Shihab Chotoor reaches Makkah after 12 months of walking on foot 8,600 km from Kerala

Jiddah: Shihab Chotoor accomplished his long-standing wish as he arrived in Makkah after embarking on a remarkable journey of 8,600 km on foot. Starting on June 2nd of the previous year from Athavanad in Malappuram district, Kerala, Shihab traversed several countries including India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, and Kuwait before reaching his destination.

After an arduous journey spanning 12 months and five days, Shihab Chotoor finally arrived in Makkah on the 7th of this month, ready to partake in the holy Hajj pilgrimage. Inspired by the stories of those who aspired to perform Hajj on foot, Shihab pursued his own dream and successfully completed his remarkable trek.

Upon entering Saudi Arabia via the Arar border crossing from Kuwait, Shihab first visited Medina, where he spent 21 days before making his way to Makkah. Covering a distance of 440 km in nine days, Shihab maintained an average of 25 kilometres per day throughout his journey.

Along the way, he encountered a setback at the Wagah border, where he had to wait for four months due to a lack of a transit visa for Pakistan. During this period, he found accommodation at the Afia Kids School in Amritsar.

In February of this year, Shihab was granted the necessary transit visa, allowing him to resume his journey. For security reasons, he had to take a flight from Pakistan to Iran and travel the remaining distance of the Saudi-Kuwait border, a mere two kilometres, on foot.

Shihab had previously spent six years working in Saudi Arabia and had visited holy sites such as Mecca and Medina. However, he had not yet performed the Hajj pilgrimage. Once his mother, Zainab, joins him in Makkah from Kerala, Shihab Chotoor will have the opportunity to fulfil his long-awaited Hajj pilgrimage alongside her.