SRINAGAR — Local mountaineers Umar Farooq and Saahil Iqbaal have successfully summited Cathedral Dome, a 4,730-metre peak in the Brahma Sakli massif within Kashmir’s Pir Panjal Range. The two-member expedition took place on October 5, 2026, adding a recent entry to the documented climbing history of the region.
Farooq, hailing from Reshinagari in Shopian, and Iqbaal, from Awil in Kulgam, began their summit push at approximately 5:30 a.m. from Sikandar Sar. By 6:30 a.m., the team reached the Brahma Sakli Glacier, from where they navigated steep slopes and technical mountain terrain to reach the summit. The ascent involved sustained physical effort, careful rope coordination and glacier travel across changing surface conditions.
Cathedral Dome, alternatively referred to as Brahma Satli Central, stands at geographical coordinates 33° 28′ 54″ N and 74° 50′ 13″ E. The peak forms a distinct objective within the Brahma Sakli group, a prominent mountain formation in the Pir Panjal Range known for its technical terrain and high-altitude challenges.
The ascent by Farooq and Iqbaal follows established mountaineering precedents in the area rather than claiming a first ascent. Historical records show a prior ascent of Cathedral Dome in 1989 by a local team led by M. Amin. More recently, in 2025, climbers Inayat Ullah Bhat and Laway Mudasir successfully climbed the peak via the east flank and southeast ridge, a route subsequently documented by the American Alpine Club with a recorded elevation of approximately 4,730 metres.
The October 5 expedition reflects ongoing independent mountaineering activity by local climbers in Kashmir. Documentation of summit dates, precise coordinates, and route characteristics contributes directly to regional archives, providing verifiable data for future expeditions and historical research within the Pir Panjal Range.
For Farooq and Iqbaal, the completion of the Cathedral Dome climb represents a continuation of their involvement in local high-altitude exploration, reinforcing the record of contemporary mountaineering achievements in the region.
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Shariq Mir is a Kashmir-based journalist and online editor The Chenab Times.
