Thursday, February 26, 2015

Along the Ganga: Raj Mahal to Farakka

Thursday, 19 February 2015

We did not cover much distance today as we sailed about 50 km from Raj Mahal to Farakka, and waited for our Friday morning passage through the lock at the Farakka Barrage (dam).

The Ganges delta starts at Farakka. From here we will follow the Bhagirathi River distributary towards Kolkata, while the river named Ganga flows from here into Bangladesh. At the point where tidal influences start, the Bhagirathi will change names and become the Hooghly.

Remnants of 4:00 AM thunderstorm.
This boat of hay was being towed by foot (the blue tow rope is just barely visible) and poled by a second man on the boat.
A boat filled with firewood.
The bright green irrigated rice paddies contrast with the unirrigated scrub behind them.
Gathering cow dung.
The most common bird along this stretch was the black-headed ibis.


In the distance is the Farakka Barrage. This dam regulates the water flow into the main Ganges channel that goes to Bangladesh, and the Bhagirathi River that flows through India towards Kolkata.


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