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Quizzes > Geography

South Asia Capitals Map Quiz

Quick, free quiz to test your knowledge of capitals of South Asia. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: The Mahogany RoomUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art style South Asia map with capital city markers and quiz heading on sky blue background

Use this quiz to find and name each capital on the South Asia capitals map. Place each city in the right spot, build quick recall, and see instant feedback as you go. Want more practice? Explore the countries of Asia quiz or go global with a world capital city quiz.

What is the capital of India?
New Delhi
Chennai
Mumbai
Kolkata
New Delhi is the capital territory of India and serves as the seat of all three branches of the Government of India. It was officially declared the capital in 1911 and continues to host the President's residence and Parliament House. The city is part of the larger National Capital Territory of Delhi. .
What is the capital of Pakistan?
Karachi
Lahore
Rawalpindi
Islamabad
Islamabad was purpose-built in the 1960s to replace Karachi as Pakistan's capital, centralizing government institutions. It is located at the northern edge of the Pothohar Plateau and is known for its high standard of living. The city hosts the President's and Prime Minister's offices and is divided into sectors and zones. .
What is the capital of Bangladesh?
Dhaka
Khulna
Sylhet
Chittagong
Dhaka is the political, cultural, and economic center of Bangladesh, with a history dating back several centuries. It became the capital when Bangladesh gained independence in 1971. The city is one of the most densely populated in the world and hosts the national government. .
What is the official capital of Sri Lanka?
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Colombo
Kandy
Galle
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte became Sri Lanka's official administrative capital in 1982, while Colombo remains its commercial hub. The city hosts Parliament and many governmental ministries. Known locally as Kotte, it is part of the Colombo District in the Western Province. .
What is the capital of Nepal?
Biratnagar
Lalitpur
Kathmandu
Pokhara
Kathmandu is the largest city and the political heart of Nepal. It is famous for its historic Durbar Square and close proximity to the Himalayas. The city has been the nation's capital for centuries and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. .
What is the capital of Bhutan?
Paro
Thimphu
Punakha
Phuntsholing
Thimphu is the political and economic center of Bhutan, located in the western region of the country. It became the capital in 1961, replacing Punakha, and hosts the royal palace and government offices. The city integrates traditional architecture with modern facilities. .
What is the capital of the Maldives?
Fuvahmulah
Malé
Hulhumalé
Addu City
Malé is the densely populated capital city of the Maldives, situated on an island in the Indian Ocean. It is the nation's political and economic hub and home to the Presidential Palace and government buildings. Malé covers just 9 square kilometers but hosts nearly one-third of the country's population. .
What is the capital of Afghanistan?
Kabul
Mazar-i-Sharif
Herat
Kandahar
Kabul is the largest city and the political, cultural, and economic center of Afghanistan. It has been continuously inhabited for over 3,500 years and serves as the seat of the national government. The city lies in a narrow valley along the Kabul River. .
Which South Asian capital lies closest to the Tropic of Cancer?
Colombo
Thimphu
Dhaka
New Delhi
The Tropic of Cancer sits at 23°26?N, and Dhaka is located at approximately 23°42?N, making it the closest among South Asian capitals. New Delhi, Thimphu, and Colombo lie farther north or south of this latitude. Dhaka's proximity results in a tropical monsoon climate. .
Which South Asian capital sits at the highest elevation?
New Delhi
Thimphu
Islamabad
Kathmandu
Thimphu is situated at about 2,320 meters above sea level, making it the highest capital in South Asia. Kathmandu is lower at around 1,400 meters, while Islamabad and New Delhi sit at under 600 and 300 meters respectively. The elevation influences Thimphu's cooler climate. .
Which capital is located due west of Kathmandu, Nepal?
Islamabad
New Delhi
Dhaka
Colombo
New Delhi is almost due west of Kathmandu when projected on a map of South Asia, across the flat plains of northern India. Islamabad lies to the northwest of Kathmandu, while Dhaka is to the southeast and Colombo far to the south. .
Which South Asian capital is the southernmost in latitude?
Malé
Islamabad
Colombo
Thimphu
Malé lies at approximately 4°10?N, making it the southernmost capital in South Asia. Colombo is around 6°56?N, while Thimphu and Islamabad are located much farther north. Malé's low latitude contributes to its tropical climate. .
Which South Asian capital was constructed in the 1980s to replace an older administrative center?
Islamabad
Kathmandu
Thimphu
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte was officially declared Sri Lanka's administrative capital in 1982, replacing Colombo in that role. The modern city was planned to accommodate Parliament and key government offices. Colombo remains the commercial center. .
Which South Asian capital has the largest metropolitan population?
Karachi
Dhaka
Colombo
New Delhi
The National Capital Region of New Delhi exceeds 30 million residents, making it the most populous metropolitan area in South Asia. Dhaka follows with over 20 million, and Colombo's metro area is much smaller. Karachi is not a national capital. .
Which capital is the only South Asian capital located north of the Hindu Kush mountain range?
Islamabad
Thimphu
New Delhi
Kabul
Kabul is positioned just north of the main crest of the Hindu Kush, while Islamabad, New Delhi, and Thimphu lie to the south of this high mountain chain. The Hindu Kush forms a significant geographic barrier in the region. .
Which South Asian capital contains a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its old royal palace complex?
Thimphu
Kathmandu
Dhaka
Islamabad
Kathmandu Durbar Square, located in the heart of Nepal's capital, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It showcases centuries-old palaces, temples, and courtyards that were the homes of Nepal's former royal family. The complex suffered damage in the 2015 earthquake but remains a key cultural landmark. .
Which South Asian capital's English name was officially changed from Dacca in the early 1980s?
Dhaka
Thimphu
Malé
Colombo
The English spelling of Bangladesh's capital was officially changed from "Dacca" to "Dhaka" in 1983 to better reflect the Bengali pronunciation. This change was part of a broader post-independence standardization of place names. Prior to that, British colonial records used the former spelling. .
Which capital's main water supply comes from the Mangla Dam reservoir?
Islamabad
Dhaka
New Delhi
Colombo
The Mangla Dam on the Jhelum River in Pakistan provides hydroelectric power and water storage for irrigation and domestic use, including the water supply to Islamabad. The reservoir is one of the key sources of drinking water for the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. .
Which South Asian capital has a tropical rainforest climate according to the Köppen classification?
Kathmandu
Colombo
Dhaka
Thimphu
Colombo, Sri Lanka's largest city, falls under the Köppen Af classification, meaning it experiences consistently high temperatures and heavy rainfall year-round. Dhaka has a monsoon climate, Kathmandu a temperate mountain climate, and Thimphu a subtropical highland climate. .
Which capital experiences a humid subtropical climate with extremely hot summers and cool winters?
Islamabad
Thimphu
Dhaka
Malé
Islamabad falls under the Köppen Cwa classification, characterized by hot summers and mild to cool winters with a monsoon-influenced rainfall pattern. Thimphu's high elevation cools its climate, Dhaka is tropical monsoon, and Malé is equatorial. .
Which South Asian capital lies in the rain shadow area of the Himalayas, resulting in relatively low precipitation?
Thimphu
Dhaka
Kathmandu
Colombo
Thimphu is located just south of the main Himalayan range and lies in its rain shadow zone, which reduces its overall precipitation compared to eastern Bhutan. Kathmandu and Dhaka receive heavier monsoon rains, and Colombo is on Sri Lanka's southwest coast. .
Which capital city is located near a major seismic fault line known as the Main Frontal Thrust?
Dhaka
Islamabad
Kathmandu
Thimphu
Kathmandu lies near the Main Frontal Thrust, the boundary where the Indian Plate is colliding with the Eurasian Plate. This tectonic setting makes the region highly prone to earthquakes. Islamabad, Thimphu, and Dhaka are not situated as close to this major fault. .
Where was the first SAARC summit held in 1985?
Dhaka
Kathmandu
Islamabad
Colombo
The inaugural summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from December 7 - 8, 1985. Leaders from seven founding member countries convened to promote regional development and cooperation. It set the framework for future SAARC summits. .
Which South Asian capital's city plan was primarily designed by architect Louis Kahn?
New Delhi
Colombo
Thimphu
Islamabad
The master plan for Islamabad was developed in the 1960s by American architect Louis Kahn, who emphasized sectors and green spaces. His design laid out a grid of residential, commercial, and governmental zones. Although portions were modified, Kahn's influence remains evident. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify South Asian Capitals -

