Romancing the Wild – Corbett IRIS Spa and Resort

September 6, 2016
1,074 Comments

The weekend was near and I was in
need of a break from the hectic routine and pollution of the Metropolitan city.
I wanted something nearby and Jim Corbett was by default my first choice. My
search for the perfect luxury getaway ended at Corbett IRIS Spa and Resort.


We took off on a beautiful
Wednesday morning, looking forward to the fabulous holiday planned ahead by
Team Iris. The downpour on the way was unexpected but it was a relief from the
gruesome Delhi heat.

The road to Ramnagar is decent but gets a bit rough later.
However, we reached a quaint village called Kyari that was tucked amidst dense
jungle and foliage. It was pitch dark but we enjoyed the beauty of the dense forest. We were doubtful of the way, but a jeep from the Resort was waiting for us on the way and escorted us to our luxury abode.

I was enchanted to see the clear black
sky shining above me with twinkling stars that shone like a million fireflies.
It was enchanting to see such a picturesque sight. We reached the resort and
were welcomed by a refreshing glass of fresh local fruit juice.

The flavor was
very enticing. The resort manager Mr. Ajay Kareer welcomed us warmly and
ushered us to the reception area where he handed us our room keys. The path
towards the rooms is luxurious and beautiful. The darkness around failed to
hide the beauty of the luxury haven that welcomed us with landscaped trees and
plants on both sides.
I was astounded to see the rooms
we were allotted. The super deluxe suite echoed luxury from every corner. The
spacious area with warm hues on the walls matched brilliantly with the simple
and elegant wooden furniture.

The comfortable beds with soothing bedspreads
allured me to jump into them. I loved the washroom that had every element of
necessity. A similar suite that was allotted to my daughter had similar
elements of luxury. She enjoyed her privacy and reveled in the luxury elements
with glee.

The other convenient elements
were tea and coffee maker, mini fridge, LCD TV, split AC, dining area, lounge
chairs and a spacious almirah with a locker. It was so peaceful in the night,
that I could hear the sounds of crickets creating a symphony.
After a shower, I freshened up
and changed to something formal. We were looking forward to meet the owner, Mr.
Vikas Jindal in the lounge area. Mr. Jindal, the owner of Jindal group of
Industries who hails from Ramnagar is very influential and modest. With a very
humble persona, he walks in the lounge to greet us. His wife, a very polite and elegant lady joined us after some time and enlightened the meeting.
As we sat inside the cozy lounge,
conversations on different topics picked up along with scrumptious starters
especially made by the innovative chefs of the resort. We moved towards the restaurant
for dinner that awaited us.

A team of servers were waiting to
serve us the traditional North Indian delicacies like lentils, cottage cheese,
rice, rotis with warmth and love. Each dish resembled the home cooked style and
was extremely satisfying.

We retired to our rooms and slept
soundly. The next morning, we woke to the magical sounds of birds chirping
outside my window. I peeped out to see the sun shining brightly at 7 in the
morning. We got ready to gear up for the morning walk planned for us. I stepped
out to see Iris becoming more vocal with astounding beauty.

The
sun rays shone on every leaf of the verdant greenery of the resort. I was awe
struck by the beauty of a jungle resort with every simple essential of nature’s
elements blended so well with luxury.

The spacious land is a green belt with
hundreds of trees and plants that are home to different variety of birds. The
cottages are well placed and given full privacy along with a small outdoor
space. Large trees and a small pond envision a meditation retreat where I could
see myself meditating for hours.

We move out for a walk in the
woods to enjoy the scenic beauty of the Kyari village. The birds and trees
create a symphony that matched my joyous mood. The walk was a short distance one
and we returned back to the resort with a large appetite.

At the restaurant, the buffet table
displayed fresh in-house bakery products that included breads, buns, muffins
and cakes. The aroma of omlettes lured me to the live station where eggs were
being prepared. The other options included poori aaloo, poha, idli sambhar and
dosa that were delicious and healthy too.

