85-448: The Bengali-Assamese languages (also Gauda–Kamarupa languages ) is a grouping of several languages in the eastern Indian subcontinent . This group belongs to the Eastern zone of Indo-Aryan languages . The languages in this group according to Glottolog includes Assamese , Bengali , Bishnupriya , Chakma , Chittagonian , Hajong , Kharia Thar , Kurmukar , Lodhi (also categorised as
170-411: A Munda language ), Mal Paharia , Noakhali , Rajbangshi , Rohingya , Sylheti , Tangchangya and Surjapuri . [REDACTED] Nepal ( Koshi Province ) * = borrowed terms (including tatsamas , ardhatatsamas and other borrowings) * = borrowed terms (including tatsamas , ardhatatsamas and other borrowings) Eastern Indian subcontinent Eastern South Asia
255-503: A treaty with Bhutan in 1949, and, in 1950, a treaty with Nepal and a treaty with Sikkim. The Annexation of Tibet by the People's Republic of China , particularly after the 1959 Tibetan uprising , caused an exodus of Tibetan refugees into Northern and Eastern South Asia, including into Nepal and Bhutan. Refugees included the spiritual Tibetan head of state, the Dalai Lama , who established
340-459: A UN tribunal. In 2015, India and Bangladesh signed a land boundary agreement to resolve border disputes. In 2014 Bangladesh and Bhutan signed a trade agreement in which Bhutan gained duty-free access for 90 products in the Bangladeshi market. Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Bhutan signed a regional motor vehicle agreement in 2015. The four countries have agreed to develop hydropower in
425-451: A challenge. Nepal is a federal republic . The President of Nepal is the head of state. The Prime Minister of Nepal 's role as head of government has been in place for over a century. Nepal has a bicameral parliament. The country continues to transition from a monarchy to a republic. Nepal's legal system is historically based on Hindu law but has incorporated influences from English law and other legal systems since modernization began in
510-591: A coastline on the Bay of Bengal. It includes the states of West Bengal , Bihar , Jharkhand , and Odisha . The region is bounded by Nepal , Sikkim , and Bhutan in the north, Bangladesh in the east, the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh on the west, and the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh in the south. It is connected to the Seven Sister States of Northeast India by the narrow Siliguri Corridor . West Bengal
595-476: A gradual decline beginning in the 300s, with fewer and less elaborate structures between this period and c. 600. After that, there are no traces of human activity for a thousand years, and the site seems to have been abandoned. One likely contributing factor was a shift in the course of the Ganges. As early as Faxian's visit around the year 400, he wrote that Pataliputra was one yojana (about 10 km) south of
680-507: A highly efficient form of local self government . The location of the site was first identified in modern times in 1892 by Laurence Waddell , published as Discovery of the Exact Site of Asoka's Classic Capital . Extensive archaeological excavations have been made in the vicinity of modern Patna. Excavations early in the 20th century around Patna revealed clear evidence of large fortification walls, including reinforcing wooden trusses. In
765-451: A montane climate with cold, snowy winters and mild summers. Nepal is the world's 93rd largest country . Nepal is commonly divided into three physiographic areas: mountain, hill, and southern lowland plains (the Terai ). These ecological belts run east–west and are vertically intersected by Nepal's major, north to south-flowing river system. The southern lowland plains bordering India are part of
850-479: A multi-lingual and multi-ethnic Indo-Aryan population. Kolkata , Patna , Asansol , Durgapur , Bhubaneshwar , Siliguri and Darjeeling are among the area's largest cities. Northeast India has a population of 45 million. It has a multi-ethnic Tibeto-Burman and Austric population, except in Bengali-majority Tripura. Guwahati , Agartala , Shillong , Imphal , Aizawl , and Gangtok are
935-506: A pan-Indian political crisis. In 1912, East Bengal was reunited with West Bengal as Bengal Province while Assam was separated as Assam Province . The first partition left a strong legacy. Decades later in the 1940s, when Hindu–Muslim relations deteriorated, the British government again partitioned Bengal into East Bengal and West Bengal as part of the Partition of British India . East Bengal
