South Asia

• Kashmir is a region disputed between India, Pakistan, and China. Each region of Kashmir is described as part of the country which holds de facto control.

Associated countries

The following countries are sometimes considered part of South Asia, although are categorized elsewhere in this guide:

• Afghanistan can be considered part of the region: Although it is mostly part of Central Asia, it often involves itself in the South Asian regional organizations.
• Iran is occasionally considered part of the region, but more often considered to be in the Middle East or Central Asia.
• Myanmar (formerly Burma) may be considered part of South Asia for long-standing historical and political ties to India, although it is usually categorized in Southeast Asia.
• The British Indian Ocean Territory is south of the Maldives. It is however off limits for most people.

• — de facto capital of Sri Lanka
• — thriving cultural melting pot that is Bangladesh's capital
• — capital of Pakistan
• — capital of Nepal
• — a culturally diverse and cosmopolitan city in Pakistan's south
• — an island city of beauty
• — most eclectic and cosmopolitan city of India, famous for the Bollywood film industry
• — capital of India, a culturally diverse city
• — capital of Bhutan, surrounded by mountains

• — a spectacular, fascinating and important archaeological site of ruins of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization.
• — hill district in Bangladesh with trekking through unspoilt forests
• — one of the more stunning and popular parts of Pakistan's high mountain areas
• — the world's tallest mountain straddling the border of China and Nepal
• — one of the best places in India to see tigers
• — the incomparable marble tomb in Agra
• — the longest sea beaches in the world

See Islands of the Indian Ocean.

Some commonalities exist to this area, mainly climate and culture.
Climate: Apart from the Himalaya, the climate is tropical, with monsoon in summer and dry winter. However, you have the extremes of this climate, i.e. in Western Pakistan monsoon is quite non-existent and in Southern India, it lasts for six months. Sri Lanka even has two monsoons, one in May, one in October/November.
Culture: The influence of historical Indian culture can be seen everywhere. Four major world religions have their origins within South Asia: Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism. Later Islam was introduced by Muslim invaders starting around the 7th century and rose to prominence during the Mughal Empire.
An additional layer of South Asian cultural unification derives from the influence of British culture, and especially the frequent and growing use of the English language, as a result of India having formed the "Jewel in the Crown" of the British Empire before Independence in 1947; see British Raj.
Population density: South Asia is one of the world's most densely populated regions - approximately 1.6 billion people (or roughly a quarter of humanity) make their home there. The average population density of 305 people per square km is 7 times the world average.

The region does not have a lingua franca. However, as much of South Asia was under British rule, and even the nominally independent areas were under some form of British suzerainty, English is widely spoken by educated people. Hindi and Urdu are spoken over much of India and Pakistan. As the two languages are mutually intelligible, if you have to learn one before visiting, pick one of these. Hindi will also help you in Nepal, as the Nepali language is quite similar, while Nepali is also the main language in some bordering areas of India such as Sikkim. Bengali is another major language spoken in Bangladesh, West Bengal and understood in some other eastern states of India. Other languages that straddle international borders include Punjabi which is spoken in parts of the India-Pakistan border region, and Tamil, which is spoken in southern India and northern Sri Lanka.
Other than these, South Asia has a fascinating diversity of languages. India, in particular, is home to hundreds, and Pakistan also has quite a few. In the major cities and tourist destinations, you will be able to get by with English with varying degrees of difficulty.

{{infobox|Familial/nationality visas|
Throughout South Asia, there are programs to allow members of the diaspora visa-free access to certain countries.
In India and Pakistan, prior citizens or descendants of people who are/were citizens of the country are usually eligible for a what is essentially a permanent visa (somewhat like green cards in the USA). These types of visas try to match dual citizenship {without actually being it) by allowing holders to reside and work in the country indefinitely. While they are meant to be valid for life, they might have to be renewed every 20 years. This can work out cheaper than a tourist visa for frequent and long term visitors (both due to appllication cost and benefits given).
Bangladesh has a "No-Visa Required" seal instead, which allows multiple entries to the country with no restrictions on how long the holder and their family can stay. While it is only valid through the lifetime of the passport, it can be transferred between passports.
Sri Lanka, unlike other countries in the region, allows dual citizenship.}}

Overland

Getting in overland to South Asia can be a challenging task. From the west it's relatively easy, along the routes described below.

• Europe to South Asia over land
• Istanbul to New Delhi over land

In the northwest, South Asia borders Afghanistan which has been a war zone for several decades. Entry from China is possible either along the Karakoram Highway or to Nepal, though you will need a special permit to travel through Tibet. Quite a lot of bureaucracy is reportedly required to travel overland from Myanmar.

By plane

International airports include:

• Bangladesh - Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet
• Bhutan - Paro (near Thimphu)
• India - Delhi, Mumbai (Bombay), Hyderabad, Chennai (Madras), Kolkata (Calcutta), Bangalore, Kochi (Cochin), Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kozhikode (Calicut), Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Amritsar, Coimbatore
• Maldives - Male
• Nepal - Kathmandu
• Pakistan - Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Multan, Quetta, Sialkot
• Sri Lanka - Colombo (actually, Katunayake close to Negombo)

Many flights from the west coast of North America arrive via Singapore and Bangkok, while flights originating on the east coast usually have a stopover somewhere in Europe depending on the airline.
Flights from Europe arrive via Dubai, Doha and several other major airline hubs.
The number of direct flights between India and U.S/U.K is increasing.

By boat

Some cruise ships visit the region. It is also possible to enter on smaller vessels, but make sure to do your research thoroughly before planning a trip, because part of the region overlaps with the area frequented by Somali pirates. An encounter with them is to be avoided at all costs.

• Rail travel in India

thumbnail|Jal Mahal, [[Jaipur]]

Nature

With the world's tallest mountains, as well as coastal regions with the world's highest rainfall, South Asia's nature is dramatic, but pressured by demographic and economic growth. South Asia is part of the Indomalayan wildlife region, with iconic species such as Asian elephants, tigers and peacocks. See the Indian National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
Especially Nepal and Kashmir are world renowned for mountaineering.

Religion and spirituality

{{seealso|Sacred sites of the Indian sub-continent}}
South Asian religious movements such as Hinduism, Buddhism have a long history, and an international appeal since the 20th century. Many visitors come to learn meditation and yoga.

Itineraries

thumbnail|The Lion Rock in Sigiriya, one of Sri Lanka's World Heritage Sites

• Istanbul to New Delhi over land
• On the trail of Kipling's Kim
• Grand Trunk Road
• Karakoram Highway
• World Heritage Sites Tour in Sri Lanka

Historical topics

• British Raj
• Mughal Empire
• Shimla
• Jaipur

Sports

• Cricket is a huge business in South Asia, with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka boasting world class teams.

For most countries in the region, bargaining is essential while shopping.

• Scuba diving in Asia
• Trekking in Nepal

{{seealso|South Asian cuisine}}
thumbnail|A Bengali fish meal You will not be able to experience the best of South Asian culture until you have consumed its flavorful food. India alone has one of the best cuisines in the world; however, you can find something that will suit your taste buds anywhere throughout the region.

Tea is a common beverage consumed throughout the region. But, each country will have something tasty for you to drink. While alcohol is banned or restricted in Muslim communities, fruit juices are ubiquitous.

Much of the region is considered a safe place to visit, with the exceptions of northwestern Pakistan close to the border of Afghanistan. Northwestern Pakistan is a war-zone, and is often controlled by extremist militant groups such as the Taliban; it should be avoided as much as possible.
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{{related|Europe_to_South_Asia_over_land}}
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