India, June 6 -- In Cheriya Bariyarpur, 20 kilometres north of Bihar's Begusarai, 40-year-old Naresh Sahni is anxiously waiting next to Kanwar Lake, Asia's largest oxbow lake, for visitors.

The visitors, who would take a joyride in Naresh's boat, are mostly pilgrims to the neighbouring Jai Mangla Garh Temple, which attracts crowds from the neighbouring areas.

"A 30-minute ride in 'bada jheel' (big lake) for Rs.600, and 20-minute ride in the smaller one for Rs.200," Naresh Sahni tells a group who passionately bargain for the trip.

This was not supposed to be part of the tourists' original itinerary.

"Nobody knew about the lake," Naresh Sahni told HT. "We would go to the temple, convincing pilgrims to come and take a look at the lake an...