Our Mentor: ​Bull Kumar, the Legend

We look to the legendary adventurer, Col. Narinder ‘Bull’ Kumar,
PVSM, KC, AVSM, MacGregor Medal, IMF Gold Medal, Padma Shri,
Arjuna Award, Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, as our mentor
and guide.

A name synonymous with courage and exploration, Bull was India’s
most decorated soldier-mountaineer and will forever be remembered
as the first person to plant India’s flag on the Siachen Glacier in 1981.
Kumar Post at Siachen is named after him - perhaps the only living
soldier to receive this singular ​honour at that time.

His remarkable feats include the occupation of Barahoti - beating the
Chinese to it in 1961, the first Indian to scale Nanda Devi in 1964, the
Deputy Leader of the first successful Indian Everest expedition in 1965,
the leader of the first successful ascent of Kangchenjunga from the
north eastern side in in 1977.

In 2010, Col. Narinder 'Bull' Kumar was presented the MacGregor Medal by the United Service Institution of India, an award presented by all three chief of staffs (Army, Navy, and Air Force) for his "military reconnaissance and exploration efforts of remote Indian areas between 1978 and 1981​."

 

Our Inspiration: Akshay Kumar, the Adventurer

 

The quintessential adventurer - trained and licensed rafting guide, national level skier and ex-downhill ski champion, trekker, 4x4 off-road specialist and ice hockey enthusiast.
 
A stickler for safety standards and protocols, Akshay was the CEO of one of India’s largest and oldest adventure travel companies, Mercury Himalayan Explorations (our legacy) in partnership with Mercury Travels and the Oberoi Group of Hotels.
 
​Among his many achievements was the first-ever descent of the Brahmaputra river in Arunachal Pradesh in 1990 under his leadership; the leader of the first trekking group to the Nanda Devi Base Camp after a gap of 22 years in 2001; leader of the first-ever Isuzu Challenge Expedition in India – a first of its kind off-road jeep safari across the upper Himalayan region in 2002.

One of Akshay's biggest passions was to teach beginners to ski and since 2002, there have been hundreds of families - children and adults, who have learnt to ski under his supervision.  

Akshay was admitted into the India Adventure Hall of Fame in 2019 for his sterling efforts to promote adventure tourism in India.

THE TEAM

Dilshad Master, Founder & Managing Director

And that's me! I guess, as Bull Kumar's daughter-in-law and Akshay's wife, this picture of me would have been the natural progression, but I resisted it for several years!

I spent 22 years in senior management positions across news, entertainment and infotainment channels in India. My tenure as Sr. Vice President, National Geographic Channel really sparked off the next chapter of my life, and the call of the mountains couldn't be ignored any more. I worked with Akshay as the Operations and Marketing head of Mercury Himalayan Explorations - a company Bull Kumar started in the early 1980s. 

I learnt on the hob, and while doing that, I also learnt to ski - at the age of 50 (so never tell me your age is your limitation!) I have led multiple treks to Everest Base Camp, Gokyo Lakes, Renjo La and across other high-altitude terrains of India and Nepal, tackled Grade 5 rapids on the wild Zanskar river in Ladakh, and am the first and only female to ever lead a civilian trek to the Siachen Glacier.

​I started Bull's Adventures - a dream I shared with Akshay, in 2021, and shed my corporate avtaar to become an outdoors leader and motivational speaker. I am also a TEDx Speaker and a cancer survivor (so never tell me that something is impossible!) My passion is introducing the great outdoors to families with young children, and to beginners who've never ventured out before. 

​You can find me at [email protected] and read more about me here.

Anuj Sharma, Operations Head

Apart from skiing and trekking, we also meticulously plan and execute customized holidays for families, that include leisure and cultural explorations into Ladakh, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Kerala and Rajasthan. And that's where Anuj comes in.

​Anuj is an expert at leisure travel and has hand-picked the perfect boutique properties and high end home-stays across these states for our discerning guests. Road trips are his passion and he has covered Ladakh, Himachal and Rajasthan extensively.

He went for his first trek with our team in 2015 - the Kuari Pass ​Trek and though he loved the experience, he's decided he prefers a set of four wheels under him to admire the views!

​A passionate photographer, Anuj is one guy you can trust to meticulously plan your getaway. Nothing seems impossible for him and his can-do attitude has endeared him to our clients, who trust him again and again, to create the best memories ever! 

