THIS publication is a collection of papers on the state of market towns and their trends in some countries of the Hindu-Kush Himalayan region. The role market centres in small towns play in the urbanisation of the region, the consequent impact on livelihood, strategies for mountain development, issues of evolution and the status and trend of urbanisation of market towns from northeast India to Nepal have been dealt with extensively. Two case studies of rapidly urbanising areas in the region are listed to understand alternative modes of urbanisation. Some conceptual and operational issues related to sustainable urbanisation and promotion of market centres and small towns in the region have also been listed in the book.