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#17328451856881020-626: A security challenge for the Indian government. Since 1958, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act has been imposed in the region. The law has been described as perpetuating indirect military rule . There have been many allegations of human rights abuses in northeast India. In 2003, China acknowledged Sikkim as a part of India while India recognized Tibet as part of China. The Dalai Lama has often asserted that Tibet should be given meaningful autonomy within China, not independence. In 2005,
1105-524: A similar effect. A catastrophic flood likely also devastated the city at some point in the late 500s. A later Jain work, the Titlhogali Painniya , records a traditional account of a disastrous flood on the Son River destroying Pataliputra at some point. This account describes this flood as happening during the month of Bhādrapada , or September, after 17 days and nights of heavy rain. The flooding on
1190-624: A small fort ( Pāṭaligrāma ) near the Ganges river. Udayin laid the foundation of the city of Pataliputra at the confluence of two rivers, the Son and the Ganges . He shifted his capital from Rajgriha to Pataliputra due to the latter's central location in the empire. It became the capital of major powers in ancient India, such as the Shishunaga Empire ( c. 413 –345 BCE), Nanda Empire ( c. 460 or 420 – c. 325 BCE ),
1275-557: Is Gangkhar Puensum at 7,570 metres (24,840 ft). The climate in Bhutan varies with elevation, from subtropical in the south to temperate in central areas and alpine in the north, with year-round snow in the north. Western Bhutan has the heavier monsoon rains; southern Bhutan has hot humid summers and cool winters. The bulk of the East India region lies on the Indo-Gangetic plain , with
1360-647: Is Bhutan's financial center. The Royal Securities Exchange of Bhutan is the main stock exchange. The Bank of Bhutan and the Bhutan National Bank are the largest financial institutions. The SAARC Development Fund is based in Thimphu . Bhutan ranks first in economic freedom and ease of doing business , is second in per capita income , and is the least corrupt country in South Asia. East India's Jharkhand and Odisha states have rich mineral deposits. East India
1445-472: Is a parliamentary democracy , with an elected bicameral legislature . The Prime Minister of Bhutan is the head of government. The legal system of Bhutan is a mixture of the semi-theocratic Tsa Yig code and English common law influences. Capital punishment was abolished in Bhutan in 2004. India is a federal parliamentary republic . While the Indian federal government is headed by the ceremonial President of India and executive Prime Minister of India ,
1530-577: Is a subregion of South Asia . It includes the countries of Bangladesh , Bhutan , India (specifically East India and Northeast India ), and Nepal . Geographically, it lies between the Eastern Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal . Two of the world's largest rivers, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra , flow into the sea through Eastern South Asia. The region includes the world's highest mountainous terrain and
1615-468: Is a hub of heavy industry. The Guwahati Tea Auction Centre is important for the region's tea industry. Jute is a major crop, as in neighboring Bangladesh. A cross-border conveyor belt carries limestone from mines in Meghalaya , India, to Sylhet Division , Bangladesh, to supply a Lafarge cement plant. While Kathmandu is Nepal's main commercial center, most of the country's industries are located along
1700-470: Is also notable for Darjeeling tea . Northeast India has one of the world's oldest petroleum and tea industries. Tourism is also important for the region's economy. Kolkata is the principal financial center of eastern and northeastern India, being home to the Calcutta Stock Exchange . The Port of Kolkata is the region's principal gateway and is also used by Nepal and Bhutan. The port of Haldia
1785-465: Is based on English common law and Muslim, Hindu, and Christian personal religious laws . The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has wide powers for judicial review . Fundamental rights are enshrined in the country's constitution, but the human rights situation faces challenges. Bangladesh ranks first in gender equality in South Asia. Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy headed by the King of Bhutan . Bhutan
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#17328451856881870-472: Is bordered on the west, north, and east by a 4,095-kilometre (2,545 mi) land frontier with India and, in the southeast, by a short land and water frontier (193 kilometres (120 mi) with Burma (Myanmar). On the south is a highly irregular deltaic coastline of about 580 kilometres (360 mi), containing many parallel rivers and streams flowing into the Bay of Bengal. The territorial waters of Bangladesh extend 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi), and
