A characteristic feature of the inter-monsoon period, which brings ‘Bakmaha lightning’, is the occurrence of thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Due to this, there is a cold weather in most parts of Sri Lanka during March-April. On a day with such weather, there is no doubt that everyone would like to stay in a warm shelter that is well covered so that the cold wind waves do not burn the body.
But have you ever wondered what it would be like to sleep on a block of ice on a cold day? Sometimes it can be a wonderful experience that is not as difficult as you think. There are only a few places in the world where a person who wants to have such an experience should go. This article is about some amazing shelters made entirely out of ice.
(1) Kerkins Snow Hotel
The ‘Kirkins Snow Hotel’, located in the north-eastern corner of Norway, about five miles from the town of Kirkins, is considered to be the most northerly snow hotel in the world. It is located near the Russian-Finnish border, facing the Barents Sea amidst the beautiful surroundings of the North Pole. Open to tourists throughout the year, it is also considered a great place to view the Uttaraloka.
One of the unique features of ‘Kirkin’s Snow Hotel’ is the rooms made of snow and ice, which are open only in the winter season. Carved entirely by hand without the use of machines, the rooms are designed to resemble arctic hunting lodges or fisherman’s seats. It is said that there is always a constant temperature of -4°C in these rooms decorated with ice sculptures.
(2) Montreal’s Snow Village
Located on Canada’s St. Helen’s Island, the ‘Snow Village of Montreal’ has a hotel, restaurant and bar made entirely of ice. Located on the St. Lawrence River, the ‘Snow Village of Montreal’ is decorated with carved snow sculptures and ice furniture. Considered the first snow village in North America, it has 15 guest rooms and private igloos.
(3) Ice Hotel on the banks of Lake Bula
The ‘Bula Lake Ice Hotel’ located at 6,700 feet above sea level on the peak of Figares in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania, is built again and again every year using 4 feet long ice bricks obtained from near Bula Lake. Also, every year the ‘Bula Lake Ice Hotel’ is built using a different plan than the previous year. It usually has 12 guest rooms, plus a huge ice sofa, a bar, a restaurant and an ice church designed to host weddings.
(4) Caxlotanen Igloo Village
There is no mistake in naming the ‘Kaxlotanen Igloo Village’ as a must-visit place for anyone who wants to see the sky from an igloo house inhabited by Eskimos. It is located in the Finnish state of Lapland, which is about 250 kilometers north of the North Pole. The ‘Kaxlotanen Igloo Village’ has 65 igloos with thermal glass roofs. They also have traditional igloo houses made entirely of blocks of snow.
The ‘Santa’s House’ in the middle of the snow forest in Kaxlotanen is also a high tourist attraction. Located at the end of a fallen wooden bridge over a narrow river, tourists can meet Santa Claus and his wife regardless of the season.
(5) ‘Cold House’ or Ice Hotel in Sweden
Opened in 1990, the ‘Sisira Mandir’ is considered to be the world’s first ice hotel. Located in the northern Swedish village of Jakasjavi, it is rebuilt every year from December to April using snow and ice blocks from the river Thøn. Consisting of 55 rooms with a constant temperature of -5°C, each room has been designed using different architectural techniques.
Not only the furniture but even the drinking glasses are made using ice, the ‘Sweden Ice Hotel’ also has a small temple and it is said that more than 1,500 weddings have been held there.
