Here’s the full write-up:
📍 Location: Ice Skating Rink, Lakkar Bazaar, Shimla
📅 Season: Mid-December to February
Where the crisp mountain air and colonial echoes become a playground for blades, ballet, and breathless joy
❄️ A Rink Beneath the Pines
Shimla’s ice skating rink, established in the early 1920s, is not just historic—it’s magical. Nestled amidst cedar woods and colonial-era facades, the rink freezes naturally through a unique technique involving no refrigeration—just altitude, moisture control, and chilly nights.
🕰️ Originally built by a British national using a sprinkler system and canvas shades to maintain the ice, it now stands as a legacy of endurance and elegance.
🏆 The Carnival – Sports, Spectacle, and School Spirit
The Ice Skating Carnival typically begins in mid-December, kicking off weeks of skating events, parades, and performances:
- Figure Skating Showcases: Local skaters perform jumps, pirouettes, and coordinated dances set to music
- Speed Skating Races: Organized for various age groups—drawing students from local schools and even clubs from Delhi and Chandigarh
- Fancy Dress & Torchlight Shows: Children skate dressed as snowmen, fairies, and folklore characters, culminating in a dazzling torch relay across the rink
- Skating Workshops: Hosted by veteran instructors, promoting skating culture in hill communities
It’s Shimla’s answer to alpine revelry, with a dash of British nostalgia and Himachali heart.
🎶 Music, Snow, and Melting Smiles
Evenings feature performances and community gatherings:
- Live Bands & Choirs: Singing winter carols and Himachali folk tunes near the rink
- Hot Cocoa Corners: Vendors selling chai, warm milk, cocoa, and crunchy street snacks
- Snowfall Moments: Occasionally, Shimla’s snow joins the party—transforming the rink into a poetic canvas of winter delight
🧤 Why the Carnival Glides on
The Ice Skating Carnival stands out for:
- Preserving colonial winter sport in modern times
- Promoting outdoor athletics in eco-friendly ways
- Uniting generations—from 6-year-olds in snowboots to retirees reliving childhood spins
It’s not just a sporting event—it’s Shimla skating into memory, every winter, like clockwork on ice.
🧭 Plan Your Visit
- Timeframe: Skating season begins mid-December; Carnival usually peaks in late December or January
- Location: Lakkar Bazaar, near the Ridge and Scandal Point
- Stay Options: Colonial-era hotels like Hotel Cecil or homestays with winter accessibility
- Pro Tip: Morning sessions offer crisper ice; gear available on rent, but bring gloves and thermals for comfort