1955-402: Is longest this city extends ten miles in length, and that its breadth is one and threequarters miles; that the city has been surrounded with a ditch in breadth 600 feet, and in depth 45 feet; and that its wall has 570 towers and 64 gates." - Arrian "The Indica" Strabo in his Geographia adds that the city walls were made of wood. These are thought to be the wooden palisades identified during
2040-466: Is on the eastern bottleneck of India, stretching from the Himalayas in the north, to the Bay of Bengal in the south. The region lies in the humid - subtropical zone. The landlocked region of Northeast India includes the states of Assam , Arunachal Pradesh , Mizoram , Manipur , Meghalaya , Nagaland , Sikkim , and Tripura . It has land borders with China, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. The region
2125-648: Is one of Bhutan's chief trading partners. The Indian economy has emerged as one of the world's fastest-growing economies although its eastern and northeastern states have had lower economic growth than northern, western, or southern India. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Bangladeshi economy was the world's second-fastest-growing major economy in 2016, but the country faces challenges of political instability and infrastructure shortages. The 2017 China India border standoff developed on
2210-536: Is ranked third in South Asia. Bhutan has the second-smallest population in South Asia after the Maldives . Bhutan's three main ethnic groups are the Ngalop , Sharchop , and Lhotshampa . The state religion is Buddhism . The official language is Dzongkha . Bhutan has a significant Nepali-speaking minority. Thimphu and Phuntsholing are the largest cities. With an estimated population of 226 million, East India has
2295-662: Is strictly overseen by the heavily bureaucratic federal government. The Indian legal system is a mixture of English common law, civil law, custom laws, and religious laws. The Supreme Court of India has a notable history of judicial activism . Fundamental rights are enshrined in India's constitution . Despite India's democratic framework, much of northeast India is under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act , which has been described as "draconian". Human rights abuses in Manipur have been
2380-530: Is the world's second-largest textile exporter after China. It is largely self-sufficient in pharmaceuticals , shipbuilding, steel rods, ceramics, glass, food , and numerous other sectors. Bangladesh has significant natural gas , limestone, and coal reserves. The jute trade has been historically important. Bangladesh's financial sector is one of the largest in South Asia along with those of India and Pakistan. The Dhaka Stock Exchange and Chittagong Stock Exchange are its principal capital markets. Bangladesh has
2465-579: Is usually categorised into the Eastern Himalaya and the Brahmaputra and the Barak valley plains. Northeast India has a predominantly humid sub-tropical climate with hot, humid summers, severe monsoons, and mild winters. The region is covered by the mighty Brahmaputra–Barak river systems and their tributaries. Geographically, apart from the Brahmaputra, Barak, and Imphal valleys and some flat lands in between
2550-641: The Bengal Legislative Assembly , was the oldest and largest in British India. The Bengal Presidency had the highest gross domestic product in British India. Citing administrative improvement and affirmative action for Bengali Muslims and non-Bengali communities in colonial Assam , the British government enacted the first partition of Bengal in 1905. The new province of Eastern Bengal and Assam , with its own Legislative Council , saw more investments in education and infrastructure. The province
2635-582: The Doklam plateau, located on the tri-nation border between Bhutan, Indian Sikkim, and Chinese Tibet. The geography of Bangladesh is varied and has an area characterised by three distinct features: a broad deltaic plain subject to frequent flooding, elevated forested plateaus, and a small hilly region crossed by swiftly flowing rivers. The country has an area of 147,610 square kilometres (56,990 sq mi) and extends 820 kilometres (510 mi) north to south and 600 kilometres (370 mi) east to west. Bangladesh
Bengali–Assamese languages - Misplaced Pages Continue
2720-727: The Maurya Empire ( c. 320 –180 BCE), the Gupta Empire ( c. 320 –550 CE), and the Pala Empire ( c. 750 –1200 CE). During the Maurya period (see below), it became one of the largest cities in the world . As per the Greek diplomat, traveler and historian Megasthenes , during the Mauryan Empire ( c. 320 –180 BCE) it was among the first cities in the world to have
