Global News

Sunday September 05, 2010

Notting Hill Carnival 2010

Shimla has the only natural ice-skating ring in India. Shimla ice skating rink, Asia's oldest open ice-skating rink offers excellent opportunities for Ice-skating enthusiasts. The skating club of Shimla has successfully completed its sixty years. Moreover, it is situated in the center of Shimla and hardly takes 10 minutes from The Mall. An Ice-skating Carnival is arranged every year by the Ice-skating Club Shimla.

The Shimla ice-skating rink has the largest open-air area with naturally frozen ice in this part of the world. Ice-skating carnival of Shimla is a gala time for the Shimla people. This carnival starts off in the month of early December and continues till February. Two sessions are arranged everyday with one in the morning and another in the evening.

The Shimla ice-skating rink is the only Asian natural ice-skating rink. There is a hanging balloon at the Municipal building that works as a signal of whether the skating will take place on that day or not. The clear sky and cold climate accompanied by hard and dry ice makes Shimla ice-skating carnival a success every year.

A large number of enthusiastic skaters take an active part in the Shimla ice-skating carnival. Large number of foreigners participates in the carnival. Infact they carry their skating shoes with themselves.
Either you are required to become a member for the season or you could also go for shorter periods and even for single sessions. Skates can be hired at the rink itself and hopefully you will get your size. If you are adept at ice skating you could try your hand at ice hockey or figure skating.
However the uncertain weather change, environment pollution, rising population, and shrinking green cover are threatening the rink. But as far as this season is concerned Shimla and other places near it have been getting receiving intermittent snowfall from much earlier. After last years no snow spell it sure is a blessing.
Meteorological department hopes that this year sessions would cross the three-figure mark could be extend to mid of March. So if you are hoping to visit any hill resort this winter than why don't you choose Shimla, the former summer capital of British regime and now the capital of Himachal Pradesh is sure going skating.
During the ice-skating carnival of Shimla, fancy dress competition, ice hockey and dance performances make the town of Shimla very lively and colorful. Shimla ice-skating carnival is a favorite event for the sports freaks. During the sessions the place gets crowded with tourists and visitors from various corners of the country.

The ice-skating carnival is celebrated in Shimla with extreme pomp and grandeur

Notting Hill Carnival London Monday 25th August 2008