where did hinduism spread

Hinduism initially spread within the Indian subcontinent and later expanded to Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and beyond through trade, migration, and cultural exchange. It reached regions such as modern-day Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Central Asia, Tibet, China, and even parts of the Middle East. Indian traders, merchants, and Hindu scholars played key roles in spreading the religion alongside empire patronage and local adoption. In more recent history, the British colonial period facilitated the migration of Hindus to the Caribbean, Africa, and the Pacific Islands, further spreading Hinduism globally. The religion was particularly influential in Southeast Asia where powerful Indianized kingdoms such as the Khmer Empire and Srivijaya embraced Hindu culture and built grand temples like Angkor Wat.