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At this time of the year, the river was quiet and calm, the fury of the waters gushing
down from the hilly terrain towards the plains had withered and it had shrunk in width.
The flow was, however, as fast as it always must have been. Clear sparkling water,
unpolluted and fresh. I was gazing at the river from the restaurant of the Corbett
Riverview Retreat sipping my morning cup of tea. Rivers in the hills are always shallow,
but they sweep away everything with them when they are in a fury during monsoons when
stones roll down, large chunks of forests are eroded and animals swept away by the swift
currents. This river will flow down to the plains and together with its tributaries
become bigger giving life to plants, animals and humans alike on its way to the sea.
A selfless service like other elements of Nature which always keep giving and never
ask for anything in return.
I was woken up from my thoughts by my colleague who wanted to have a trek along the
bank. Anybody would love to that, just walk about 50 yards and you are in the cold
flowing waters of the river from the Retreat. It is an ideal place to stay near Corbett
National Park – Dhikuli is the small town which leads into the forest for tiger safari.
Located in the buffer zone of the national park, it gives access to the tiger
zone easy and fast.
The Riverview Retreat is well landscaped interspersed with family villas opening on one
side to the river. The family villas provide accommodation large enough for a family of
six to eight persons. They have a master bed room, a children’s bedroom, another bed room
on the first floor and a large living room where all could sit together and enjoy a holiday.
The living rooms are well furnished with all amenities including a dining table for a family.
Each villa has lawn surrounding it, making it an excellent sit-out area in winters. Floral
shrubs and trees constitute the boundary of each villa. Spread out horizontally, the Retreat
has been well landscaped with graveled pathways leading to each villa.
The restaurant is housed in a large hall facing the river bank. Though the buffets are served
in the hall, one has the choice of sitting out where the trees sway gently in the morning to
give a pleasant feeling. Evenings, there are folk dances, at times. The restaurant serves
largely suiting to the Indian palate. But that does not mean, there are no overseas tourists.
One can spot many of them by the swimming pool which has a grill hut close by. The grill is of
interest to many of them as it serves continental dishes. Nice place to take a dip and alternate
with a sip. As there are no television sets in the bed rooms, there is a common hut where small
screen addicts can spend their time. Another thatched roof hut houses the recreation space where
one can enjoy a game of chess, all naturally air cooled. The Corbett Riverview Retreat is ideal for
large families and groups traveling together to the Park.
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