2805-560: The Nandas , Mauryans , Shungas and the Guptas down to the Palas . Situated at the confluence of the Ganges , Gandhaka and Son rivers, Pataliputra formed a "water fort, or jaldurga ". Its position helped it dominate the riverine trade of the Indo-Gangetic plains during Magadha 's early imperial period. It was a great centre of trade and commerce and attracted merchants and intellectuals, such as
2890-758: The Newa architecture of Nepal and the architecture of Bengal . Eastern South Asia is a cradle of South Asian civilization. Historical states in the region include those recorded in Indian epics such as the Mahabharata , including ancient Nepal, Vanga , and Pundra ; the Greek and Roman recorded kingdom of Gangaridai ; major Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms including Kikata , Videha , Vṛji , Magadha , Nanda , Mauryan , Anga , Kalinga , Kamarupa , Samatata , Kanva , Gupta , Pala , Gauda , Sena , Khadga , Candra , Deva , Tripura , and Cooch Behar State . Major Islamic empires in
2975-637: The Sanskrit language, "Pāṭali-" refers to the pāṭalī tree ( Bignonia suaveolens ), while "-putrá" (पुत्र) means "son". One traditional etymology holds that the city was named after the plant. Indeed, according to the Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta ( Sutta 16 of the Dīgha Nikāya ), Pāṭaliputta was the place "where the seedpods of the Pāṭali plant break open". Another tradition says that Pāṭaliputra means
3060-648: The Tea Horse Road . The Grand Trunk Road has its eastern terminus in Bengal. The seaports of Bengal were part of Indian Ocean trade networks with Africa and East Asia. In the 15th century, the Sultan of Bengal shipped a giraffe from Somalia and sent it to China as a gift for the Ming emperor. In the 17th century, Mughal Bengal generated 50% of India's GDP due to its worldwide muslin and silk exports. The Portuguese were
3145-703: The Tibetan government in exile in India. The CIA Tibetan program in Nepal trained Tibetan refugees for guerrilla war against the PRC. Following the Tibetan crisis, India and the PRC engaged in a brief border war in 1962 over the disputed McMahon Line and Aksai Chin areas. In 1975, the Indian annexation of Sikkim was strongly opposed by China. Nepal's first period of parliamentary democracy lasted from 1950 to 1960. The King of Nepal imposed
3230-713: The panchayat system in the 1960s and 1970s. A mass uprising pressured the King of Nepal to restore democracy in 1990. The Nepalese Civil War began in 1992. Bhutan joined the United Nations in 1971. Bhutan was the first country to recognize the independence of Bangladesh. Colonial Assam was reorganized by the Indian government into the Seven Sister States of northeast India, including Arunachal Pradesh , Assam , Manipur , Meghalaya , Mizoram , Nagaland , and Tripura . Insurgency in Northeast India has been
3315-483: The states of India are headed by a ceremonial governor and executive chief minister . Indian legislatures include the bicameral national parliament and numerous unicameral and bicameral state legislatures. The federal government can impose President's rule in the states. Indian states are not permitted to develop relations with foreign countries, including neighboring countries within Eastern South Asia unless it
3400-554: The 1600s. In a fanciful 1559 book about world geography, the Italian Caius Julius Solinus briefly mentions a powerful Indian kingdom of Prasia with a capital at Palibotra. Afterwards, Sher Shah Suri made Pataliputra his capital and changed the name to modern Patna. Though parts of the ancient city have been excavated, much of it still lies buried beneath modern Patna. Various locations have been excavated, including Kumhrar , Bulandi Bagh and Agam Kuan . During
3485-566: The 19th century, Nepal, Sikkim, and Bhutan became protectorates of British India . The Anglo-Nepal Treaty of 1923 recognized Nepal's sovereignty. The treaty was recorded in the League of Nations . Bhutan's relations with British India were managed under the Treaty of Punakha of 1910. Sikkim's relations with British India were managed under the Treaty of Titalia of 1817 and the Treaty of Tumlong of 1861. After India became independent, it signed
Bengali–Assamese languages - Misplaced Pages Continue
3570-548: The 3rd or 4th Century BCE. In 303 BCE, Greek historian and ambassador Megasthenes mentioned Pataliputra as a city in his work Indika. Diodorus , quoting Iambulus mention that the king of Pataliputra had a " great love for the Greeks ". The city of Pataliputra was formed by fortification of a village by Haryanka ruler Ajatashatru , son of Bimbisara . Its central location in north eastern India led rulers of successive dynasties to base their administrative capital here, from
3655-500: The Ganges. The Varāha Purāṇa , from post-Gupta times, indicates that the confluence of the Gandak and the Ganges was then about 10 km north of the present location. Since Pataliputra derived a lot of its prosperity from river-based commerce, being separated from the river probably dampened its economy. A general decline in international trade toward the end of the Gupta period would have had