    Learn to accurately name the capitals in South Asia, enhancing your grasp of key geopolitical centers in the region.

  2. Locate Capital Cities on the Map -

    Pinpoint each capital on a detailed South Asia map with capitals, improving your spatial awareness and map-reading skills.

  3. Memorize Country-Capital Pairings -

    Solidify your recall of south asia countries and capitals through repetition and instant feedback provided by the quiz.

  4. Differentiatie Regional Capitals -

    Distinguish between closely positioned capitals in neighboring countries, sharpening your understanding of the region's geography.

  5. Apply Knowledge in Asia Map Quiz with Capitals -

    Test and reinforce your learning by engaging in an interactive asia map quiz with capitals, turning theory into practice.

  6. Track Your Progress and Improvement -

    Monitor quiz results to identify areas where you need more practice, ensuring steady advancement in your geography proficiency.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Memorize the Eight Capitals in South Asia -

    Mapping the capitals in south asia is easier once you know that Afghanistan's seat is Kabul, Bangladesh's is Dhaka, Bhutan's is Thimphu, India's is New Delhi, Maldives's is Malé, Nepal's is Kathmandu, Pakistan's is Islamabad, and Sri Lanka's is Colombo. These eight cities form the core of any asia map quiz with capitals focused on this region, as confirmed by the CIA World Factbook and the United Nations.

  2. Group by Initial Letters for Quick Recall -

    Notice the pattern that K starts Kabul and Kathmandu, D for Dhaka and Delhi, T for Thimphu, M for Malé, I for Islamabad, and C for Colombo. This grouping trick accelerates your mental map of south asia capitals organization, drawing on mnemonic techniques endorsed by cognitive psychology research from universities like Harvard.

  3. Leverage Geographic Features -

    Visualize landlocked capitals like Kathmandu and Thimphu perched in the Himalayas versus coastal ones such as Malé and Colombo; this spatial context reinforces memory by linking each capital to its physical setting. Studies from the National Geographic Society show that combining topography with political boundaries boosts retention for map learners.

  4. Practice with Official Blank Maps -

    Download blank maps from the CIA World Factbook or Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection to repeatedly label capitals in south asia under timed conditions. Regular map of south asia capitals drills build both speed and accuracy, a method advocated by education departments at leading universities.

  5. Connect Capitals to Iconic Landmarks -

    Associate New Delhi with the Red Fort, Kabul with the Gardens of Babur, and Colombo with Galle Face Green to anchor each name in a vivid image; UNESCO and travel guides from National Geographic are excellent sources for landmark details. This imagery-based approach enhances your performance in any south asia countries and capitals quiz by creating rich, memorable mental cues.

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