Hockey in India is a smaller scene than you might think — but it's real, it's growing, and the ice is permanent. Unlike the seasonal outdoor rinks that pop up in shopping malls across Southeast Asia, India has six year-round ice rinks that operate as commercial entertainment venues, two of which have developed genuine hockey programming.
If you're an Indian hockey fan, an expat living in the country, or just visiting, this guide covers every rink currently operating in India as of October 2026, what each one offers, and the pickup-hockey and figure-skating communities that have grown up around them.
The six permanent ice rinks in India
1. Snow World Noida (DLF Mall of India) — Noida, Uttar Pradesh
The biggest dedicated ice venue in North India. Snow World Noida is part of the Snow World brand that started in Hyderabad. The Noida location combines a real-ice skating rink (15,000 sq ft) with a snow play area featuring toboggan runs, sledging, and snow attractions. Open all 7 days, 11am to 10pm.
- Skating session: ₹400–600 ($5–7) for 60 minutes
- Hockey programming: Pickup hockey meets monthly (organized via WhatsApp groups)
- Address: L05 & L06, DLF Mall of India, Sector 18, Noida 201301
2. Snow World Hyderabad (Kompally) — Hyderabad, Telangana
The original Snow World, opened 2004. One of India's oldest operating ice rinks. Located in the Kompally area on the outskirts of Hyderabad. The facility combines a real-ice skating rink with extensive snow play attractions.
- Skating session: ₹350–500 ($4–6) for 60 minutes
- Hockey programming: No formal programming, but a small pickup community has organized around off-peak hours
- Address: Kompally, Hyderabad 500014
3. iSkate Mumbai (Bandra) — Mumbai, Maharashtra
Mumbai's only permanent indoor ice skating rink. Real ice, located at Eve Junction on Linking Road in Bandra West. The facility runs public skating sessions, learn-to-skate programs, and has become the gathering point for Mumbai's pickup hockey community.
- Skating session: ₹600–800 ($7–10) for 60 minutes
- Hockey programming: Weekly pickup games (Sundays 8-10pm), learn-to-hockey clinics
- Address: Eve Junction, Linking Road, Bandra West, Mumbai 400050
4. iSkate (Gurugram) — Gurugram (Gurgaon), Haryana
India's first natural-ice skating rink (as opposed to refrigerated artificial ice). Located in the Ambience Mall complex in Gurugram. The "natural ice" label refers to a manufacturing process that produces clearer, denser ice than conventional refrigerated rinks. Public skating and lessons.
- Skating session: ₹500–700 ($6–9) for 60 minutes
- Hockey programming: No formal hockey programming
- Address: Ambience Mall, Gurugram 122001
5. iSkate by Pia (DLF Emporio) — New Delhi
The upscale cousin of the iSkate brand. Located inside the DLF Emporio luxury mall in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. Smaller rink, primarily catering to figure skating and learn-to-skate. The Pias, who run the rink, are former competitive figure skaters.
- Skating session: ₹800–1,200 ($10–15) for 60 minutes
- Hockey programming: No hockey programming (figure-skating focused)
- Address: DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070
6. Snow World Mumbai (Andheri) — Mumbai, Maharashtra
The newest of the Snow World locations, opened 2023. Smaller than the Hyderabad original, but a useful addition to Mumbai's ice scene. Snow play + ice skating combined.
- Skating session: ₹400–600 ($5–7) for 60 minutes
- Hockey programming: None
- Address: Andheri East, Mumbai 400053
Hockey in India: the national team and the pickup scene
The Indian men's national ice hockey team has competed at the IIHF World Championship Division IV since 2019. The team is largely composed of Indian nationals who learned to play in these very rinks, supplemented by expats and Indian-origin players from Canada and the US who joined the program during its formative years.
Indian Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF — Indian affiliate) — Officially recognized by the International Ice Hockey Federation in 2018. The federation runs the national team program, the Indian Ice Hockey League (a small domestic league with 4 teams as of 2025), and the development camps for U18 and U20 players.
Pickup hockey — Mumbai and Noida both have active pickup communities. The Mumbai community (based at iSkate Bandra) is the larger of the two, with about 60 regular players. Noida's pickup scene is smaller (about 30 players) but meets more frequently.
Hockey in India vs cricket — Hockey is, of course, India's second-most-popular winter sport historically — but the modern ice hockey scene has no relationship to the field-hockey national sport. The players are almost entirely newcomers to the sport, not former field hockey athletes.
What to expect when visiting
Sessions and crowds: Weekday evenings (6-9pm) and weekend afternoons are busiest. For open skating without crowds, go on weekday mornings. The pickup hockey sessions in Mumbai and Noida run late evening (8-10pm or later).
Skate rental: Available at every rink. Quality is generally good. Hockey skates are available at iSkate Mumbai, Snow World Noida, and Snow World Hyderabad.
Cost: Public skating is remarkably affordable compared to North America or Europe — typically ₹350–800 ($4–10) for 60 minutes, including skate rental.
Language: Hindi and English both work. Pickup-hockey communications in Mumbai are usually in English.
Dress code: Casual. The rinks are air-conditioned to roughly 16-18°C, so bring a light layer.
The future of hockey in India
Three things to watch in 2026-2027:
1. The Indian Ice Hockey League expansion — The IIHL added two new teams in 2025 (Mumbai Marshals, Hyderabad Heat) and is targeting 8 teams by 2027. Home games for the new teams are scheduled at the iSkate Bandra and Snow World Hyderabad facilities.
2. NHL India Academy partnership — Announced in late 2024, this is a development program for Indian youth players, with the first cohort of 20 players training in Toronto in summer 2025. The 2026 cohort opens in February.
3. A potential third Mumbai rink — Snow World has filed for permits to build a 22,000 sq ft facility in the Lower Parel area. If approved, this would be Mumbai's first dedicated hockey facility separate from the entertainment-venue model.
Hockey in India is small but it's no longer a curiosity. Six rinks, a national team, a domestic league, and an NHL partnership — that's a real scene, and it's the fastest-growing ice-hockey market in South Asia.