In the aftermath of Alexander the Great's conquest of India in 326 BCE, a period of significant cross-cultural exchange unfolded between the Mediterranean and the Indian subcontinent. Notably, Seleucus I Nicator, founder of the Seleucid Empire, dispatched the Greek historian and ambassador Megasthenes to the court of Chandragupta Maurya in Pataliputra. Megasthenes, born around 350 BCE, chronicled his extensive travels in northern India around 300 BCE in a work titled "Indika," influencing subsequent Greek and Roman perspectives on the subcontinent. While fragments of Indika allude to Megasthenes' likely visit to Kashmir, his detailed observations offer a valuable glimpse into the region's agriculture, social structures, and cultural richness, solidifying Kashmir's historical importance in global civilization.
Muhammad Ashraf Wani and Aman Ashraf Wani's "The Making of Early Kashmir" explores Kashmir's history from prehistoric times to the 13th century, emphasizing its global connections. The authors use diverse sources to reveal a dynamic narrative of cultural hybridity, cosmopolitanism, and interconnectedness, challenging nationalist perspectives. The book provides a well-structured, scholarly, and engaging account that dismantles conventional historical frameworks, highlighting Kashmir's role in shaping Asia's premodern past.
Kashmir is home to a variety of archeological sites offering evidences of human existance from many millenia before the history started recording itself. Harwan is one of the ancient sites that offers details about the existance of Buddhism in Kashmir somewhere around fourth to the seventh century CE. Thois detailed write up offers details about the site and its significance to Kashmir.