3740-594: The Great . The city also became a flourishing Buddhist centre boasting a number of important monasteries. It remained the capital of the Gupta dynasty (3rd–6th centuries) and the Pala Dynasty (8th-12th centuries). When Faxian visited the city in 400 A.D, he found the people to be rich and prosperous; they practised virtue and justice. He found that the nobles and householders of the city had constructed several hospitals in which
3825-575: The Himalayas. Bhutan and India have developed two hydropower projects, as of 2017. Nepal has been a key participant in the Chinese One Belt, One Road initiative, which seeks to revive the historical Silk Road between South Asia and Tibet. The rapid development of the Chinese economy has caused increased trade and economic activity between China and Eastern South Asia. China is the largest trading partner of India, Bangladesh, and Nepal while Hong Kong
3910-610: The King of Nepal imposed direct rule, which led to the monarchy's overthrow, the end of the civil war, and the creation of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal in 2008. Bhutan held its first general election in 2008. In 2011, India granted duty-free access to most Bangladeshi products. In 2012, India affirmed in principle to allow Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal to transit its territory for trade movement. In 2014, Bangladesh and India resolved their maritime boundary dispute at
3995-512: The Son apparently caused the Ganges to overflow as well, and Pataliputra was inundated on multiple sides. The account describes widespread destruction in Pataliputra, although it also says that the city was rebuilt afterwards. A third possible contributing factor is deliberate destruction by invading Hunas in the early 500s. A thick layer of ashes found at the 80-pillar hall at Kumrahar suggests that
4080-507: The Tibet Autonomous Region to the north and the Indian states of Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh to the west and south. The land consists mostly of steep and high mountains crisscrossed by a network of swift rivers, which form deep valleys before draining into the Indian plains. Elevation rises from 200 metres (660 ft) in the southern foothills to more than 7,000 metres (23,000 ft). The highest peak in Bhutan
4165-521: The building may have been destroyed by fire, possibly corroborating this theory. Pataliputra seems to have recovered somewhat by the early Pala period. The Khalimpur plate of Dharmapala , from the early 800s, gives a vivid description of Pataliputra as a river port and royal encampment. It describes the crowds of boats, elephants, horses, and "limitless foot-soldiers of all the kings of Jambudvīpa assembled to render homage" to Dharmapala. B. P. Sinha interpreted this inscription to mean that Pataliputra
4250-456: The capital of Magadha. The Sangam Tamil epic Akanaṉūṟu mentions Nanda kings ruling Pataliputra. Girnar fifth Major Rock Edict of Ashoka mention Patliputra: (M).They are occupied everywhere, both in Pățaliputra and in the outlying [......] and whatever other relatives of mine (there are). (N). These Mahamatras of morality [......] whether one is eager for morality [......]. (0). For
4335-529: The center of their Indian empire, during which Bengal became synonymous with India. Until the mid-19th century, the Bengal Presidency's jurisdiction covered British-controlled territories in north India , northeast India, and Southeast Asia . The Governor of Bengal was concurrently the Governor General of India for many years. Fort William's surroundings grew into the port city of Calcutta , which
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#17328451856884420-549: The country in the 1950s. Nepal has seen secularization since the republic was proclaimed in 2008. Capital punishment has been abolished. Nepal ranked 63rd on the 2016 Rule of Law Index compiled by the World Justice Project , which was higher than India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Pataliputra Pataliputra ( IAST : Pāṭaliputra ), adjacent to modern-day Patna , Bihar , was a city in ancient India , originally built by Magadha ruler Ajatashatru in 490 BCE, as
4505-508: The early Jain and Buddhist texts (the Pali Canon and Āgamas ), where it appears as the village of Pataligrama and is omitted from a list of major cities in the region. Early Buddhist sources report a city being built in the vicinity of the village towards the end of the Buddha's life; this generally agrees with archaeological evidence showing urban development occurring in the area no earlier than
