CS Chandrasekaran (67), Venkata Subra Maniam Raju (65), and Krishnan Venkatesan (65), three friends from Chennai, are just back from an expedition to the Arctic. In July this year, they embarked on a luxury cruise (Swan Hellenic), sailing through the remote Svalbard archipelago, North of mainland Norway to the breathtaking vistas of the Arctic region.
Swaddled in layers of warm clothing and gliding through icy fjords, taking in jaw-dropping views of snow-dusted peaks, it was a journey that inspired awe. “The beauty and the silence were sublime — a reminder of how small we are in Nature’s grand design,” says Venkatesan.
But this was not their first polar expedition. In January 2024, they travelled to the Antarctic Peninsula, a journey that opened their hearts and minds.
The three senior citizens, who retired as senior executives from companies in West Asia, have been long-time friends, who shared a passion for travel and adventure. Currently settled in Chennai, the globe-trotting trio, who have each travelled to over 40 countries, decided to chase a cherished dream — to journey to the poles.
(Left to right) Venkata Subra Maniam Raju, Chandrasekaran and Krishnan Venkatesan in Antarctica
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In 2023, they put their heads together and started planning a trip to Antarctica. Things fell in place and by January 2024, they were set for the journey.
They did their research and prepared well, went to the gym for fitness. “We knew the journey would be intensive, given the weather conditions. But our families were very supportive and we felt we had nothing to lose. We could afford to take some risks,” says Chandraserkaran, who even did a polar plunge, along with Raju. “We had to dive into icy waters from the ship. It was an inexplicable experience. All I can say is, the heart stops beating for a few seconds and then you come back alive,” he adds.
Polar expeditions are about raw adventure and a complete disconnection from the modern world and its chaos, say the friends. “An expedition cruise in Antarctica means kayaking among icebergs, hiking through untouched snowfields, and being surrounded by wildlife. We saw herds of seals and rookeries of penguins. We even caught sight of the elusive Emperor penguin and were lucky to see a humpback whale breaching near our Zodiacs (rugged inflatable boats that ferry people from the ship to the shore). Watching the animals in such huge numbers in their natural habitat was an experience that will stay with us forever,” says Venkatesan.
The friends on a Zodiac excursion at the Arctic
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They flew across the Drake Passage from Punta Arenas, Chile, to King George Island in Antarctica and set sail on the Ocean Adventurer (of Quark Expeditions). With temperatures around –5°C, every day (they were in Antarctica for eight days and seven nights) was filled with excursions on Zodiacs. Their journey concluded with a detour to Patagonia’s Torres del Paine, offering a final contrast of rugged mountains and windswept plains.
But the experience wasn’t without reflection, say the friends. They witnessed firsthand the effects of climate change — melting glaciers and shifting ice patterns — a reminder of the planet’s fragility. “In our team were researchers, who explained to us how rapidly the region is changing,” says Venkatesan.
Back in Chennai and energised by their Antarctic success, the friends were set on completing their polar quest. In July 2025, they took a chartered flight from Copenhagen to Longyearbyen in Norway — the world’s northernmost town — to mark the beginning of their Arctic expedition.
The wealth of wildlife was the first striking thing about the Arctic. “They seemed to appear in a dramatic fashion. One morning, we watched in silence as a polar bear ambled along an ice floe — majestic, powerful, and humbling. On another day, we floated past walruses lounging like grumpy giants on the shore. We saw a number of reindeer and snow foxes. Puffins, guillemots, and Arctic terns filled the skies, while belugas and seals danced in the icy waters,” says Raju.
It was summer and one of their lasting memories from the trip is standing on the ship’s deck at 2am, sipping hot chocolate under the midnight sun.
(From left to right) Venkatesan, Chandrasekaran and Raju at the Arctic Circle
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A visit to the famed Global Seed Vault (at the remote Arctic Svalbard Archipelago) was special. “A storage facility for seeds from around the world, it is humanity’s insurance policy for crop biodiversity,” Venkatesan adds.
Chandrasekaran and Raju dove once more into polar waters in the Arctic Circle.
As they departed Longyearbyen, they carried more than souvenirs and snapshots, taking with them memories etched in ice and sky.
The trio, in their sixties, considers it a feat to have completed both polar expeditions within 18 months. “From adapting to sub-zero temperatures (a far cry from our warm Chennai) to managing vegetarian diets, the journey tested our endurance, planning, and spirit. But every challenge was met with resilience, camaraderie, and unyielding curiosity,” says Chandrasekaran. And, yes, they had an Indian chef, who rustled up some vegetarian dishes for them.
Until they plan their next adventure, the friends will talk about their journey to the poles — the silence, the purity, and the enormity of the experience that left them deeply moved.
(As told to Anasuya Menon)
Published – October 21, 2025 04:11 pm IST
