Bandipora, October 4,2026-Runners set off from the Border Security Force Headquarters at Maddar on Sunday for the third edition of the BSF Wular Ultra Run. The event has been held at Wular in Bandipora for three years in a row. Organised by BSF under Frontier Headquarters Kashmir, it carries the theme “Save Wular, Run With Bordermen” and aims to promote fitness, community engagement and tourism in the Valley.
Four distances, one lake
The run offers 50 km, 25 km, 10.5 km and 5 km categories, with routes looping through Bandipora and finishing around Wular Vantage Park. The shorter races suit beginners, students and families. The 50 km course is for experienced endurance runners and takes the event beyond the half marathon format it started with.
Roads closed for the morning
Traffic Police Rural Kashmir shut vehicle movement along the route from 5 am to 2 pm. The course runs from Maddar towards NHPC Pethkote and returns to Chewa through Kangrichowk and Wular Vantage Road. Traffic from Gurez and Bandipora heading to Srinagar was diverted via the Bandipora-Sopore road. Vehicles from Srinagar bound for Bandipora and Gurez were routed through Narbal, Pattan and Sopore. Ganderbal traffic was sent through Sumbal, Naidkhai and Sopore.
Weeks of planning
The district administration and security agencies worked together to prepare. Deputy Commissioner Indu Kanwal Chib held a review meeting on Sep 25 with officers from BSF, J&K Police, CRPF, the Army and civil departments. They went through security, traffic management, medical cover, hydration points, sanitation, fire and emergency readiness, and cultural programmes. On Saturday she walked the route with BSF officials and held a dry run. She checked the start line, the turning point at Darmhama, and the water and medical stations.
A steady rise
The event has grown quickly. The first edition, a half marathon in November 2024, drew over 700 registered runners. The 2025 edition attracted more than 3,000 participants from across the country, many of them young people from the Valley. This year’s longer distances show how far the organisers’ ambitions have moved.
Fitness and openness
At the launch of the official T-shirt in Budgam on Sep 19, Inspector General Ashok Yadav said the run is meant to spread positive energy and bring more young people into sport. He called it part of BSF’s effort to work alongside local communities. He added that visitors from outside Jammu and Kashmir would get a chance to see the region and its natural beauty first-hand.
Why Wular
The lake is the reason for the theme. Wular is one of Asia’s largest freshwater lakes and a vital wetland for migratory birds. It is also in trouble. Waste carried by the Jhelum from Srinagar and surrounding areas has fed algal growth and put pressure on the lake’s ecology. The run uses a popular sporting event to keep that problem in public view. It also gives a boost to nearby attractions such as Wular Vantage Park, Athwatoo and the Gurez valley.
More than race day
For Bandipora, the run means a busy day for volunteers, medical teams, police and visitors. For BSF, it offers a chance to be seen as a neighbour as well as a security force. The force has taken the same approach elsewhere, including a large public marathon in Jammu last year promoting fitness and a drug-free India.
The real test comes after the finish line. If the run keeps drawing outside attention to Wular, supporters hope it will build lasting support for the lake’s protection. For now, the event has become a regular date on the Valley’s sporting calendar.
