05/01/2026
๐๐ซ๐๐ค ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ง๐ณ๐ค๐จ๐ญ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ
In Kashmir, life turned upside down after the gruesome Pahalgam attack in 2025. It weighed heavily on all stakeholders of the adventure fraternity, resulting in massive economic losses and deep emotional setbacks. For hikers and trekkers, the impact felt intensely personalโthey could hardly explore, nor move freely. They felt embattled on all sides. Restrictions were adhered to in letter and spirit. Patience, however, has finally paid off, and signs of revival in tourism are visible once again. Kashmir has not lost its appeal. The New Year tourist footfall signals a strong comeback, and as members of Kashmirโs trekking fraternity, we too hope for a year filled with renewed exploration.
On ๐th January 2026, we began the year on a high note by exploring Hallan, a rustic village in Kulgam, from where we started our trek to the Panzkot Waterfall at Chiranbal. Eighteen trekkers from Badamwari Athletes traversed dry streams and snow-deprived trailsโan unsettling and concerning sight during the peak of winter. The cold felt unfamiliar. Something was missing: the biting chill and the heavenly fall of snowflakes that define the true essence of the season.
As we ascended, our souls felt trapped in anxiety and foreboding. Though it was an immersive experience to share reflective moments with comrades, the eerie silence of the skies weighed heavily on us. We could sense a looming disaster. The answers were evident, yet the courage to confront these uncomfortable truths was lacking. Our ignorance and arrogance have not spared natureโthe very source that nourishes our souls and sustains our existence.
We moved on, unable to ignore what we had witnessed. Upon reaching our destination, the landscape appeared heavenly against the snow-covered Brahma Sakhli massif. A sigh of relief escaped us as we beheld the surreal beauty of the Panzkot Waterfall. This pieceโpeaceโof paradise has so much to offer. We cherished every moment. The child within us was overjoyed and restless, eager to absorb it all. Time slipped by quickly, but the cold and other concerns demanded preparations for the return journey.
The 1,000-meter elevation gain and over 13 kilometers to and fro distance felt endless.On the way back,We walked in quiet reflection, finally squaring with ourselvesโour responsibilities, our choices, and our inner voicesโto stand as ambassadors of nature and the future.For our existence is merely an echo of natureโs survival.
Period !
Badamwari Athletes