4590-562: The excavation of Patna. "At the confluence of the Ganges and of another river is situated Palibothra, in length 80, and in breadth 15 stadia . It is in the shape of a parallelogram, surrounded by a wooden wall pierced with openings through which arrows may be discharged. In front is a ditch, which serves the purpose of defence and of a sewer for the city." - Strabo , "Geographia" Aelian , although not expressly quoting Megasthenes nor mentioning Pataliputra, described Indian palaces as superior in splendor to Persia 's Susa or Ecbatana : "In
4675-475: The exclusive economic zone of the country is 200 nautical miles (370 km; 230 mi). Bangladesh has a tropical monsoon climate . The Sundarbans in Bangladesh, which is shared with India, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Cox's Bazar Beach is one of the world's longest beaches. Bhutan is roughly the size of Switzerland . It is located on the southern slopes of the eastern Himalayas, landlocked between
4760-585: The famed Chanakya , from all over India. Two important early Buddhist councils are recorded in early Buddhist texts as being held here, the second session of the Second Buddhist council in the reign of Ashoka , 35 years after the first session held in Vaisali and the Third Buddhist council . Jain and Hindu sources identify Udayabhadra , son of Ajatashatru , as the king who first established Pataliputra as
4845-447: The first Europeans to establish trading posts in the region. By the 18th century, Bengal attracted Dutch, French, Armenian, Danish, Greek, and British traders. Bangladesh is a unitary state and a parliamentary republic . The Jatiyo Sangshad is its unicameral legislature. The President of Bangladesh is the ceremonial head of state, and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh is the head of government. The legal system of Bangladesh
4930-407: The fiscal year 2018–2019, Bangladesh registered exports worth US$ 40.53 billion and imports worth US$ 55.44 billion. Its major trading partners include the European Union , the United States , China , India , Japan , Australia , Malaysia , and Singapore . The Port of Chittagong is Bangladesh's busiest port, as well as the busiest in Eastern South Asia. Bangladesh's chief export is textiles . It
5015-404: The following purpose has this rescript on morality been written [......]. -Major Rock Edict No.5, Girnar, E. Hultzsch translation During the reign of Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE, it was one of the world's largest cities, with a population of about 150,000–400,000. The city is estimated to have had a surface of 25.5 square kilometers, and a circumference of 33.8 kilometers, and
5100-434: The hills of Meghalaya and Tripura, the remaining two-thirds of the area is hilly terrain interspersed with valleys and plains; the altitude varies from almost sea level to over 7,000 metres (23,000 ft) above mean sea level . The region's high rainfall, averaging around 10,000 millimetres (390 in) and above, creates problems of ecosystem, high seismic activity, and floods. The states of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim have
5185-430: The largest ethnic group, with Bengali Muslim a majority, followed by Bengali Hindus , Bengali Buddhists , and Bengali Christians . The country has a significant Urdu -speaking minority and numerous minority indigenous ethnic groups . The Bengali language is the official language . Dhaka , Chittagong , Khulna , Sylhet , and Rajshahi are among the country's largest cities and towns. Bangladesh's life expectancy
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#17328451856885270-442: The late 1970s and 1980s. Islam is the state religion of Bangladesh. In the Indian state of West Bengal, the Communist Party of India governed for three decades. The Eastern Himalayas has been home to three independent kingdoms since the 17th century, including the Kingdom of Bhutan , the Kingdom of Sikkim , and the Kingdom of Nepal . The Himalayan kingdoms served as buffer states between Imperial China and India. In
5355-490: The major towns and cities. Hindi and English are the federal official languages of India while most states also have their own official language. Nepal has a population of 25 million, which is the world's 41st largest . Nepal is a multiethnic Himalayan nation with Nepali as the official language. Listed as one of the Next Eleven , the economy of Bangladesh ranks 39th in terms of nominal gross domestic product (GDP) and 29th in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP). In
5440-446: The north of this range. The Mountain Region (Himal), situated in the Great Himalayan Range, makes up the northern part of Nepal. It contains the highest elevations in the world, including eight of the ten highest mountains . The climate of Nepal includes subtropical , temperate , subalpine and alpine zones. Bangladesh is the world's eighth most populous country , with a population of more than 160 million . Bengalis are
