If you are a repeat visitor to Jim Corbett and don’t want to queue up for yet another tiger safari, there’s another way to spend your weekend in the wild. Tucked away in a quiet corner of Ramnagar, The Golden Tusk is a self-sufficient, scenic, and surprisingly versatile resort—designed to keep you engaged for your 2 nights/3 days stay without ever stepping out.
The approach is deceptively modest—a narrow village road where you wonder if you’re headed anywhere at all. But once the gates open, you’re transported into ten
acres of serene, manicured greenery—a sanctuary for anyone escaping the chaos of the city. Just beside the reception stands a stately kadamb tree, evoking Subhadra Kumari Chauhan’s immortal line: “Yeh kadamb ka ped agar maahota Yamuna teere…”Next to it rests a Krishna mandir, completing the poetic frame. From the outset, it’s clear this isn’t just a resort—it’s a retreat for the soul.
Rooms & Accommodation
The Golden Tusk offers 68 suites and villas, ranging from 450 to 1,000 sq. ft., each designed to bring guests closer to nature without compromising on comfort. The Nature View Rooms open directly onto lush greenery, while the Garden and Corbett Suites come with balconies to let in the forest air. The Tusk Suites are plush and contemporary, while the Tiger Suites—with double bedrooms—are ideal for families or groups
The newest addition, the Waterhole Villas, were introduced post-pandemic in response to growing demand for exclusivity. These come with private pools, jacuzzis, and Bluetooth speakers. Room rates begin at Rs 13,000 per suite (inclusive f all meals), going u p to Rs 20,000 for the Tiger Suites and Rs 25,000 for the Waterhole Villas.
Behind this retreat is Managing Director Aniruddh Lakhotia, whose Marwari family once ran poultry farms in Uttarakhand before bird flu disrupted the business
in the mid-2000s. The family diversified into herba extracts, dairy, and finally hospitality, launching The Golden Tusk in 2012 with just 24 rooms.
Since then, growth has been shaped by one principle: listening to guests. “Post-pandemic, demand for private pools shot up, so we added two Waterhole Villas with heated pools. We also shifted to an all-meals-inclusive plan after guests asked for more dining flexibility,” says Lakhotia. Even finer touches— like sliding doors for privacy and TVs kept only in lounges, not bedrooms—came from guest feedback.
One request proved trans formative. Elderly guests struggled with the restaurant’s steep stairs. “At first, we offered in-room dining,but families wanted parents to join them at the buffet,” recalls Lakhotia. The solution: a stairlift. “It was a gamechanger—it made the restaurant accessible and kept families together. That’s what inclusivity means to us.”
Food & Dining
Food is central to the experience. The highlight is the Uttarakhandi thali, a soulful spread that brings the hills to your plate. From the tangy bhang ki chutney
made with hemp seeds, to rustic staples like aloo ke gutke tempered with jakhiya seeds, cooling kumaoni raita, mandua rotis, peele chawal, and the state’s signature Bal Mithai—each dish is steeped in flavour and memory.The resort also houses Jungle Grill, a specialty restaurant inspired by global forests. “It’s a culinary journey through the Amazon, Serengeti, Burma, Gir, Kaziranga, Periyar, Corbett, and Raja ji,” explains F&B Manager Pushkar Rawat. The menu is playful yet rooted—Pugmark lemonade, Mashobra apple salad, Tiger nibble platters, Gir-style masala pineapple, Jamaican jerk cottage cheese, and Ramganga tawa macchi.But the
most unforgettable is aqua dining—a playful yet soothing experience where you dine with your feet dipped in cool, knee-deep water under the open sky on a table decorated with lamps and strewn with rose petals. Priced at Rs 2,500 per person, it leaves guests with a rare dining memory that outlasts the holiday itself
Experiences Beyond the Safari
Unlike most Corbett resorts that revolve almost entirely around safaris, The Golden Tusk creates a world of experiences within its own campus. Sports enthusiasts can choose from pickleball, badminton, volleyball, basketball, pool, carrom, and chess. Adventure-seekers can try rappelling, ziplining, wall and tyre climbing, cycling, or dartboard challenges.
Children are kept meaningfully engaged through plantation workshops under the Little Green Hands initiative and guided nature walks. For those who’d rather slow down, two swimming pools, a spa, and a salon complete the wellness quotient.
The Golden Tusk Difference
What sets The Golden Tusk apart is its ability to listen, adapt, and surprise. It’s not just another pitstop near Corbett—it’s a thoughtfully curated destination for families and small groups, blending indulgence with inclusivity.
Yes, Corbett is famed for its tigers. But The Golden Tusk shifts the lens. Instead of chasing a glimpse of the growl, here you pause to hear the chirping of birds. Instead of the thrill of the hunt, you find the calm of starlit skies over Ramnagar.
The wild has many more stories to tell—ones that capture nature in its gentlest, most enchanting form.
