Simla Ice Skating Rink’s Slow Meltdown: Heritage’s Unheard Cry

Shimla, Ritanjali Hastir

06 December 2023

In Shimla’s history, the Simla Ice Skating Rink stands as a poignant testament to a bygone era, a relic dating back to 1920 when tennis courts metamorphosed into a natural ice skating haven. The story of its creation, fueled by the ingenious idea of an Irish military official, Blessington, resonates with the spirit of innovation and joy that once adorned the region.

This outdoor rink, nestled on the north side of the town, became synonymous with winter enchantment and sporting glory. Its legacy extended to Bollywood, where it featured in iconic movies like Woh Kaun Thi and Mera Naam Joker, imprinting the rink in the cultural tapestry of the nation.

Over the years, the rink underwent significant transformations. It initially began as a sports hub but took a different turn in the 90s, evolving to include a civil club under its umbrella. The original wooden heritage structure gave way to a new edifice, marking a shift in its identity.

As one stands at the Rink’s entrance, now marked by temporary toilets emitting a nauseating stench, the irony of a heritage site reduced to sewer-like conditions is stark.

The iconic structure’s disappearance, the intrusion of a lift and escalator, and the removal of shady trees only accelerate the Rink’s decline. The ‘welcome board with Simla Club emblem’ that adorned the entrance of the Simla Ice Skating Club is now gone.

Today, this once-iconic rink is in the agony of a slow, painful demise. The charm of the landscape, once adorned by a lush tree line and natural terrain, has succumbed to haphazard constructions, makeshift shelters, and vendor stalls. The temporary HRTC office/restroom for employees is serving as a card-playing station. The very essence of the rink is slipping away, replaced by a concrete jungle and a blatant disregard for its historical significance.

The Simla Ice Skating Rink’s decline is a multi-faceted tragedy. The Rink, once the proud emblem of Shimla’s natural treasures, now finds itself hooked up to metaphorical ventilators, each passing day counting down to an uncertain fate. Despite being leased, the venue is now burdened with escalating rents, starting at a modest Rs. 15,000 and increasing annually. This unique natural rink, the jewel that Shimla tourism flaunted, had the potential to be seamlessly connected by road, air and train throughout the year. However, amidst the chaotic construction that spiraled out of control, a timely transformation into an artificial rink could have salvaged some remnants of its past glory.

The fate of the Simla Ice Skating Rink, primarily under private control, raises a crucial question: Where were the elected executive bodies when policymakers attempted to alter its essence? To which members shared, “The former BJP government’s ill-conceived attempts to repurpose this heritage site into a cricket academy only added to the Rink’s woes. The beleaguered management found itself entangled in legal battles, diverting precious time and energy from the crucial task of preserving this historic landmark.”

Rink aficionados like Peter Tung express anguish, noting that without intervention, the Rink is headed for an unnatural death. The encroachment by a bus stand and uncontrolled construction, especially the new upcoming escalator and lift, which will be running on three-phase power with backup fuel-based generators, will definitely tip off the soil’s chemical composition in the long run and raise the ground temperature, thus contributing to the Rink’s slow demise.

Global warming and deforestation under the guise of development have pushed this winter sport to the brink. The latest upcoming structure will obstruct the chilling wind that has significantly contributed to the natural ice formation. The once-100-day skating season has dwindled to 20–40 days annually, robbing the club of its ability to nurture committed skaters. The changing climate and inefficient collaboration between the government and the club paint a grim picture for the future of this historic rink.

As the Simla Ice Skating Rink, Asia’s only natural ice skating rink languishes in neglect, the tale of its demise is not just a story of melting ice but a metaphor for the erosion of heritage and cultural pride. The question that looms large is: What have the governing governments achieved by allowing the decay of yet another feather in Shimla’s heritage cap? The responsibility falls not only on the shoulders of past leaders like Virbhadra Singh, Prem Kumar Dhumal and Jai Ram Thakur but also on the current custodian, Sukhwinder Singh.

The Simla Ice Skating Rink awaits a savior, someone who can defy the odds and resurrect its frozen glory before it succumbs to an irreversible fate, which is likely not very far as to date there is no preparation for ice formation, and going by the condition of the ground, even if there is any ice, it will be for the sake of it and not for the love of it. The Rink is on the ventilator, waiting for a miracle before everything is lost.