TheHimalayan Rim is the Asian region surrounding theHimalayas.
Geographically, it is surrounded by theIranian Plateau in the west,Hindu Kush andKarakoram andPamir ranges in the northwest, theTibetan Plateau in the north, theIndochinese Peninsula in the east, and theIndian subcontinent in the south.
Thecountries bordering the Himalayas includeChina (Tibet in particular) to the north,Myanmar to the east,India,Bhutan,Nepal,Pakistan to the south (see also:Northern South Asia), andAfghanistan to the west.[1]
The Himalayas impacted the way that religions and cultures spread throughout Asia, as can be seen in thespread of Buddhism along the Silk Road, or the way that Tibetans interacted with Indic Himalayan peoples throughout history.[2]
In the early second millennium, Buddhism becameless prominent in South Asia, with Hinduism and Islam becoming the primary religions south of the Himalayas.[3] By the early 16th century,Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, brought the religion to the Himalayan Rim in his thirdudasi.[4] During this time period, local Muslims, such as theKhache of Tibet, were participating in trans-Himalayan trade networks.[5]
In the 19th century, as theEast India Company had consolidated control over most of India, it began seeking influence and access to Himalayan routes and peripheral regions (see also:Great Game). Thus, in 1816, theTreaty of Sugauli was signed, affirming theIndia-Nepal border and establishing better relations in the region.[6]
In postcolonial times, various conflicts have broken out along the Himalayan Rim, such as theChinese annexation of Tibet and theIndo-China War of 1962,[7] and in general, there are significant tensions between various neighboring countries in the region as a result of border disputes.[1] In the 21st century, disputes over fresh-water resources in the region are likely to intensify.[8]