​You can find Anuj at [email protected]

Yaseen Khan, the King of Gulmarg!

Yaseen is...family. That's the best way we can describe him. For us he's Yaseena, for Dilshad’s daughter Saira, he's Yaseen Chachu and for our guests over the past several decades (while at MHE) he's Yaseen Bhai. Today, Yaseen is also popularly known as "Arif Khan’s father" - an epithet that fills his heart with pride. Yaseen’s older son Arif, is India’s champion skier and the only Indian to have qualified for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Watching Arif hold the India flag in the opening ceremony was a moment of pride for us all!

Yaseen has worked with Bull Kumar from the 1980s, watched Akshay tentatively slip on his ski boots when he was three years old, and has guided our daughter down the ski slopes for the past 8 years now! If there's one man who is can take credit for putting Kashmir, especially Gulmarg, on the ski and trekking map of India, it is Yaseen Khan. And that's why - you guessed it - we often refer to him as the King of Gulmarg!

Yaseen will be your guide as you soak in the sights and sounds of Kashmir. He’s an amazing raconteur, has lived through Kashmir’s dark times and come out on the other side, more philosophical and pragmatic. Brilliant with children and adults alike, be prepared for a stern talking to if you try to discipline your child in front of him. Yaseen is a big believer in nature being the greatest teacher and many a child has had a blast jumping into icy cold streams of water under his watchful gaze, while the parents look on helplessly!

Rifat Khan, Trek Leader, Kashmir

Rifat has, what we call, mountain legs - and why not? Born and raised in Kashmir, Rifat has been walking the mountain trails as a toddler. While both her brothers are preparing for the Winter Olympics in Paris, Rifat manages the business front along with her father Yaseen Khan, a legendary Kashmiri trekker, skier and adventurer, who will be taking care of all your needs while on this trek.

Rifat is multilingual - she speaks English, Urdu, Hindi and Kashmiri; is a BSc and B.Ed with a Post Graduate degree in Dietetics and works at the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar, that is, when she’s not roaming the mountain trails!

Don’t be fooled by her gentle nature, Rifat can be firm and unrelenting where your safety is concerned. She uses her negotiation and management skills to gently prod the children forward, is a fantastic communicator and story-teller, and has a deep insight into Kashmir’s culture and history. And may we add - Rifat is an amazing cook! So if you can convince her to allow Manzoor, your chef, into the kitchen tent, you may be in for one hell of a treat!

Raja, Trek Leader, Kashmir

In the international snowboarding circles, he's known as Mehraj Din, but for us, he's simply Raja!  India's foremost snowboarder, Raja scripted history by clinching two, first-ever, FIS bronze medals in Giants Slalom Snowboarding and Slalom events at the Stars Cup 2024 in Serbia. 

When he's not hard at work, training to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, Raja is our chief trek leader in Kashmir. He's been pounding these mountain sides, on his snowboard and in his hiking shoes, since he was 4 years old and is familiar with every trail, creek and, river crossing! He's a quiet sort of chap - you'd think, but under that charming smile lies a wicked sense of humour. Kids love him for his soccer and cricket expertise in the open meadows, and beginners adore him for that outstretched helping hand when one least expects it.  

Tashi Angchok, Trek Leader, Ladakh

 With over 20 years of experience as a trekking and tour guide, Tashi has been our trusted partner in Ladakh for the past eight years. He played a key role in the historic first civilian trek to the Siachen Glacier led by Dilshad in 2016, expertly acclimating the group and crafting a high-altitude trail, getting the group ready for the challenge ahead. There’s no trail, route, or 6000-meter peak in Ladakh that Tashi hasn’t climbed.

As a local, Tashi’s deep connection to Ladakh’s history and culture sets him apart. He has grown up hearing his parents and grand parents talk about the history and culture of the region - and that’s what makes him so special. Every monastery, every gompa has a story and it is fascinating to listen to Tashi speak about his people. Though soft-spoken, his passion shines through when he shares stories of his homeland. 

​Fluent in English, Hindi, and Ladakhi, Tashi’s gentle demeanor is matched by his unwavering commitment to safety. Feel free to tap into his vast knowledge of the region’s trails and peaks during your journey.