Srinagar, Oct 8: In a historic alpine feat, two Kashmiri climbers have successfully summited the Cathedral Dome — the crux of Brahma Sakli Peak in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district — long regarded as an “unclimbable” mountain.
At dawn on September 18, alpinists Inayat Ullah Bhat from Srinagar and Laway Mudasir from Pahalgam began their ascent up the 230-metre vertical rock wall. By 1:43 p.m., after hours of grueling technical climbing through harsh winds and low visibility, they stood atop the 4,730-metre peak — marking the first-ever successful multi-pitch alpine rock ascent in Kashmir’s climbing history.
“This mountain was always considered unclimbable,” Inayat told Greater Kashmir after his return. “The final pitches demanded pure technical climbing. It felt like a battle against both the rock and the elements.”
The climbers began from their lakeside base camp at 5:00 a.m., navigating steep gullies and sheer walls before reaching the summit. The descent was equally challenging, with afternoon storms battering the massif. They reached base camp at 8:30 p.m., nearly 18 hours after setting out.
Brahma Sakli, rising like a sentinel over the southern valley, has long been shrouded in myth and fear. “Even as children, we would hear stories about these mountains,” recalled Inayat. “Back then, we didn’t have the gear or the training to even imagine climbing them.”
With growing exposure and structured alpine training in recent years, a new generation of Kashmiri climbers is now redefining what’s possible. For Inayat and Mudasir, this climb was both a personal and symbolic victory.
“Mudasir was the backbone,” said Inayat. “You can’t fight such a wall without a partner who believes in the climb as much as you do. On multi-pitch climbs, your life is literally in your partner’s hands.”
The achievement has sent waves through Kashmir’s small but growing mountaineering community. It marks a turning point for the Valley, where climbing has traditionally focused on trekking peaks rather than technical rock faces.
Looking ahead, the duo hopes to revive and document other forgotten summits in the Himalayas. “It’s not just about gear or ropes,” Inayat said. “It’s about building an ecosystem where the next generation of Kashmiris can dream higher, climb harder, and prove that even our ‘forbidden’ peaks can be reached.”
With Brahma Sakli now conquered, Kashmir’s climbers have rewritten the limits of what’s possible — turning myth into milestone.
