Srinagar, Mar 16: In a pleasant reversal of the usual story, a young Mumbaikar travelled all the way from Dombivli to Srinagar, not for sightseeing, but exclusively for dental treatment.
Months after his December holiday in Kashmir turned painful, he came with his family for treatment follow-up mid-March, leaving as an ambassador for not just Kashmir’s tourism, but health tourism potential.
The 28-year-old Pritam Patil visited Kashmir in late December 2025 along with his five friends.
The plan was to beckon the New Year in Gulmarg.
What had been planned as a dream holiday, suddenly turned into a nightmare: Patil was struck by acute toothache, the kind that refused to subside despite heavy medication.
The friends were now looking at a derailed trip, the one they had planned meticulously months ahead.
Through a local contact, Patil and his friends reached the dental clinic of Dr Shabir Ahmad Shah at Amar Singh College Chowk Srinagar on the evening of 29 December 2025.
The doctor examined him immediately and did the needful: a dental procedure that was impending.
The very next morning Patil was pain-free.
The group resumed their Kashmir tour without missing a single day.
The holiday concluded as had been planned, smooth, exciting, and full of memories of a lifetime.
However, Patil made a stop before heading to airport for return home.
He visited Dr Shah’s clinic again to thank the doctor.
He still had several chronic dental issues, and talked to the doctor about the way forward for a better outlook for his oral health.
Back in Mumbai, and with family, he kept comparing his past experiences with renowned Mumbai dentists to the treatment he received in Srinagar.
The difference, Patil said, was striking.
“The skill was better and the warmth was incomparable,” he said.
Patil made his decision that came as a surprise even for his own family.
He decided to fly back to Kashmir solely for the remaining treatment.
In the second week of March, he landed in Srinagar again, accompanied by his cousin Kunal Adawale.
He checked into a hotel, and stayed for an entire week, visiting the Clinic of Dr Shabir multiple times.
On March 13, the final phase of the treatment was completed to Patil’s complete satisfaction.
“After years of dental work in Mumbai, I can confidently say the expertise and care I received here is unmatched,” Patil said.
He was all praise for his dentist, his saviour.
“Dr Shabir is not just a doctor, he is an artist with a heart of gold,” Patil said.
Beyond the clinic, the Mumbai duo was touched by the kindness they experienced from hotel staff and local people to shopkeepers and even strangers on the street.
Declaring themselves as unofficial but real ambassadors of Kashmir, the duo before heading home said, “We will tell everyone back home about the incredible medical talent here, the professionalism, the honesty, and above all, the warmth of Kashmiri society.”
After leaving Srinagar, the Mumbai family planned to pay their respect at the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in Katra.
Then they fly back carrying not just perfectly treated teeth, but also a bag full of memories and a newfound love for Kashmir.
