Mohammad Saad Lone, a 25-year-old adventurer and founder of Pir Panjal Adventure Club, has transformed setbacks into opportunities, creating a thriving hub for tourism and adventure in the Uri subdivision of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Mohammad Saad, along with his cousins and friends owns a club that treks on a weekly basis, exploring unseen places and trek routes. They provide people with a place to breathe in peace.
“In 2017, I summited a peak with a group of international trekkers in Ladakh, and that’s where I found the motivation to start my own trekking group in my hometown, Boniyar, Uri. There were the same peaks, snow-clad mountains, and the same adventurous patches back in Uri, but the situation wasn’t conducive in our subdivision for trekking,” Mohammad Saad Lone said.
Originally a tourism professional, Saad’s journey began during his stint at Polytechnic College in Ladakh, where he discovered his passion for trekking and tourism.
“After completing my diploma in Travel and Tourism at Polytechnic College in Ladakh, I started a tour and travel company, namely Jeeni Tour & Travels, in early 2019. However, I soon began losing my contacts due to non-conducive circumstances ,” Saad told Rising Kashmir.
However Saad’s experience at Ladakh came in handy during this time.
“I gathered my cousins and friends, including Ehsan Lone, Nouman Lone, Farhan Lone, Mehran Lone, Jamshed Jeelani, and Khawaja Tawheed, and ventured to explore new places in the Uri subdivision. It was a dream come true to visit places I had never been to before,” he added.”
The turning point came in 2021 after the India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement on the Line of Control (LoC). Mohammad Saad, fueled by a desire to explore and promote his homeland, founded Pir Panjal Adventure Club.
The club, comprising enthusiastic local youth, embarked on a mission to uncover and promote 35 trek routes in the Uri subdivision.
“There are some 55 trek routes in subdivision Uri and till date we have explored 35 trek routes in collaboration with the eco-tourism wing of the forest department. Earlier ceasefire violations, shelling in border areas of Uri weren’t allowing us to explore new places,” he further added.
He said that the fear of ceasefire violation used to hold us back, but now groups of young people can be seen trekking without any fear.
In a significant milestone, Pir Panjal Adventure Club became the first to summit Kandi Peak, standing tall at 11,000 feet above sea level. Mohammad Saad, along with club members, showcased the beauty of Uri through non-profit treks involving around 600 people.
Collaborating with Forest Range Uri and Eco-Tourism, the club organized a one-day trekking program for girls to boost winter tourism in the Sub Division Uri.
Saad Lone emphasized the potential of tourist destinations in Uri, including Baba Fareed, Kandi, Rustom Nambla, Nambla Waterfall, and more. Despite previous apprehensions, the ceasefire has empowered locals to explore these areas freely.
The club’s activities have opened up opportunities for night camping, adventurous trips, and exploration, showcasing the untapped tourism potential of the region. “One of my favorite adventurous treks was up-to Baba Fareed, which takes you two days to reach the place. People can also stay midway at Mansoor Ali Guest house free of cost in Batang,” he added.
Beyond adventure, the club introduced a football club to engage youth in sports and deter them from anti-social activities and drug abuse. As India and Pakistan’s agreement on ceasefire fosters a more stable environment, Saad Lone and Pir Panjal Adventure Club stand as pioneers, not only redefining adventure tourism but also shaping a positive narrative for the scenic landscapes of Uri and Boniyar.
