Widely marketed in India as an energy supplement and aphrodisiac, Shilajit has grown in popularity in recent years. However, scientific evidence supporting many of the health claims associated with it remains limited.

Collecting it, however, is a dangerous and physically demanding job.

In the remote Chenab Valley of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, Manohar Lal climbs nearly 13,000ft (4,000m) without ropes, a helmet or any specialist safety equipment to collect rocks containing shilajit from steep mountain cliffs.

The rocks are then processed using a traditional method of boiling and filtration before the final product is sold in the market.

BBC Urdu's Kaisar Andrabi followed Manohar on one of these climbs to document the remarkable journey behind a product consumed by millions.

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