Tajness of Corbett

THE MISTY Himalayan foothills cupping the horizon; the white sandy banks along the cobalt blue Ramganga; the grasslands sparkling in the golden hue of dusk; the bright flares of the sun piercing their way through the thick jungle foliage – arguably no other park in India offers such a breath-taking diversity. As night falls, the jungle comes alive; the serpentine Ramganga gleams under the moonlight and lights twinkle from the villages atop the foothills. Well! All thanks to Edward James Corbett or Jim Corbett, as we know him was a hunter-turned-conservationist who was no less than a blessing for the then inhabitants of Nainital.

Walking in villages near the Jim Corbett National Park will take you to an unimaginable realm. Surrounded by lush Himalayan trees on all sides, the villages are home to thousands of birds and animals that live in harmony with humans. Corbett is home to some of the endangered species like Asiatic elephant, ghariyal, besides other species such as the Asiatic black bear, sambar, hog deer, sloth bear, yellow-throated marten and others. It also masses diverse birdlife with approximately 600 species.

In between all of this, Taj Corbett Resorts & Spa resides peacefully along the Kosi river bed inspired by the rich landscape of the deciduous Himalayan forests. Spread over a sprawling 10-acre campus, the resort is a perfect gateway for a pahadi vacation. The very entrance resonates the jungle feel with trees dressed in yellow lanterns and rich flora around.  61 contemporary rooms and suites are spread in a cluster of cottages under the shade of imperial deodar and sal trees. Each cottage has a beauty of its own with wooden interiors done in the British style. The rooms have been divided into four categories—Superior Rooms, Deluxe Cottage, Premium Cottage and Corbett Suite. The spacious rooms with colonial fans and artefacts makes its guests plunge into the wilderness.   

The Resort primarily focuses on providing the Kumaoni experience to its guest. Ritesh Bhatt, spearheads operations of the property in the capacity of General Manager. In his 14 year-long professional tenure, he has successfully lead a team and opened Meghauli Serai - A Taj Safaris in Chitwan, Nepal. Some of his key professional feats also include the pre-opening of Taj Safaris Madhya Pradesh and Taj Madikeri, Coorg. With a vast knowledge of wildlife and forests and gifted with pahadi genetics since birth, Bhatt perfectly matches his own experiences with what he has to offer to his guests. “Visiting Corbett National should not be limited to safari or tiger sight-seeing. There are a plethora of other experiences that a traveller should look forward to,” he says. 

The idea of Taj Corbett Resorts & Spa is not just providing a luxury stay to its visitors but much more than that. With a notion to promote the cuisine of Kumaon Region, the newly renovated Tusker Bar, Jim’s Grill, or Treetop Restaurant boasts many of the authentic dishes from the area. Jim’s Grill is an amalgamation of the mesmerising beats of the live Indian folk music and delectable steaks whereas Treetop is a multi-cuisine restaurant with outside seating facing the hills and river Kosi. 

Dishes like Gaith ki Dal ke Paranthe, Three Bean Thatwani Soup, Pahadi Aloo ki Gnocchi, Pot Roast Jims Chicken-Hunter Style or Stuffed Madua Enchilada are master creations of Chef Rohit Joshi who has recreated the original dishes with a hint of contemporary presentation. Among all, Meat aur Bhaat at Jim’s Grill is a showstopper. The royal presentation of this staple food comes with freshly cooked mutton sourced from Jodhpur with red chilli tempered ghee and plain boiled rice. The whole meal in itself is a delicacy to have. Chef informed that most of the ingredients such as lentils are sourced locally. Moreover, the property is also planning to have its own herbal garden in the near future. 

Apart from organising Safaris, the property also offers a unique dining experience in Kunkhet Village in the midst of nature whereas high tea at Ghural Deck offers a panoramic view of the Corbett woods. Guests can experience a walk to the Kumaoni village, campfire programming around "Survival in the Wild" or experience a Himalayan mountain drive. The resort also has a total of 3000 sqft event space with a banquet hall and an additional boardroom. At the JIVA spa on site, Taj offer an experience with treatments that are derived from ancient Indian Ayurvedic practices. Taj Corbett Resort & Spa, Uttarakhand is 250 km from Delhi International Airport, and a two-hour drive from the state capital, Dehradun.