Riverside Reveries

Drive at Dusk

Tanhau sits on a ridge between two beautiful river valleys, the Ramganga and the Kosi. We’ll drive you down to one of these rivers for a few hours by the water, where the pace naturally softens.

Depending on the season and your mood, you can spend the time birdwatching, exploring the riverbank, splashing around, scanning the sand for animal tracks, or simply sitting in a beautiful place with the sound of flowing water.

You can choose a picnic-style lunch by the riverside, or go later in the day when the light begins to turn golden. Evenings are especially magical, watching the sun drop behind the valley, with the forest slowly changing tones. At dusk, we drive back to Tanhau, keeping an eye out on the way - this is often one of the best times to spot movement.

Dusk and dawn are the hours when the jungle comes alive. Join us for an evening drive through the quieter forested stretches around Tanhau - the kind of roads where you’re as likely to pause for a bird call or just to take a photograph of the beautiful surroundings, as you are to watch for an animal crossing.

These twilight drives are not “promised sightings” experiences, instead they’re about the suspense and beauty of being out at the right time, in the right habitat, with your senses switched on. On some evenings, the forest feels still. On others, it can be all action - a rustle in the grass, a call, a sudden silhouette on the track.

If you’d like, you can also join us in setting up camera traps on the property. We place them in locations where we expect night movement, and reviewing the footage later is often a highlight - the forest has its own nightlife, and the cameras often reveal what we never see during the day.

Picnic in the Woods

This is one of the simplest pleasures at Tanhau — and one of the most rewarding.

We take you to a carefully chosen spot in the forest around Tanhau - a quiet clearing, a viewpoint, a shaded patch near a seasonal stream, or a sun-warmed ridge with views of Himalayan peaks. The idea is not to “do” too much, instead it’s to settle into the landscape for a few hours and let the forest come to you.

Expect a slow, restorative day: a picnic lunch, tea, time to read, sketch, take photographs, or just lie back and listen. If you enjoy birding, this is often a wonderful format - sitting quietly in one place is sometimes more productive than constantly moving. You’ll also notice small details that most people miss: fresh scratch marks, hoof prints, alarm calls drifting from a distance, the change in wind and light through the trees.

We recommend this especially for guests who want to experience the wilderness without a strenuous hike - the forest, the sun, the silence, and a sense of being completely away.

(As always, we choose picnic points with safety and seasonality in mind, and we keep the setup low-impact and litter-free.)

Day Trips & Excursions

Tanhau’s location allows for a range of full-day outings - whether you want more mountains, more forest, or simply a change of landscape.

Deeper into the Corbett Landscape

If you’d rather explore more of the Corbett region beyond the standard circuits, we can take you towards:

• Maidavan & Mundiapani

• Kaladhungi, where Corbett used to live

• Sitabani & Patkot

These are beautiful, less-visited forested pockets with deserted jungle roads, rich birdlife, and the constant possibility of spotting wildlife along the way. Even when sightings are quiet, the drive itself - sal forests, valleys, light filtering through trees - is often the experience.

Into the Hills

If you’re in the mood for mountain air and big Himalayan views, we can plan a relaxed day trip to:

• Ranikhet, a classic Kumaon hill town with beautiful pine stretches and Himalayan views

• Manila, a quieter and lesser-known hill station, ideal for those who prefer fewer crowds; great for birding too

These routes offer scenic drives, viewpoints of Himalayan peaks on clear days, and opportunities to spot hill birds that are different from what you’ll see around Tanhau.