A Geographic Overview

South Asia- A Region of Cultural and Linguistic Diversity

A Geographic Overview

South Asia is a region of the world that includes the Indian subcontinent, as well as the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. With a population of over 1.8 billion people, South Asia is one of the most populous regions in the world, and its inhabitants speak a wide variety of languages, practice a diverse range of religions, and come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

The Languages of South Asia

The languages of South Asia belong to a number of different language families. The most widely spoken language in the region is Hindi, which is spoken by over 400 million people in India, Pakistan, and Nepal. Other major languages include Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, and Tamil. In addition to these Indo-Aryan languages, there are also a number of Dravidian languages spoken in South Asia, such as Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada.

The Religions of South Asia

The people of South Asia practice a wide range of religions. The most common religion in the region is Hinduism, which is practiced by over 1 billion people. Other major religions include Islam, Buddhism, and Sikhism. There are also a number of smaller religions practiced in South Asia, such as Jainism, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity. The region is also home to a number of religious pilgrimage sites, including the Ganges River in India, the Bodh Gaya temple in Nepal, and the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India.