Following the rivers

In order to get across this section of India, I find myself meeting rivers today. I left Gorakhpur just before nine this morning, having had an early breakfast that included Pyaz Paratha and a masala chai. At home I usually have a couple of pieces of toast with jam, but this breakfast was an eye-opener for me. Paratha is a type of bread that is stuffed with vegetables, in this case Onion, and spices and fried on a griddle. Masala chai is a tea with a mixture of indian spices and herbs.

Masala Chai

Nice warm paratha with onions

It was a little much for me, not used to the spicy start to the day, but as I set out onto Highway 27, I licked my lips and enjoyed the experience.

My journey today takes me initially south east and eventually along the same line as the Ghangra river. This river is rather intermittent and flows freely during the monsoon season [June to September], but reduces to practically nothing in some areas at other parts of the year. By the time I get to Chapra, a city on the edge of a junction of rivers, I meet up again with the Gandak River.

Just a few days ago you may recall I drove over this river in Nepal, which is known as Narayani. The river begins in Tibet and travels through the Himalayas, carving huge gorges in the mountains before heading out onto the more level ground of India. At 630 km (391 m) long, it is not the longest river in this area of the world, but is the lifeblood of millions of Indian farmers and locals, and has been for many thousands of years. It is suggested that it has shifted 80 km to the east due to tectonic movement in the last 5,000 years.

Hopefully, it won’t do any of that today, because I have to get to Begusarai before sunset.

Oddly, today, the Indian supreme court has ordered the go ahead for the long gestated plan to link major rivers in an attempt to control drought. Not many of its neighbours are in agreement, not least Pakistan. It’s a bold plan and will cost a tremendous amount of money and engineering knowhow.