Fresh WaterNGO
Ice Stupas: Artificial Glaciers for Ladakh's Water Security
by Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL) · HQ 🇮🇳 India
0litres of water storedIce stupa built by Tarchit village (competition winner)as of 2025-03-24 · may be outdated
0litres of water storedAutomated ice stupa capacity at Phyangas of 2025-03-24 · may be outdated
Pioneered by engineer Sonam Wangchuk and now run through HIAL's Ecology and Ice Stupa programme, the project pipes glacial stream water through winter nights so it fountains into freezing air and stacks into conical artificial glaciers near villages. As the stupas melt through April and May, before natural glacier melt arrives, they bridge the water gap that has driven Ladakhi farmers to abandon fields and migrate. HIAL now runs an annual Ice Stupa competition and has piloted a solar-powered automated stupa system to make the technique more reliable across villages.