It has a large population with over 1.7 billion people, South Asia is home to nearly a quarter of the world’s population. India itself contains over 1.3 billion people.

It has a varied terrain and climate. South Asia includes the Himalayan mountains, Indo-Gangetic plains, The desert and Indian Ocean coasts. Major rivers like the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra flow through the region. The climate is dominated by the monsoons with four main seasons – winter, summer, monsoon and post-monsoon. The monsoon rains play a critical role in agriculture.

Its truly diverse place. South Asia is hugely diverse in terms of languages, ethnic groups, art, architecture, literature, philosophy, cultural practices and religions with Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism and Christianity, amongst other faiths.

It has a fascinating history. Some of the world’s most ancient civilisations flourished in South Asia, which has also been influenced by Islamic, Persian, Turkic and European cultures over the centuries. Key historical events include the rule of empires like the Mauryas, Guptas, Delhi Sultanate, Mughals in India, and European colonialism across the region. South Asia gained independence from British rule in the 1940s.