Tanhau was born out of our desire to find peace away from the concrete jungles that our cities are. It is a haven to enjoy nature & wildlife away from other tourists, in a manner that infringes the least on the surroundings. We are in a constant process of reforesting the property & the area with the aim of letting the wilderness back in again.
We think of Tanhau not just as a place or property, but really more as a way of life – simple, peaceful & in harmony with nature. To reach Tanhau, the last four kilometers are along a jungle dirt track, of which the last kilometer was not even motorable till a couple of years ago. Located on top of a hill at an altitude of ~4,200 feet, Tanhau overlooks the reserve forests of Corbett Tiger Reserve & the winding Kosi river, & has arguably the most spectacular view in the Corbett area.
Is Tanhau everyone’s cup of tea? No. If you’re looking for a regular family holiday with manicured lawns, swimming pool, spa & loud music in the evenings, then Tanhau would disappoint you. Since our primary intent is to minimize the disturbance to wildlife, we have some house rules that may not work for everyone. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a chance to experience nature & wildlife in a way few others can, then look no further. We are blessed to enjoy a huge variety of bird & animal life, some of them otherwise unrecorded in the Corbett area, and enjoy sharing our experiences with interested people.
We believe that if you have left the confines of the city, you deserve some private space - that’s why we only have two guest cottages at Tanhau. Our attempt is to make your stay with us as personalized as possible & we think that happens best with small groups of people.
Tanhau is a destination like no other in the Corbett area. You could take a thrilling walk through prime tiger habitat during the day, enjoy sundowners while listening to sambar deer alarm calls from the thick forest below, dine al fresco while counting shooting stars in the night sky; or you could choose instead to simply enjoy the peace & spectacular view with a book & wholesome soul food instead. The options we can offer are myriad, and some are ones that are truly unique.
Staying at Tanhau
Though rustic from the outside, our cottages are well appointed inside and we make every effort to ensure that your stay is comfortable and relaxing.
Chukar is our larger two bedroom (with two washrooms) cottage, suitable for a family or a group of friends. Built entirely of stone, it is surrounded by trees and remains the coolest in summer. With a bonfire pit nearby and a long verandah perfect for putting your feet and relaxing in, it is a great unit to stay in as a group. This is suitable for 4-6 guests, and is priced at ₹12,000 (plus 5% taxes) per night for 4 people, inclusive of all meals.
Our other cottage Bagh overlooks stunningly gorgeous reserve forests of Corbett. Located very close to the edge of the forest, this cottage offers a great chance to be up close and personal with wildlife if you are lucky. The cottage is a spacious one-room unit with a double bed, in-suite bathroom and a verandah in front. There is adequate space for a third person to be accommodated inside the room. This is suitable for 2-3 guests, and is priced at ₹7,000 (plus 5% taxes) per night for 2 people, inclusive of all meals.
Running hot water is available but dependent on the sometimes unreliable local electricity supply. We shy away from providing many so-called ‘luxuries’ that don’t fit in with our commitment to leaving the lightest ecological footprint possible – so, there is no bathtub, air conditioner or TV. However, you’ll enjoy the luxurious duvets, the soft towels and premium organic toiletries. A wide selection of books is available in our library as well as some board games for rainy days.
Food
There must be something in the air, because most people who visit Tanhau say they end up eating more than usual. Or maybe it’s just that our food is good. Either way we’re happiest if you enjoy your meals here.
A lot of our vegetables are grown organically on the property itself, though they often fall prey to the local wildlife before they can end up in the kitchen. We have an alfresco dining area located outside the kitchen that we call ‘The Dhaba’ – with a couple of wooden benches and the occasional resident hen pecking around, it does resemble the roadside highway eateries it is named after. With a waterhole right below it, the dhaba is often a great spot for some relaxed birding. Main meals are served at the Dhaba, though if the weather is inclement our staff will be happy to get the food to your cottage. Morning & evening tea will be brought to your cottage unless you prefer to come and have it at the Dhaba.
