Before Sonam Wangchuk’s Ice Stupas, Chewang Norphel pioneered artificial glaciers in Ladakh
The innovation of artificial glaciers in Ladakh actually belongs to Chewang Norphel, whose pioneering experiments in the late 1980s provided a practical solution to the region’s chronic water shortage.
Chewang Norphel was creating artificial glaciers in Ladakh decades before the Ice Stupa project of Sonam Wangchuk became an internationally recognised name. The retired engineer’s pioneering work, which began in 1987, involved diverting streams through channels and small check dams to create terraced ice formations that could melt in spring and provide much-needed irrigation water to farmers.
Ladakh Tourism’s latest social media post has once again brought Norphel’s pioneering contribution into focus, highlighting the work of the man popularly known as the ‘Ice Man of India’.
Ladakh Tourism has also posted pictures of Norphel along with the artificial glaciers created by him. One photo is of Norphel receiving the Padma Shri award from President Pranab Mukherjee.
Ladakh Tourism wrote on X “Meet Chewang Norphel, the Ladakhi engineer popularly known as the Ice Man of India. Faced with water scarcity in Ladakh’s high-altitude villages, he developed an ingenious way to store winter water as artificial glaciers. By diverting streams into carefully designed channels, he helped create ice formations that melt gradually in spring, providing water when fields need it most. An idea rooted in local understanding, shaped by necessity and driven by a deep connection to the land. A reminder that sometimes, the most remarkable innovations begin with simply understanding nature”.
It is worth mentioning that the artificial glaciers were created by storing winter water, which otherwise would flow unused.
According to records, channelling and freezing water for irrigation has existed in Ladakh for hundreds of years. One of the modern popularisers is Ladakhi Chewang Norphel (1935–). It was re-invented, popularised and scaled up by another Ladakhi Sonam Wangchuk (1966–).
Sonam Wangchuk was awarded the Rolex Awards for Enterprise for his work on ice stupas in 2016.