We enjoyed the breakfast and were
ready for another exciting experience planned by the resort.They took me and my family for a
body surfing experience in the nearby stream. I was skeptical at first but once
when I jumped in, the experience was exhilarating. The water flow swept us
gently towards the far end. We loved the experience and tried it three more
times.

Later, we went for a tour ride in an open jeep.
The tour guide, Mr. Vinod was also a fabulous driver who drove well and ensured
we enjoyed ourselves. He took us through dense forests to the famous James
Edward Corbett’s residence in Kaladungi. The man is a legend who was responsible for the
conservation of Jim Corbett.

He is a well known person who protected the
villagers from the ferocious tiger. The residence displays his tools that he
has been using along with furniture items. There is also a small shop that has souvenior
items of Jim Corbett at a very decent price.

We moved on towards the jungle to
have the packed lunch experience in the jungle. The kitchen team had lovingly
packed some biryani and curd in the tiffins that we devoured with potatoes and
paranthas under the cool shade of thick trees. We enjoyed the hot steaming food
and the gentle breeze.

After the hearty lunch, Vinod
took us through the village to give us a preview of the culture of native
people. The green hues of the field were soothing to the eyes and the
cool wind ruffling my hair felt amazing.
We reached the Guest house to see
an enormous tree with gigantic roots that were spread far across. It was a rare
sight. We also had a special tea made from the bhatti that tasted delicious. The day ended on a very satiating note. An orange blanket covered the sky that made it look surreal.
After entering the resort, I moved towards the
spa where an exotic massage and facial were awaiting me. The spa area is as
enchanting just like the other parts of the resort.A peaceful haven of bliss and
rejuvenation can be experienced as you enter the spa.

There are two well lit
therapy rooms with adjoining baths. The aroma and ambiance set the tone for a
rejuvenation experience. Trees and plants compliment the space in the spa area
that completes the look. The masseur welcomed me with a warm smile and made me
lie on the massage bed.

The dim lights and soothing
ambiance worked its magic on me while the scrub helped in cleansing my body
from the grime I collected since weeks. The circular strokes were intensifying while
her gentle pressure was very relaxing. The aroma oil made with lemon grass accentuated
the relaxation and took me to a deeper level of repose.
This was followed by the
signature facial that started from a scrub, massage and a pack made with herbal
components. The entire procedure helped me to go in a deep sleep where I never
wanted to come back. A warm shower later, I dressed up feeling relaxed and
renewed again. The lawn was alive with a live band playing retro songs.

The
singer was a talented man with an innate quality to entice guests. We enjoyed
listening to his songs and had an amazing time dancing to the tunes. A dinner
buffet was laid with chicken steak as their special dish prepared for us. It
was delicious.

The next morning we woke up
leisurely and strolled in the garden enjoying the sounds of birds and feasting
our eyes with the green hues of the beautifully landscaped garden. After a
scrumptious breakfast buffet we took bike rides in the jungle escorted by the
tour guide. The weather was amazing and we loved riding through the hard
terrain and the gushing stream.
The pure water in the stream
tasted divine and we simply gazed at the sky that was all set for a downpour.
Minutes later, it started raining heavily and we sped off on our bikes to the
resort. I headed towards the pool to enjoy a nice dip on my last day of the
review.


Swimming in the wide pool that overlooks the serene jungle is
breathtaking. It was an experience totally different from any other hotel in
Delhi.

Here I connected with nature’s elements – water, sky, wind. Later, I
enjoyed a hot steaming cup of coffee while inhaling in the fresh air in the
lawn.

An enthusiastic group of yoga
learners were also present who had come for a wellness retreat with their
children. It was nice to see them enjoying themselves totally disattached from
their household duties and loving their space at the resort.
Night crept in gradually and we
moved towards the restaurant for a quiet dinner. The warmth and hospitality of
the staff can never be forgotten in the times to come. We left for Delhi the
next day with a very heavy heart. Beautiful memories are etched in my mind,
body and soul of Corbett IRIS Spa and Resort. I recommend my readers to come
and experience relaxation and rejuvenation in the lap of Nature.
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