Nepal's Flood-Hit Bhote Koshi Valley Has Centuries of Himalayan Trade History

The Bhote Koshi valley in Nepal, recently struck by floods, served as a vital trade corridor between Nepal and Tibet for centuries. Mule caravans once transported rice and grain northward to Gyirong, returning with Tibetan salt and wool highly prized in Nepal's middle hills. Trade goods continued further south toward India, while Newar merchant communities established settlements in Tibetan trading towns. The route also held military significance, as Nepalese troops used it during invasions of Tibet in 1788 and 1791, prompting a Chinese and Tibetan counter-offensive in 1792.