In the context of the early trade routes connecting the Tibetan plateau with the plains of Assam through present-day Arunachal Pradesh, which river valley served as the primary arterial transit corridor for trans-Himalayan commerce?

💡 Solution & Explanation

The Tawang and Lohit river valleys functioned as vital historical transit corridors facilitating trans-Himalayan trade between Tibet and the Brahmaputra valley. Traders exchanged wool, salt, and yak tails from the plateau for rice, silk, and iron tools from the plains. These ancient paths were traversed by monks, traders, and emissaries, fostering deep religious and cultural ties, particularly through the spread of Buddhism into the Tawang region. The Nambul river is located in Manipur rather than Arunachal Pradesh.