“There are so many things I’m taking back with me from here… things I want to apply in my own space. The way they conserve water, treat waste, do things with simplicity, and still keep it luxurious – it’s inspiring,” late actor Irrfan said, after his stay at Aahana Resort in 2014.
He had returned to the resort on the fringes of Jim Corbett’s Bijrani zone a second time – drawn not just by the wilderness that brushes up against the cottages, but by something rarer: a kind of thoughtfulness that echoed his own sensitivity.
“This place is made with such understanding… it maintains the cycle of nature. That, to me, is real development,” he said, and then returned to the resort a third time two years later. This time, Irrfan planted a Kachnar tree – one that still stands tall, a quiet, green signature.Irrfan is gone. The tree still stands tall, and more than a decade since his visit, stepping into Aahana Resort today still feels like stepping into a philosophy. The air smells different – lemongrass and loam, not luxury perfume. There’s no steel-and-glass swagger.
Instead, there’s bamboo, banyan and the patient rhythm of a forest that hasn’t been pushed aside but gently invited in.
We arrived at Aahana late afternoon. A koel called out. A sunbird zipped past. The city left our bodies slowly, making way for calmer, greener stuff.
Aahana didn’t feel like it was “built”. It feels like it grew here.
You won’t find oversized chandeliers or clinking lobby pianos. Instead, there’s a sense of quiet purpose: the kind that doesn’t beg for attention but rewards it.
The rooms here are dressed in warm woods, natural fabrics and quiet views. Private balconies open out to swaying bamboo and grazing deer, while interiors offer comforts that don’t come at the cost of the planet – chemical-free toiletries, toothpaste tablets, eco-friendly toothbrushes, glass bottles and not a single plastic wrapper in sight.The resort’s philosophy of “luxury meets responsibility” is evident everywhere. It is fully chemical-free – its landscaping, pest control and even farming are done entirely using organic methods.
But what makes Aahana stand apart isn’t just what you see – it’s the system that runs it. Irrfan was fascinated – and so were we – by their water treatment design: wastewater is cleaned in natural root beds and reused after ten days.
The staff (mostly locals, 90% of whom belong to the Kumaoni community) know the land like an old friend. They speak of plants like they have stories; not just species names.
There are over 200 species of birds here and over five thousand plants.
Walking through the resort’s grounds, you encounter an impressive diversity of native flora: from the majestic banyan, bamboo used for flutes and the stately Saal (Surya Robusta) tree to the fragrant lemongrass that fills the air with its fresh citrus scent.
Leave a Reply