Maitri is India's second permanent research station in Antarctica as part of the Indian Antarctic Programme. It was built and finished in 1989, shortly before the first station Dakshin Gangotri was buried in ice and abandoned in 1990–91. Maitri is situated on the rocky mountainous region called Schirmacher Oasis. It is only 5 km away from Russian Novolazarevskaya Station.

Metta (Pali) or maitri (Sanskrit) is benevolence, friendliness, amity, friendship, good will, kindness, close mental union (on same mental wavelength), and active interest in others. It is the first of the four sublime states (Brahmaviharas) and one of the ten paramis of the Theravada school of Buddhism. Metta is love without the suffering that arises from attachment (known as upadana).