Shimla: Asia’s only natural ice skating rink, located in Shimla, inaugurated its winter season on Wednesday with successful trial runs, offering a hopeful start despite the challenges posed by climate change.
The historic 105-year-old open-air rink, established in 1920 during British rule, attracted enthusiastic tourists eager to glide on the freshly formed ice. This year, the first ice layer appeared earlier than in 2024 due to favorable weather conditions, prompting the early start.
Manpreet Singh Sembi, President of the Shimla Ice Skating Rink, told ANI, “Yes, the trials were successful. Global warming continues to affect ice formation, so the number of sessions has been declining. This year, the good weather allowed us to begin a week earlier, and we hope for a better turnout once schools resume.” He also highlighted ongoing plans to convert the rink into an all-weather facility by next year, ensuring skating can continue irrespective of the climate.
Local youth voiced concern about the shrinking number of skating sessions. Jasraj, a student and regular skater, said, “I have been skating here for 12 years. This rink is one of the few recreational activities in Shimla during winters. Due to inconsistent ice formation, many children go elsewhere for training. We hope the sessions improve this year with the cold weather.”
Rajat Malhotra, General Secretary of the club, emphasized the rink’s heritage and the need for modernization. “This is a century-old club. In some years, we get over 70 sessions; last year we had only 35. Converting it into an indoor, all-weather rink is essential for sports like ice hockey and figure skating,” he said.
Tourists visiting from other states also expressed delight at experiencing natural ice skating. Chiranth Reddi from Karnataka said, “It’s my first time. We are falling but learning, and it’s really fun.” Anshu from Hyderabad added, “Coming from a warm region, this is my first ice skating experience. Even with climate changes, the rink is beautiful, and I would love to visit again.”
As winter sets in, locals and tourists alike hope that nature will cooperate, keeping this beloved Shimla tradition alive. The rink continues to offer ice skating, figure skating, and ice hockey, preserving a unique piece of heritage and providing one of the few recreational attractions in the hill town during the colder months.
