South Asia

[[file:Ploughing FieldsBangladesh banner.jpg|1280px|Rice fields inBangladesh South Asia, commonly called the Indian Subcontinent (or "the Subcontinent"), is a triangular landmass bordered by the Himalayas in the north and the Indian Ocean in the south, and the Ganges and Indus river valleys in east and west. Home to 1.75 billion people, South Asia has the world's tallest mountains, and is the origin of some of the world's oldest civilizations and the wellspring of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.

Countries

Map of South Asia's countries

Bangladesh
Home of beautiful mangroves and the world's longest beach.

Bhutan
A Buddhist-majority country influenced by the Tibetan culture and way of life.

India
A country of ancient and rich cultural legacy with the Himalayan Mountains in the north, Thar Desert in the west and the Indian Ocean in the south.

Maldives
Home to gorgeous beaches, with a culture influenced by India and the Middle East.

Nepal
Home to Mount Everest and birthplace of Buddha, popular with adventure tourists, and a place of many rare animals and pure hospitality.

Pakistan
Rich in culture and history, varying climates and terrains from hot deserts to snowy mountains, and home of 5 of only 14 8,000-metre mountains on earth, but tourism is suffering due to the unpredictable security situation.

Sri Lanka
The pearl of the Orient, has a tropical climate and cultural influences from the rest of South Asia.

Kashmir is a region disputed between India, Pakistan, and China. Each region of Kashmir is described as part of the nation 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.

Cities

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Red Fort in Delhi 03-2016 img3 - The Red Fort in Delhi

Colombo — de facto capital of Sri Lanka
Dhaka — thriving cultural melting pot that isBangladesh's capital
Islamabad — capital of Pakistan
Kathmandu — capital of Nepal
Karachi — a culturally diverse and cosmopolitan city in Pakistan's south
Male — an island city of beauty
Mumbai — most eclectic and cosmopolitan city of India, famous for the Bollywood film industry
New Delhi — capital of India, a culturally diverse city
Thimphu — capital of Bhutan, surrounded by mountains

More Destinations

Moenjodaro(a) by Usman Ghani - Ruins at Mohenjo-daro

Mohenjo-daro — a spectacular, fascinating and important archaeological site of ruins of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization.
Bandarban — hill neighborhood inBangladesh with trekking through unspoilt forests
Hunza Valley — one of the more stunning and popular parts of Pakistan's high mountain areas
Mount Everest — the world's tallest mountain straddling the border of China and Nepal
Sundarbans National Park — one of the best places in India to see tigers
Taj Mahal — the incomparable marble tomb in Agra
Cox's Bazar — the longest sea beaches in the world

See Islands of the Indian Ocean.

An introduction to South Asia

Maya Devi Lumbini - The Maya Devi temple in Lumbini, built on the spot where Buddha was born

Some commonalities exist to this area, mainly climate and culture.

Climate: Apart from the Himalaya and 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 - roughly 1.6 billion people (or roughly a quarter of humanity) make their home there. The average population density of 305 people per square kilometers is 7 times the world average.

Local Language in South Asia

The region does not have a lingua franca. However, as much of South Asia was under British Raj|British rule, and even the nominally independent areas were under some form of British suzerainty, English is widely spoken by educated people. Hindi phrasebook|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 phrasebook|Nepali language is quite similar, while Nepali is also the main language in some bordering areas of India such as Sikkim. Bengali phrasebook|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 phrasebook|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.

Travel to South Asia

Zangmu frontiere - |The Sino-Nepali friendship bridge Familial/nationality visas| Throughout South Asia and 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 nation are usually eligible for a what is crucially 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 nation indefinitely. While they are meant to be valid for life and 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 nation 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 feasible 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.

Buy a Flight ticket to and from South Asia

International airports include:

Bangladesh - Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet
Bhutan - Paro (near Thimphu)
India - Delhi, Mumbai , Hyderabad, Chennai , Kolkata (Calcutta), Bangalore, Cochin|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 connecting flights between India and U.S/U.K is increasing.

Book a Halal Cruise or Boat Tour in South Asia

Some cruise ships visit the region. It is also feasible 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.

Get around

Rail travel in India

What to see in South Asia

Jal Mahal. 2009 - 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 South Asian wildlife|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

See also: 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.

Halal Tours and Excursions in South Asia

Sigiriya - 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.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in South Asia

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

Best things to do in South Asia

Scuba diving#Asia|Scuba diving in Asia
Trekking in Nepal

Halal Restaurants in South Asia

See also: South Asian cuisine

Bengali Fish meal - 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.

Stay Safe

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 feasible. The border between Tibet and India is also very tense right now.