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Why did Alexander the Great’s army refuse to march beyond the Hyphasis River?

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Alexander the Great Alexander the Great, detail from Alexander and Porus, painting by Charles Le Brun, 17th century; in the Louvre, Paris, France.

By the time Alexander the Great reached the Hyphasis River (modern Beas River), his army refused to march any further for several reasons:

Exhaustion: The troops were weary in both body and spirit after years of continuous warfare away from their homeland.12
Environmental Conditions: The army was struggling against the harsh conditions of the tropical monsoon rains.1
Prospect of Further Conflict: The soldiers were aware that vast, powerful kingdoms, such as the Nanda empire, lay ahead, and their curiosity and patience for further conquest had been exhausted.32

Coenus, one of Alexander’s chief marshals, acted as the spokesman for the troops, who remained adamant in their refusal to proceed. Faced with this mutiny, Alexander ultimately agreed to turn back, marking the end of his eastward expansion.13