Who won the battle of the Hydaspes, Alexander or Porus??

[Lord Tim]

well yes, it's widely estimated that alexander lost 1/4th of his soldiers at the crossing of gedrosia alone
historians have been nitpicking over this move for centuries because it doesn't make any sense militarily, even if he was defeated then he could just go back the way he came since the sogdians were his greatest ally at this point

if alexander lost then there wouldn't be a need to marry or give elephants because they wouldn't be there anyway, unless the diadochi somehow defeated the indians later (which is doubtfull)

It's possible that the route Alexander had used to move into India was devastated enough that he didn't believe it could provide sufficient food/fodder for his whole army (some of the veterans were discharged at this time and went that way, along with some cavalry). Whereas with a fleet following the coast loaded with supplies obtained further down the Indus then it should have been possible to feed his men/animals that way. Then the monsoon kept the fleet in harbour, which is not something any of the Macedonians would have know existed.

 

[Kovax]

Returning by the way you came isn't always the best course of action, after you've just bought, foraged for, and commandeered every last scrap of food that the locals could spare, and possibly more on your way. Picking the place clean a second time is neither welcome nor healthy for either the army or the locals. Using the fleet to procure and deliver supplies from other areas seems like a good idea, unless the weather turns nasty or there's some other unfortunate incident that prevents resupply.