5525-474: The northern rim of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. The Hill Region (Pahad) abuts the mountains and varies from 800 to 4,000 metres (2,600 to 13,100 ft) in altitude with progression from subtropical climates below 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) to alpine climates above 3,600 metres (11,800 ft). The Lower Himalayan Range reaching 1,500 to 3,000 metres (4,900 to 9,800 ft) is the southern limit of this region, with subtropical river valleys and "hills" alternating to
5610-513: The people itself the Palibothri, - nay, even the whole tract along the Ganges. Their king has in his pay a standing army of 600,000 foot-soldiers, 30,000 cavalry, and 9000 elephants : whence may be formed some conjecture as to the vastness of his resources." Megasthenes , in Indica The city prospered under the Mauryas and a Greek ambassador, Megasthenes , resided there and left a detailed account of its splendour, referring to it as "Palibothra": " Megasthenes says that on one side where it
5695-402: The poor of all countries, the destitute, the crippled and the diseased can get treatment. They could receive every kind of help gratuitously. Physicians would inspect the diseases, and order them food, drink, and medicines. When Xuanzang visited Pataliputra in the year 637, he found the city in ruins. He wrote that the old city had been completely deserted for many years, and all that was left
5780-412: The region for centuries. One branch of the ancient Silk Road ran between Tibet, Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bengal. The Lhasa Newar merchants were active on the trade route until the Chinese takeover of Tibet in the 1950s. The Kathmandu Valley 's early prosperity was due to these merchants. Another branch of the Silk Road connected Bengal with China through Burma and Yunnan . This route is also known as
5865-471: The region included the Delhi and Bengal Sultanates , and the Suri and Mughal Empires (including the important province of Mughal Bengal ). A confederation of Muslim and Hindu aristocrats called the Baro-Bhuyan existed in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The Bengal Presidency was established in the 18th century by the British Empire , with its headquarters in Fort William , in coastal southwestern Bengal. The British made Bengal
5950-420: The region. Eastern South Asia's archaeological heritage includes Lumbini , the birthplace of the Buddha ; the ancient universities and monasteries of Nalanda , Vikramshila , Somapura Mahavihara , Jaggadala , Odantapuri and Mainamati ; the Ashokan pillars and the Mauryan Empire -era cities of Pataliputra , champa , Vaishali , Balirajpur , Rajgir , Sisupalgarh , Kalinga and Mahasthangarh ; and
6035-466: The region. The four countries are members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation . Yunnan Province and the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Myanmar are historically, economically, and culturally interdependent on Eastern South Asia. The Bangladesh–China–India–Myanmar Forum has established an economic corridor in
6120-467: The royal residences in India where the greatest of the kings of that country live, there are so many objects for admiration that neither Memnon 's city of Susa with all its extravagance, nor the magnificence of Ecbatana is to be compared with them. (...) In the parks, tame peacocks and pheasants are kept." - Aelian in " De Natura Animalium " Under Ashoka, most of wooden structure of Pataliputra palace may have been gradually replaced by stone. Ashoka
6205-551: The ruined fort cities of Wari-Bateshwar , Bhitagarh , and Chandraketugarh . The region has an important Buddhist Tourist Circuit. Eastern South Asia hosts a large number of medieval and early modern mosques , including Adina Mosque , the subcontinent's largest medieval mosque, and the Sixty Dome Mosque , and large caravansaries such as Bara Katra and Katra Masjid . It is home to several outstanding examples of medieval and early modern Hindu temple architecture, particularly
6290-486: The second-largest foreign exchange reserves in South Asia. Its credit rating is also the second-best in the region after India. The Nepal Bangladesh Bank was set up by Bangladesh's IFIC Bank in neighboring Nepal. The economy of Bhutan is notable for its hydropower , ferroalloys , apples , red rice , construction materials, and tourism sectors. Bhutan's main trading partners are India, Bangladesh, Thailand , Hong Kong , Japan and South Korea . Phuntsholing
