Asia’s Oldest Open-Air Ice Skating Arena Kicks Off 2025 Season Tomorrow
Shimla — Winter magic is back in the Queen of Hills. The century-old Shimla Ice Skating Rink, celebrated as Asia’s oldest and only natural open-air ice skating arena, is all set to open its 2025 season with a trial session at 8:30 a.m. on December 3, the Shimla Ice Skating Club announced today.
Club general secretary Rajat Malhotra said the club is “delighted to welcome skaters again” as cold conditions have finally set the perfect stage for ice formation.
The much-awaited opening signals the return of Shimla’s classic winter charm — one that locals have grown up with and tourists travel miles to experience.
A Heritage That Refuses to Melt Away
Born in the 1920s when an Irish officer discovered frozen water on a tennis court in Lakkar Bazaar, the rink soon evolved into a winter institution.
For decades, it has hosted morning sessions lit by skylight, rhythmic carnivals, fancy-dress shows, and skaters gliding on pure, weather-made ice — not machine-chilled floors.
The Shimla Ice Skating Club, now headed by a young and proactive team, has been working to revive the rink’s golden days while pushing for an all-weather, modernised arena to protect its legacy from erratic winters.
What to Expect This Season
If the cold holds steady, the club plans regular sessions, drawing Local skaters eager for their winter routine.
Tourists hunting for an authentic Shimla winter experience
Ice-sports lovers hoping to practice or compete
This comeback season is expected to boost tourism and rekindle the nostalgia that has kept this rink alive for over a century.
Shimla is bracing for a soulful winter — and the rink is ready to echo with the sound of blades once again.
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