Reunite With Nature At Aahana: An Eco-Friendly Yet Luxurious Resort

Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed with a jam-packed work schedule? The madness and rush of weekdays transcend into weekends: we work for weeks at end without realising we need to take a break. If you want to take some time out of your hectic lifestyle and reset your mind, body and soul - Aahana: The Corbett Wilderness is the place you need to be for an eco-friendly staycation. The stunning natural beauty and peaceful environment at this luxurious resort will make you instantly reconnect with nature, rather than spend time tethered to your electronic devices.

About Aahana: The Sustainable Resort With Environment As Its Focus

Bordering on the Bijrani zone of the Jim Corbett National Park, Aahana is a huge resort spread out over 13.5 acres. Rather than the usual hotel, it reunites with nature in more ways than one. Apart from the natural forest around it, there is also a breath-taking variety of long grass, trees, plants and herbs inside the property. Gravel paths, earthen canopies and beautiful lamps make the outdoors appealing at Aahana. Large tufts of lemongrass and citronella can be found at the edge of every pathway; they lend a beautiful aroma and also keep mosquitoes at bay. The resort does not have the concept of cutting or trimming grasses or bushes so that more and more birds would be attracted to the insects breeding there. In fact, Aahana boasts of over 100 different bird species that visit the resort over different seasons.

Along with the aesthetic appeal of the natural greenery at the resort, it also serves a larger purpose - to make it environmentally friendly. Aahana has what is touted to be Asia's biggest sewage and water treatment plant that recycles wastewater with the help of the Canna plant. This water is then reused in gardening processes. Further, Aahana's plastic use is limited to just six percent. Even the food waste is regularly composted at a special site in the resort to make manure for better plant growth.

How To Get To Aahana: The Corbett Wilderness

Hectic travels and journeys are not everyone's cup of tea. The closest airport to Aahana is Pantnagar, which is about seventy kilometers away. If you prefer to travel by road from Delhi, it would be a five-hour journey. The best option that we personally recommend is travelling by train. A short train journey from Delhi takes about five hours or so. And since the Ramnagar Railway Station is just a fifteen-minute ride from the property, it is extremely convenient.

The Room And Facilities

Aahana is a property that is extremely family-friendly. With a special family suite for four and even a villa for bigger groups, there are plenty of room options to choose from. We stayed in the Rangers Suite which had sufficient space for two adults with provision for an extra bed. A spacious comfortable king-sized bed, an outside sitting area with a breath-taking garden view, and a separate sitting area were some of the features of our room. Beautiful pictures of the flora and fauna of Corbett National Park adorned our walls. The room also had a plush bathroom equipped with a rainforest shower and a dressing area with all modern amenities and luxuries. There were even some fruits and snacks kept in the room as a complimentary gesture for those untimely hunger pangs.

Dining And Food

Whether you love gorging on lavish buffets or prefer to eat light and healthy, you will find plenty of options at Aahana's Dhikala restaurant. From Indian to Italian, Chinese to Thai and even Lebanese - we sampled it all during our stay. Aahana takes a great step to make the restaurant kid-friendly, by using small plastic plates with cartoon figurines as well as baby chairs for the little ones. Coming to the menu, a lavish buffet spread was cooked for all three meals at the resort. Moreover, there was also a light evening tea spread with tea, coffee, mocktails and snacks. The best part about the meals at Aahana was that they used farm-fresh ingredients that were grown at the property itself.

Here's all we enjoyed eating at Aahana:

• Breakfast - A typical breakfast menu had multiple options from North Indian and South Indian cuisines. You could pick from the choicest fruits, mixed sprouts, cereals, seeds and nuts to begin your meal. Live counters had options like Dosa, Paratha and Cheela on the menu. We tried the Moong Dal Cheela stuffed with Paneer and mixed vegetables from the live counter. Another healthy offering that we would recommend is the Oats yogurt - it was crunchy and also satiated the sweet tooth. The Upma topped with cashews and peanuts was also thoroughly enjoyable. The Poha too was extremely light and fulfilling. We also enjoyed the Delhi-special Chole Bhature that was crisp and delicious. A special mention for the fresh Mango milkshake made with farm-fresh Katua mangoes - as rich and juicy as the Alphonso variety.

• Lunch - There was plenty of variety even in Lunch time at Aahana. Although most guests would head to different activities in the resort and outside of it, that didn't stop the kitchen from cooking up delightful dishes. We tried some comforting, home-style Rajma chawal that satiated our souls. There were also many different kinds of salads in the lunch buffet, including Mexican potato salad, a fruit cocktail and a corn chaat. We also sampled some Kumaoni treats - such as the Kumaoni Raita which had the healing touch of Haldi in it. Buttermilk and Aam Panna were also available during the lunch hours to keep us hydrated from within. Fresh breads such as Pudina Paratha were also thoroughly enjoyable.
• Dinner - From baked cannelloni pasta to Hummus and pita bread, Ratatouille to Mongolian noodles - Aahana indeed brought the tastes of the world to our plate. There was also a new live counter every day for dinner, with offerings like freshly grilled Tikkas, custom-made Pasta, Khow Suey made to order, or Pav Bhaji. For the Indian food lover, there were dishes like Dal Makhani, Paneer Lababdar and Malai Kofta. The Indian preparations were generously spiced and quite rich and indulgent. There were also lighter options like Khichri and Moong Dal for those who prefer to keep their last meal small.

Activities And Things-To-Do

Even if you can't make it to the Corbett Jungle Safari, Aahana ensures there are plenty of activities to choose from. There are multiple treatments and therapies to choose from at the Spa and Wellness centre at Aahana. You will be able to relax your mind and body completely in the midst of a natural setting.

There are also indoor sports such as pool, table tennis, carom, and chess that are enjoyable for all age groups. The swimming pool can also be a great way to spend some spare time. Aahana is a kid-friendly resort and it even has small cycles for toddlers to enjoy. Further, you can try a buggy ride or a riverside picnic, spotting wildlife and verdant greens en route.

So, plan your next vacation at Aahana and thank us later!

What: Aahana: The Corbett Wilderness

Where: Vill. Sawaldeh PO Semalkhaliya, Jim Corbett National Park, Ramnagar Nainital, India 244715

For reservations, contact: +91-7088600024 or reservation@aahanaresort.com