Attention winter lovers! The snow-laden landscapes of Shimla have finally done their magic and the historic ice skating rink has opened up for the season. With locals and tourists flocking up to this tourist place, there is no doubt that the skating rink is an important landmark in Shimla. Are you excited to twirl and skate and channel your inner Elsa? Here’s all you need to know about Shimla’s 104-year-old ice skating rink!
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ToggleA Brief History Of Shimla’s 104-Year-Old Ice Skating Rink
The historic Shimla Ice Skating Rink has been an important landmark in the quaint hill station for over a century. Originally a tennis court, Irish military officer Blessington transformed it into an ice skating venue in 1920. The rink is still functional today even after 104 years of its construction. In fact, Shimla’s 104-year-old ice skating rink is counted as one of Asia’s oldest ice skating rinks.
This open-air skating rink marks the beginning of the skating season in Shimla, attracting locals and tourists alike. Here, the ice is meticulously layered and frozen step by step before being ready for use. As the oldest skating rink in Shimla, it has been a timeless rink where generations have learned to skate.
Winter Activities At Shimla’s Ice Skating Rink
The skating rink is a major attraction for tourists, especially post-December. This open-air skating venue also hosts a number of winter activities to attract locals and tourists. In fact, this year, the Winter Carnival and activities at the Shimla Gymkhana are scheduled from 25th December to 31st December.
Registrations are seeing a steady boom as the schools shut down for the much-awaited winter break. This year, these activities have begun earlier than usual. While the winter carnival will feature several games and events related to ice skating, the ongoing dry weather in Shimla gives locals the hope of extending the skating season.
#WATCH | Himachal Pradesh | Ice skating enthusiasts in Shimla enjoy the early start of the skating season at the 104-year-old Shimla Ice Skating Rink, one of Asia’s oldest and a historic landmark of the state. The skating season began earlier than usual this year due to favorable… pic.twitter.com/qr46dDtxBO
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2024
Challenges And Hurdles Faced By The Ice Skating Rink
The skating rink is not immune to its fair share of challenges, much of which are related to infrastructure and government attention. While the skating rink has been important for both normal skaters and players practicing for local and international sports events, the rink hasn’t received many upgrades over the years.
One of the major issues the rink faces is the outdated infrastructure, which has failed to adapt to the increasing influx of visitors. It lacks many modern facilities that other ice skating rinks usually have. This can be attributed to the lack of adequate government support. All these challenges have led to concern over the maintenance and conservation of the ice skating rink.
Address: Lakkar Bazar, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh 171001
The rink is expected to be open till 26th January 2025.