Reuse. Reduce. Recycle. And Repeat. This is a mantra we all know and the one the world needs right now. But do we follow it in real life?
Now consider this set of words. Human beings, development, modern, comfort, and convenience, when we throw these apparently random words together, what we are effectively doing is testing the 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. We want everything to be of convenience to us. In the process, we often forget that ours is a fragile planet, and everything will perish unless we take care of it.
Aahana Resort in Jim Corbett National Park lives by this sentiment. Being mindful of the environment is not just one of the cardinal principles of Aahana — it is a lifestyle choice.
The two driving forces of convenience and comfort are what make us opt for things that are easily sourced and utilised — but they then lead us to Use and Throw. No doubt it is convenient for any establishment to adopt this process. But 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.
In nature’s embrace
Sharing a wall with the Bijrani Zone of the Jim Corbett National Park, Aahana is truly a part of the wilderness — an impression one gets right from the resort entrance.
A canopy of tall trees — on the path that winds its way from the gate to the reception — gives the visitor a sense of walking right into nature and being an intimate part of it. There is an instant disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the town, one reinforced by the constant chirping of the birds and the blowing of the cool breeze.
A welcome bouquet made of wildflowers, grass, and leaves is the first indication that here at Aahana, everything is going to be au naturel.
Aahana does not have a manicured, photo-shoot look to it at first glance. Neither does a forest. Thick and long grass is seen all across the property. This is not grass that lacked the gardener’s attention, these are large tufts of lemongrass and citronella — a natural mosquito repellant. No wonder, despite the resort being in such close proximity to a dense forest, guests can enjoy the outdoors and the indoors without the nagging hum of mosquitoes.
“We do not cut or mow grass and bushes so that birds are be attracted,” says one of the many signboards at the resort premises. There are 180 bird species that fly into the resort. A large chunk of the 200 species of flora that dot the 13.5-acre resort ground is daily visited by many species of birds and butterflies, all part of the healthy ecosystem at Aahana.
Commitment to a sustainable environment
Aahana has Asia’s biggest and unique organic sewage treatment plant, a brainchild of the founder Kamal Tripathi. The sewage plant is an innovation that uses the root system of canna plants’ to recycle 100 per cent of wastewater from the resort facilities to provide clean recycled water for gardening purposes. All this is without the use of electricity and chemicals, an example of Aahana’s commitment to a sustainable environment.
The organic garden at the property grows fresh greens and local vegetables, and the many fruit trees that dot the premises are where guests get their fresh juice and fruits from. 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 bottles. The dairy products at the resort come from the in-house gaushala.
This is what makes Aahana stand out. With plastic use reduced to just 6 per cent, Aahana is a success story in sustainability.
The eco-friendliness does not come in the way of luxurious living at the resort. What makes Aahana unique is the beautiful blend of Luxury and Sustainability. The resort not only boasts of all 5-star amenities but has been much awarded. It was awarded the prestigious Outlook Travellers Award 2016 and judged to be the 8th Best Resort in India consecutively for the last seven years! It also received a high ranking of 13 among Indian resorts by TripAdvisor. It is a testament to their high service standards, and the ability to curate memorable experiences for all guests. Being sustainable and eco-friendly is just Aahana thinking a bit outside the box.
Contact Resort
Website: www.aahanaresort.com
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