| If you have a knack for novelty and adventure out | | | | end of April. The only part of the crystal clear |
| in the cold, the Ice Hotel Sweden is just the place | | | | structure that is saved, in addition to the selected |
| for you. And if you ask what is novel about a hotel, | | | | sculptural work that the artists decide to preserve, is |
| well, be prepared to listen; it is not just about any | | | | the huge ice cut chandelier. All other remains of the |
| hotel, it is built of ice and snows of the arctic regions. | | | | Ice Hotel disappear to pave the way for another, |
| If this has sent you in a tizzy, let me tell you more; | | | | new Ice Hotel next year. |
| this hotel is situated 200 km north of the Arctic Circle | | | | The Interiors of the Ice Hotel |
| on the river Torne, at a place called Jukkasjarvi in | | | | When it was built, the Ice Hotel had only one room. |
| Sweden. Jukkasjarvi, a word of the old Lapp | | | | Today, it is a 4000 square meter structure with 60 |
| languages, meaning 'meeting place' and it is exactly | | | | rooms, a bar named Absolute Ice Bar, a cinema with |
| that, the meeting place of the adventure loving | | | | screen of ice, and a church where marriages and |
| tourists who come here every here to spend a night | | | | baptisms are solemnized within icy walls. |
| in the Ice Hotel. | | | | In the rooms of the Ice Hotel, even beds are made |
| Birth of the Concept | | | | of ice although with wooden boards at the top and |
| About ten years ago, in 1989, an igloo, named Art-ic, | | | | covered with mattresses. They are provided with |
| was constructed, for exhibition, right on the stream | | | | specially designed hot sleeping bags. Inside the rooms |
| of the frozen Torne. A large number of visitors who | | | | the temperature can be between -4Ës to -9Ës |
| came were amazed to see the 60 square meter art | | | | C. It depends on how many guests are present inside |
| galleries of ice, and many of them even stayed there | | | | and on the temperature outside which could be as |
| for the night. It was thus that the idea of the Ice | | | | low as -40Ës C. |
| Hotel took shape. | | | | Drinking Delights |
| Construction of the Hotel | | | | The Ice Hotel has a fabulous bar, named Absolute |
| The Ice Hotel is built every year in the season of | | | | Ice Bare for drink lovers. Just like the remaining part |
| winter and melts down into water in the spring. In | | | | of the hotel, it is also different in design every year. |
| March and April, when the previous winter's ice hotel | | | | In 2001-02, its roof was a dome with the inside |
| starts melting, big blocks of ice are cut out from the | | | | covered by innumerable snowballs, made in the most |
| frozen Torne, using special ice saws. These ice blocks | | | | part by hand. |
| are crystal clear as the water of the fast flowing | | | | The specially designed drinking glasses are of ice. So |
| Torne is extremely clean. They are then transported | | | | you literally have drinks on the rocks. And yes, keep |
| using tractors to the Ice Hotel Art Centre, and | | | | your gloves on when you drink lest the glass melt |
| stored there to be used as building blocks in the | | | | down before your drink is finished. |
| construction. The Art Centre is a 1500 square meter | | | | Watching the Auroras |
| freezer building containing an exhibition of ice | | | | However, if you would rather stay in warmer |
| sculpture and snow work. It also contains igloos if | | | | comforts watching the shining beauty of the |
| you would like to experience a night's stay in an igloo | | | | Northern Lights, you always have the option of |
| even in midsummer.. | | | | Aurora Houses on rent. These houses are |
| The construction of the Ice Hotel begins towards the | | | | comfortably warm and the bedroom roofs are fitted |
| end of October with the arrival of a dozen artists | | | | with special skylights that enable you to view this |
| and other workers. The stored ice blocks are shaped | | | | wonderful spectacle of the Arctic region. However, |
| into huge arches and other forms, some being as | | | | this sight is not for early to bed sort of people; it is |
| high as 5 meter and as wide as 6 meter. Ice pillars | | | | best viewed at midnight. |
| support these arches. | | | | The Aurora Houses are a special attraction of the |
| The interior construction of the Ice Hotel begins in | | | | place, especially for the Japanese tourists. They |
| the dark days of December, when the construction | | | | believe that if a child is conceived under these lights, |
| of the main structure is over. The work continues up | | | | it would be male. |
| to January end. Windows and doors, pillars and | | | | So if you are already ringing up your travel agent and |
| arches, desks and chairs, lamps and decorative | | | | packing your bags, wait; the best time to visit the |
| statues, everything is made by cutting and carving | | | | place is winter, between December and April. So, plan |
| ice. Artists of international fame are invited to | | | | accordingly and do experience a wonderful stay for a |
| decorate certain rooms, and the effect is extra | | | | night at least in the Ice Hotel. In fact most tourists |
| ordinary- the ice sculptures catch and reflect gleaming | | | | who visit the place stay in there for a one night |
| light, creating a very special ambience. | | | | experience only, and then shift either to the Aurora |
| The Ice Hotel begins to melt down into water by the | | | | Houses or to other hotels providing warmer environs. |