Reuse. Reduce. Recycle. And Repeat. We all know the mantra that the world needs right now. But are we committed in real life? Human beings, development, modernity, comfort, and convenience, when we bring these random words together, we test our planet Earth’s ability to accommodate us all. With a growing thirst for development and modern existence, we create and seek avenues that address our comfort. And everything has to be convenient. In this process, often, we forget that ours is a fragile planet, and everything is perishable unless we take care. Aahana lives by this sentiment. Being mindful of the environment is not just one of the founding rules at Aahana; it is a lifestyle choice. It is important to note that convenience and comfort are two driving forces that make us opt for things that are easily sourced and utilised, often leading to the concept of Use and Throw. It is just convenient for any establishment to adopt this process. This is where Aahana – The Corbett Wilderness stands out. In its zeal to live by its principles, a 5-star property like Aahana utilises every resource possible to minimise its carbon footprint.
This is an experience one gets right from the resort entrance. A canopy of tall trees makes the winding path from the gate to the reception giving the visitor a sense of being in nature. There is an instant disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the town. It is the constant chirping of the birds and the blowing of the cool breeze. A welcome bouquet made out of wildflowers, grass, and leaves is your first hint that here at Aahana, everything is going to be au naturel.
Aahana does not have a well-manicured, photo-shoot look to it at first glance. Neither does a forest. Thick and long grasses are just about everywhere on the property. These are not just grasses that lack the gardener’s attention; these are large tufts of lemongrass and citronella – a natural mosquito repellant. No wonder, despite the resort being close to a dense forest, guests can enjoy outdoors and indoors without the nagging hum of mosquitoes. “We do not cut or mow grass & bushes so that insects may breed. In turn, more birds will be attracted,” says one of the many signboards at the resort premises. There are 173 bird species that will corroborate the theory. A large chunk of the 200 species of flora that dot the 13.5-acre resort ground is visited daily by many species of birds and butterflies, all indicating that Aahana is an active part of a healthy ecosystem.
Aahana has Asia’s biggest and most unique Sewage Treatment Plant, a brainchild of the founder Mr Kamal Tripathi. The Sewage Treatment Plant is a genius innovation that uses canna plants’ root system to recycle 100 per cent wastewater from the resort facilities to provide clean recycled water for gardening purposes. All this is without the use of electricity and chemicals. That is one mighty example of being responsible and sustainable. The organic garden on the property gives fresh greens and other local vegetables, and the many fruit trees that dot the premises help with all your fresh juice and fruit needs. Eco-friendliness is not just in what we see; it is also in what we eat and drink. You will find reusable glass bottles at every table at the restaurant, which immediately cuts down the use of plastic pet bottles. The dairy products at the resort come from the in-house gaushala. All this may not scream convenience for the management, but this is what makes Aahana stand out. With plastic use reduced to just 6 per cent, Aahana is a success story of sustainability. All this eco-friendliness does not come in the way of a luxurious stay at the resort. At Aahana, luxury and comfort are not compromised. They remain strong qualities. Being sustainable and eco-friendly is just Aahana thinking a bit outside the box.
However, in compliance with the Covid-19 safety precautions, all rooms do come with disposable water bottles, and hand sanitisers and masks are made easily available for guests and staff.