The expedition named “Pangea One World” is undertaken by AkhilBakshi along with his doctor friend Rajendra Jain and passing through countries such as the US, Mexico, Guatemala, Antigua, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Ecuador and Argentina.

Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid said the initiative is supported by MEA and that Indian missions across the continent have been asked to facilitate the journey being undertaken by Bakshi and his companion Rajendra Jain, a surgeon.

The focus of the expedition is climate change – a serious issue that has panworld implications. During the journey, meetings have been held with environment scientists, meteorologists, hydrographers, and agronomists to study action being taken by various countries on monitoring the status of climate change and on their preparedness to meet the challenge. Mr. Bakshi will present a report to the Ministry of Environment and Forests on his finding during the expedition.

Mr. AkhilBakshi will be reaching Chile on 17^th December and will be having meetings with Universities in Chile and Chilean dignitaries, including a meeting with the Ambassador of India, Mr. Pradeep K. Kapur. A reception is organized at the Embassy premises at 971 Alcantara to welcome Mr. AkhilBakshi.

PANGEA ONE WORLD EXPEDITION

Three hundred million years ago our Earth comprised of one landmass that has been given the name of Pangea.

Pangea broke up into Laurasia (comprising of Eurasia and North America) and Gondwanaland (Africa, South America, Antarctica, India and Australia).

After the successful 25,200 km Gondwanaland Expedition undertaken in 2006 –from the Indian Himalaya to Cape Agulhus, the southernmost tip of Africa –the celebrated explorer and author AkhilBakshi now sets out on the 35,000 km Pangea One World Expedition – an overland journey from the Arctic to the Antarctic.

Starting from Dead Horse Creek on the Arctic Ocean in Alaska, the four-month journey will end at Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of South America.

Route

Alaska (Dead Horse Creek-Coldfoot-Fairbanks-Denali National Park-Whiitier and through the Alaska Marine Highway to Bellingham).

USA (Bellingham-Seattle-Eugene-San Diego)

Mexico (Tijuana-Guadalajara-Mexicocity-Oaxaca-San Cristobal-Tapachula)

Guatemala (Guatemala city)

El Salvador (San Salvador)

Honduras (Teguchipalga)

Nicaragua (Managua)

Costa Rica (San Jose)

Panama (Panamacity)

Colombia (Cartagena-Medellin-Cali-Pasto-Ipiales)

Ecuador (Quito-GalapagosIslands-Cuenza)

Peru (Tumbes-Piura-Huaquillas-Lima-Arequipa-Cusco-MacchuPichu-Puno)

Bolivia (Copacabana-La Paz-Oruro-Uyuni Salt Flats)

Chile (through Atacama desert-Valparaiso-Santiago)

Argentina (Buenos Aires-Bahia Blanca-San Antonio Oeste-Rawson-Comodoro Rivadavia-Comandante Luis Piedra Buena-Rio Gallegos-Punta Arenas(Chile) acrossMagellanStrait-Porvenir-Rio Grande-Ushuaia-cross Beagle Channelto Cape Hornon Drake Passage).

Mr. AkhilBakshi, Fellow of Royal Geographical Society and Vice President of Indian Mountaneering Foundation, has earlier led four major international expeditions.

1. Central Asia Expedition (1994), which drove 12,000 km on the old Silk Road across Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Chinese Turkestan and Tibet to renew India’s ancient links with Central Asia.
2. Azad Hind Expedition (1996), which drove 10,000 km from Singapore to Delhi via Malaysia and Myanmar to refresh the national memory with the sacrifices made by the soldiers of the Indian National Army during  the freedom struggle.
3. Expedition Hands Across the Borders (1999), which drove 18,000 km through the interiors of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and India to promote peace and development in South Asia.
4. Gondwanaland Expedition (2006) which drove 25,200 km from Indian Himalaya to Cape Agulhus, the southernmost tip of Africa, across 17 countries, to study earthquake geology and evolutionary history.

Mr. AkhilBakshi is Vice President of the Indian Mountaneering Foundation; member of the Board of Directors of Delhi Flying Club; Director of ChitraUtsav Video Pvt. Ltd., a film production company specialized in production of development, educational, sports, travel and adventure films; Director of Political Management Services, which provides constituency management and parliamentary support to Members of Parliament; President of the Society for Creation of Heaven on Earth, an NGO fully funded by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India which transfers technology researched and developed by agricultural societies to farmers and assists small and marginal farmers in improving their incomes and productivity; President of BharatiyaYuva Shakti, a national organization of youth leaders with a network in 173 districts of India; and Vice President of Delhi Lawn Tennis Association.

He was also Officer on Special Duty to Prime Minister PV NarasimhaRao from 1991-96; Aide to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi from 1981-91; and Director General of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (youth organization) from 1987-89.