New Delhi, April 1 -- The Himalayas, often perceived as an impediment to mutual relations between India and China, have paradoxically been a facilitator of connectivity for the past 3,500 years. Despite their role in historical conflicts over the last 35 years, these massive mountain ranges have also served as bridges rather than barriers.

While many recognize the Silk Road as the primary route enabling trade between the East and the Middle East-starting, of course, with silk-few acknowledge its offshoots across the Himalayas that led to India, facilitating not just trade but also cultural exchange. The quest to explore the inner philosophies of Buddhism and the Maurya Empire was so profound that Chinese explorers like Hiuen Tsang (Xuanz...