Gangapur: The agricultural town that turned into the ice cream capital of India

Gangapur , a dusty town in Rajasthan, one of the scorching regions of India , was once known only for agriculture. But today, this small town has transformed into an ice cream empire. With a colorful ice cream truck on every corner in the city, Gangapur is now not just a local agricultural hub; it is also known as one of the capitals of ice cream.

In 2013, Govardhan Lal Mali quit farming for a completely different path: making ice cream trucks. About a hundred of these mini trucks, each called a “tempo,” roll out of his workshop each year. Each vehicle is a mobile dessert paradise with its stainless steel body and colorful lights.

Similarly, Shahrukh Shah’s family once grew corn and wheat on their three-acre plot of land. But when droughts, dwindling water supplies and erratic weather made farming unsustainable, Shah’s father changed course in 2014. He took a swing at selling ice cream during the summer months to make ends meet, and the business quickly took off.

A SMALL TOWN, A BIG INDUSTRY Walk along Gangapur's main street today and you'll see dozens of garages with colorful signs, glass windows and shops offering special equipment for tempo cases. Equipped with ice cream machines, coolers, syrups and metal scoops, these vehicles travel all over India, even to neighboring countries.

This business model makes it possible to work seasonally and earn income all year round. “We only work for four to six months a year, but during that time we can earn enough to support ourselves for the whole year,” says Shah.

SWEET SUCCESS STORIES Shankar Singh Rawat, 19, earns Rs 7,000 a day in Gangapur. That's more than most farmers in the area earn in a month. He knows he can earn more in bigger cities, but he doesn't want to move away from his family.

Even the quality of ice cream varies from country to country. According to some vendors, Rajasthan's ice cream is tastier because it is mostly made with fresh buffalo milk. In cities, powdered or processed milk is usually used.

The crown jewel of local ice cream is kulfi : a traditional flavor made from boiled whole milk and flavored with aromas such as cardamom, saffron, rose, mango and pistachio.

Today, Gangapur has become a brand in the production of tempo ice cream. According to Baba Raichand, who makes videos promoting tempo shops on YouTube, there are more than 200 tempos operating in the city. And the number is double what it was just three years ago. Customers come from as far away as Bangladesh and Nepal.

"Ask an ice cream tempo in any corner of India, where do you come from," says Tushar Vaishnav, "and the answer will probably be Gangapur."

Ashish Suwalka, one of the young entrepreneurs, owns three tempos and runs a small team. “The population is growing,” he says, “and everyone wants sweets.”

The climate crisis and the challenges of economic transformation have reborn Gangapur. This small town is no longer just a dot on the map, but a symbol of hope, innovation and success for thousands of people in search of something sweet.

Odatv.com