We love to customize our menus according to your personal preferences & dietary requirements. However, since other than the vegetables we grow virtually all other ingredients need to be brought in from either the nearest town Ramnagar (42 km away) or Delhi, this requires some planning in advance. So once you’ve decided to visit Tanhau, we will typically get in touch to understand your food preferences before you arrive.
We encourage you to bring your own choice of spirits along if you wish at no charge, and will be happy to provide the mixers & accompaniments.
Activities
Nature & Birding Hikes
This is our specialty and something we do really well – only because our passion for wildlife keeps us exploring these jungle trails ourselves. Join us on hikes through the beautiful reserve forests of Corbett and experience nature & wildlife as few people get to.
We do a variety of hikes ranging from full-day hikes with a fair bit of climbing involved to more straightforward hikes lasting a couple of hours. Whether you follow the old trail used at one time by Jim Corbett’s famous Maneater of Mohan or just hike through the jungle to a lovely breakfast point, all our hikes give you the chance to experience great birding, stunning views and test your ability to negotiate your way through hilly terrain and dense forest.
As always, nothing is predictable when it comes to wildlife but we often have some great experiences & sightings on these hikes. Walking on foot is an experience completely different from the jeep safaris inside a national park & one that we find addictive.
4x4 Wildlife Safaris
Jeep safaris into the national park give a great opportunity to spot wildlife, and are something that you should not miss. Corbett National Park is the only well known national park in India that offers the opportunity to stay inside overnight.
Spending one or two nights in one of the Forest Rest houses (FRHs) inside the park is an experience that is not to be missed, and one we highly recommend in addition to your stay at Tanhau. We are happy to organize all aspects your stay inside the park, and we ensure that you have the services of a really good naturalist and driver. Though the FRHs are basic in infrastructure, we do add some elements of luxury to make your experience more enjoyable and comfortable.
You could also choose to do day safaris into the park rather than overnight stays, these can be done either in the morning or in the afternoon. We usually focus on safaris into the Dhikala and Bijrani zones as these are typically the best for tiger and other wildlife sightings. For birders we recommend the Lohachaur zone in winter while Halduparao provides a truly private jungle experience.
Camping
The area around Tanhau is gorgeous for camping out overnight, and we have a variety of spots that you could choose from based on your appetite for adventure as well as your fitness level. Hearing alarm calls and other sounds of the jungle as the day comes to an end is quite another experience while sitting outside your tent. And the evenings spent under the million stars are, of course, magical. Join us on one of these experiences to truly enjoy nature and wildlife away from the madding crowd.
Village Walks
Experience the simple hospitality and warmth of the local villagers by visiting them at their homes. Drink a cup of chai with them & understand their Kumaoni traditions and customs. We are sure you will come away with a sense of admiration for the frugal, yet cheerful lives they lead.
Angling
Try your hand at angling in the Ramganga, if you’re lucky maybe you could net the elusive mighty Mahseer! Earlier a limited number of permits were issued in the immediate Corbett area itself, however now permits are issued for angling at Bhikyasain (about 1.5 hours drive from Tanhau). Fishing is strictly on a catch & release basis. Whether you’re a pro or a beginner, angling is a great experience and can also be a fun outing by the riverside for the family.
Excursions or Day Trips
Tanhau’s location is such that a variety of interesting day trips is possible. If you are in the mood for more mountains, we could take you for a leisurely day picnic trip to Ranikhet or the lesser known hill station of Manila. These places offer great views of the Himalayan peaks, picturesque drives and the opportunity to see some different hill birds from what are found in Tanhau.
On the other hand, if you would rather explore more of the Corbett area we could take you to some of the other parts surrounding Corbett such as the Sitabani side, Kaladhungi or Dhela. Beautiful sal forests, deserted jungle roads and the chance of spotting wildlife make this an exciting option.
