilities, laboratories, storage, accommodation, recreation facilities, a clinic and a bank counter.

The Dakshin Gangotri Post Office was established under the Department of Post Office at Goa on January 26, 1988. Scientist G. Sudhakar Rao was appointed as the first Honorary Postmaster. He had gone to the Antarctic as a member of the Seventh Indian Scientific Expedition in 1987. In the very first year of its foundation, almost 10,000 letters were posted and cancelled in the Dakshin Gangotri post office.

Presently, India has two research stations at Antarctic Circle namely 'Maitri' and 'Bharati'. Bharti station was constructed and established in March 2013. Here, Indian scientists are stationed to understand the Polar processes and phenomenon. Whereas, Maitri station was structured long ago in 1989 and it is still going strong.

To serve the personnel at such a long location through a Post Office is really a daunting task.