Why would people from Asia enter the Indian subcontinent through the Hindu Kush rather than the Himalayas?

People from Asia would enter the Indian subcontinent through the Hindu Kush rather than the Himalayas primarily due to the geography of the regions. The Himalayas are some of the highest and most formidable mountain ranges in the world, with many peaks rising over 8,000 meters, including Mount Everest, the world's highest peak. The Himalayan range presents a significant obstacle due to its daunting height, harsh weather conditions, and relatively few accessible passes, making it very difficult for large groups of people or armies to cross.

On the other hand, the Hindu Kush is a mountain range that, while still imposing, is not as high or difficult to traverse as the Himalayas. It has historically provided several passes, the most famous of which is the Khyber Pass, which have served as vital trade routes and invasion paths for millennia. These passes in the Hindu Kush have allowed for easier movement of people, goods, and armies between Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. This is why empires, traders, and nomadic tribes have frequently chosen the Hindu Kush as their gateway to the Indian subcontinent.

The geography of the Indian subcontinent has played a crucial role in its history and cultural development. The Himalayas to the north have acted as a natural barrier, providing protection to the region from major invasions and also influencing the climate by preventing cold Central Asian katabatic winds from blowing south, which results in a much warmer and fertile subcontinent. However, despite its protective role, it also somewhat isolated the region from the rest of the Asian continent, limiting cultural and trade exchanges.

The Hindu Kush, part of the larger Himalayan mountain system, also served as a barrier but was more penetrable than the main Himalayan range. Historically, it allowed for connections with Persian, Greco-Roman, Central Asian, and eventually Arab and Turkic cultures. The invasions and migrations through the Hindu Kush have shaped the Indian subcontinent's demographics, cultures, and languages over time. Due to the historical importance of these passes, control over regions such as the Khyber Pass has been strategically significant for various empires intending to gain access to the fertile plains of the Indian subcontinent for either trade or conquest.