‘Ibn Battuta of Kashmir’ Completes Exploration of 100 High-Altitude Lakes

Convener News Desk

 

Bandipora, Dec 11: Danish Nabi — the government employee from Bandipora who has earned the nickname “Ibn Battuta of Kashmir” for redefining adventure tourism in the Valley — has achieved a landmark feat by documenting 100 high-altitude alpine lakes across the Kashmir Himalayas.

 

The milestone was reached on 7 December 2025, with Durinaar Second becoming the 100th lake in his decade-long project of exploring some of the most remote and rugged terrains of the Himalayas.

 

Speaking to Kashmir Convener, Danish said time was the biggest constraint in his decade-long pursuit, as he could set out only on Sundays. “I managed to cover over 30 lakes this year alone. I started in 2014, and whatever I’ve achieved has been possible because of the constant support of my friends, especially the Pathfinders group. After working six days a week, the seventh was always reserved for the mountains. My family, particularly my mother, stood by me, and my grandfather’s stories of travelling to Gurez kept me motivated,” he said.

 

Over the years, Danish has meticulously documented alpine routes across the Kashmir Himalayas, navigating diverse terrains to map and record many of the Valley’s lesser-known lakes. With this achievement, he now joins the small group of explorers who have carried out such extensive alpine documentation in the region.

 

For Danish, who began wandering into the mountains in his early twenties and has not missed a single Sunday of exploration since, the journey has been a test of time, discipline and passion.

 

“With a six-day work schedule, Sunday became sacred,” he told Kashmir Convener. “It was my window to the mountains. Whatever I achieved happened because of consistency, support from friends — especially the Pathfinders — and encouragement from my family.”

 

Over the years, Danish has emerged as one of Kashmir’s most committed independent explorers. Long before he touched the 100-lake mark, he had already rediscovered dozens of forgotten lakes in Bandipora and Gurez, recorded new routes, mapped caves, and revived interest in adventure tourism in areas neglected during the decades of militancy.

 

His expeditions — often solo — are recorded on his GoPro and shared on his YouTube channel, where he uploads geo-tagged routes, trekking details and terrain information for future travellers. The overwhelming response to his videos has contributed to a noticeable rise in adventure tourists visiting the remote meadows and lake basins of Bandipora.

 

Danish even made history in 2021 by becoming the first person in India — and possibly the world — to scale Razdaan Top (11,672 ft) on a bicycle, a challenge he undertook to deepen his bond with mountain cycling.

 

Known variously as the “Ibn Battuta of Kashmir”, “Mad Man”, and the “Mountain Man”, Danish has explored multiple lakes repeatedly to identify alternate routes and create safe, reliable trails for trekkers.

 

His work led the Bandipora district administration in 2020 to formally rope him in as an advisor for promoting adventure tourism, following which new trekking routes like Daetwas, Sheerasar and Nagmarg were opened by the Forest Department.

 

He believes Bandipora is the Valley’s most underrated adventure hub, with glaciers, vast meadows, the Wullar and Kishanganga lakes, and untapped alpine terrain offering enormous tourism potential.

 

Danish’s explorations have opened new livelihood avenues for villagers living near remote trekking routes. In places like Kudara, locals now provide traditional tea, meals, guiding services and horses to support visiting trekkers. “Exploration has helped people earn. Many groups approach me for guidance, and that automatically benefits local communities,” he said.

 

Despite the scale of his achievements, Danish maintains an ordinary professional routine — he works at the mini-secretariat in Bandipora and reserves only Sundays for the mountains. He credits his discipline to the influence of known endocrinologist of the valley-Dr Shariq Masood, whom he admires for never working on Sundays for two decades, dedicating the day instead to travel and personal wellbeing.

 

“I also want people here to reclaim their Sundays,” Danish said. “A day in the mountains can reduce stress, revive physical fitness, and bring a sense of clarity we often lose in our routine lives.”

 

Danish’s completion of 100 documented alpine lakes places him in a rare league of Himalayan explorers.

 

From the Pir Panjal to the Greater Himalayas, he has photographed, mapped, and recorded lakes that remain absent from mainstream trekking literature. Many of these high-altitude water bodies lie in valleys and basins faintly known even to seasoned trekkers.

 

With this milestone, Danish Nabi’s work is expected to significantly shape the future of trekking routes, ecological awareness, local livelihoods, and the revival of adventure tourism in Kashmir. (With Inputs From Agencies)