Dakshin Gangotri Post Office

A commemorative postage stamp on the first Indian post office at Dakshin Gangotri, India‘s first research station in Antarctica :

Issued by India

Issued on Jul 11, 1989

Description of design : The stamp depicts the Dakshin Gangotri Post Office building in its ice-bound surroundings amidst other establishments of the Indian Scientific Station, Dakshin Gangotri, Antarctica. It is designed by Sh. Sankha Samantha and produced at India Security Press, Nashik Road. The First Day Cover depicts the Indian Scientific Station at Dakshin Gangotri, Antarctica. The cancellation is designed by Ms. Alka Sharma.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 100 Paise

Overall size : 4.06 x 2.41 cms.

Printing size : 3.70 x 2.05 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported unwatermarked adhesive gravure Coated stamp paper

Number Printed : 10,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printed : India Security Press

About : 

• The continent of Antarctica, covering an area of more than India and China put together, occupies the southernmost part of the globe, with 90% of the area being covered with a 2-kilometre average thickness of ice.
• Dakshin Gangotri, having become operational from 24 February 1984, is the permanently manned scientific station located along 70°05’ South latitude and 12° East longitude. The Post Office at the station forms part of the varied life support systems at the station, which include an ice-melting plant, generators, an office, laboratories, storage accommodation, recreation facilities, living and working accommodation, a clinic and bank counter.
• The Department of Post started sending philatelic mail to Antarctica with the Third Indian Scientific Expedition in 1983-84. On the return of this expedition to India, a special cancellation was brought out by the Department of Post at Goa. Between 1984 and 1987, this process continued for the fourth, fifth and sixth expeditions also.
• On 26 January, 1988, a Post Office was established at Dakshin Gangotri under the Goa Postal Division. Congratulatory messages were received from the President and Prime Minister of India on this occasion. Shri G. Sudhakar Rao, a scientist, who went to Antarctica as a member of the Seventh Indian Scientific Expedition in November, 1987, was appointed as the first Honorary Postmaster. More than 10,000 articles of the letter mail were posted and cancelled at the Dakshin Gangotri Post Office during its first year of existence. In January, 1989, the Dakshin Gangotri Post Office completed its first year of continuous existence. This stamp is issued to commemorate the second year of the Dakshin Gangotri Post Office.
• Text based on material provided by the Department of Ocean Development.