6375-504: The son of Pāṭali , who was the daughter of a certain Raja Sudarsan. As it was originally known as Pāṭali-grāma (" Pāṭali village"), some scholars believe that Pāṭaliputra is a transformation of Pāṭalipura , " Pāṭali town". Pataliputra was also called Kusumapura (city of flowers). The Pataliputra is mentioned in early Buddhist text Mahaparinibbana Sutta but no mention of Pataliputra in written sources prior to
6460-521: The southern border with India. The economy of Nepal relies heavily on tourism , agriculture , food processing, metal production, remittances , carpet making, and textile manufacturing. Nepal's principal trading partners are India, the United States, and China. Binod Chaudhary is Nepal's sole Forbes -listed billionaire . The taka introduced by Muslims is the historical currency of Bengal , Nepal, and Tibet. Arab and Persian traders frequented
6545-496: The world's largest delta , and has a climate ranging from alpine and subalpine to subtropical and tropical . Since Nepal, Bhutan, and northeast India are landlocked , the coastlines of Bangladesh and East India serve as the principal gateways to the region. With more than 441 million inhabitants, Eastern South Asia is home to 6% of the world's population and 25% of South Asia's population. The Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal Initiative promotes economic integration in
6630-452: Was Dharmapala's capital, but A. S. Altekar disputed this, saying that the inscription only refers to Pataliputra as a skandhāvāra , or camp, where Dharmapala stayed while on a campaign or tour. While Pataliputra is mentioned in contemporary sources, archaeologists have not found any evidence from the Pala period at Pataliputra. At least at Kumrahar, there are no traces of human settlement until
6715-559: Was a center of the petroleum, tea, and jute industries. Its capital was Dacca , with a summer capital at Shillong . The summer capital enjoyed the highest per capita income in British India. The All India Muslim League was formed in Dacca to safeguard the interests of British Indian Muslims . But the first partition sparked strong protests from elites in Calcutta and sections of the landed gentry , particularly Bengali Hindus . The protests caused
6800-416: Was a small walled town by the bank of the Ganges, home to no more than about 1,000 people. According to Rajeshwar Prasad Singh, this small town had probably been built after the old city's destruction, as opposed to being a surviving part of the old town. Xuanzang wrote that most of the city's old historic buildings had been destroyed, and only their foundation walls remained. One building he noted in particular
6885-526: Was an old stupa that was said to be the first of the 84,000 stupas built by Ashoka. Its foundation had sunken into the ground so that only the ornamental top of the dome was visible, and even that was in precarious condition, he wrote. Of the Kukkuṭārāma monastery on the southeast side of the city, only the foundation remained. Pataliputra's decline had probably begun well before Xuanzang's time. At least at Kumrahar, archaeological evidence seems to suggest
6970-439: Was in the shape of a parallelogram and had 64 gates (that is, approximately one gate every 500 meters). Pataliputra reached the pinnacle of prosperity when it was the capital of the great Mauryan Emperors , Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka. "They surpass in power and glory every other people, not only in this quarter, but one may say in all India, their capital being Palibothra, a very large and wealthy city, after which some call
7055-532: Was known to be a great builder, who may have even imported craftsmen from abroad to build royal monuments. Pataliputra palace shows decorative influences of the Achaemenid palaces and Persepolis and may have used the help of foreign craftmen. Which may be the result of the formative influence of craftsmen employed from Persia following the disintegration of the Achaemenid Empire after the conquests of Alexander
7140-693: Was made part of the Muslim-majority Dominion of Pakistan and West Bengal a part of the Hindu-majority Dominion of India . East Bengal was later renamed East Pakistan in 1955. In 1971, East Pakistan seceded in the Bangladesh Liberation War , which established the People's Republic of Bangladesh . The constitution of Bangladesh established a multiparty parliamentary democracy in 1972. The country endured several military coups in
7225-677: Was the capital of India until 1911. After the British Indian Empire was established in 1858 following the Indian Rebellion of 1857 , the Bengal Renaissance flourished in Calcutta and other Bengali urban centers. The Indian independence movement , including parts of the movement which created Pakistan, had its origins in the Bengal Presidency. The Parliament of Bengal, including the Bengal Legislative Council and
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