This paper examines the seasonal migration of the Bhotiya communities through long distance medicinal plant trade in Bhotkhola Rural Municipality, Sankhuwasabha District, Nepal. Traditionally, Bhotiya traders crossed Himalayas into Tibet for salt-grain barter, but since the 1960s—following the introduction of iodized Indian salt, development of the Dharan-Dhankuta road corridor, and tightening of Chinese border controls—this trade route has shifted southwards to Nepal’s Terai plains. From January to March, during the agricultural off-season, Bhotiya communities move to the lowlands carrying Himalayan medicinal plants, yak tails (chambar), and resin (laha) to barter or sell in local markets.

Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted from February to April 2020—including participant observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation of collection permits and trading practices—this study explores three interrelated questions: (i) the historical evolution and motivations behind seasonal long- distance trade, and (ii) the traditional knowledge sustaining a localized Bhotiya identity within Nepal’s changing socio-political landscape.

Findings reveal that seasonal long-distance trade functions not only as an economic strategy but as a vehicle for preserving and transmitting Bhotiya ethnomedical knowledge, particularly through oral prescriptions and household interactions with Terai customers who trust Himalayan remedies for human, ritual, and veterinary uses. The practice demonstrates remarkable adaptability, negotiating multiple forest and police checkpoints, modern permit systems, and shifting transportation infrastructure, while continuing to supply essential goods and maintain cultural continuity.

This study highlights the long-distance seasonal migration for medicinal plant trade as a living example of resilience in Himalayan trade networks, reflecting broader processes of livelihood diversification, cultural negotiation, and the informal economy under changing border regimes.