Deep within the Corbett landscape, in a quiet valley along a river and the Ramganga valley, Khetiyo is surrounded by dense forest, hills and small Garhwali villages.
Khetiyo sits deep inside the wilderness, away from the busier edges of Corbett, where human activity is sparse and wildlife has more room to move freely. The forest often makes its presence known through bird calls, movement in the undergrowth and other signs of the animals that live around you.
This is a place that invites you to experience Corbett beyond the conventional jeep safari and the search for a tiger. There are forests to walk through, a river to spend time beside, birds to identify and villages to discover on foot.
The property is completely off grid and runs on solar energy. Phone reception is absent here giving you more time to be attentive to your surroundings. Khetiyo is best approached with a little patience and a willingness to let the forest set the pace. It is a raw, immersive experience of the landscape, its wildlife and the people who have lived alongside it for generations.
comforts
Khetiyo has three cottages, each spacious enough to accommodate three to four people. The rooms are simple and comfortable, with queen-size beds and attached bathrooms. They offer the essentials for a stay in the wilderness, without taking away from the rustic experience of being here.
Meals are served in a shared dining area, where guests come together after a day out in the forest or by the river.
food
The food at Khetiyo is rooted in Garhwali home cooking, with simple vegetarian meals, eggs and fish caught from the river when available. Much of the cooking draws on local produce, including seasonal vegetables and fruits from the orchard and farm patches within the property. You might find fresh beans and greens on the table, or a tangy rhododendron-flower chutney alongside your meal.
Cooking over a wood fire lends the food a rich, comforting character. The meals are straightforward, local and satisfying, well suited to the appetite that comes with spending a day outdoors.
ideal for
Khetiyo is for those who want to experience Corbett beyond its familiar safari circuit, and who are comfortable with the unpredictability of being in the forest. It is particularly suited to keen birdwatchers, wildlife enthusiasts and travellers who enjoy exploring on foot, paying attention to the landscape and learning to read the smaller signs of life around them.
It is also a place for travellers who enjoy understanding the relationship between people and wildlife, rather than seeing conservation as a story with simple answers.
Come here when you want to spend a few days outdoors, walk through unfamiliar landscapes, learn from people who know them well, and experience a more raw, less conventional side of Corbett.
getting there
Khetiyo is reached by road via Delhi, Meerut and Kotdwar. Alternatively, an overnight train can take you to Kotdwar, from where a jeep or cab can be arranged. The final approach involves a walk of approximately 3 kms, with a shallow river crossing from the gate.
The property remains closed during the monsoon. Further arrival details will be shared upon booking.
things to do
At Khetiyo, much of the experience begins simply by stepping outside, with the forest beginning almost at your doorstep. Step out with the local guides, many of whom have grown up in the surrounding villages and know this forest intimately, and you are soon walking beneath its canopy, looking for iconic species like: hornbills, woodpeckers, tigers, ghorals, leopards, elephants, following alarm calls and learning to notice the smaller signs of wildlife around you. The forest reveals itself differently on foot, and even a short walk can change how you experience it.
The property’s machaan offers another way to spend time observing the forest. Settle in with a pair of binoculars and watch the birds and movement around you. The nearby river is also worth spending time beside, whether you choose to sit along its stony banks or take a fresh dip.
For those keen to explore further, guided hikes lead to the nearby Garhwali villages. These are walks, with uphill stretches, but the rewards lie in the views and the wildlife along the way that many visitors to Corbett pass by. Meals and local experiences can be arranged in the villages too.
For those who would still like to experience Corbett by jeep, a safari in the Halduparao range can be arranged, roughly half an hour away, subject to the necessary arrangements.
You can also spend time with the host, Shivprakash ji, whose stories offer another way to understand the landscape and the relationship between its people and wildlife.
price
Cost for one night:
9000/- for double occupancy
5850/- for single occupancy
Extra person: 3,000/- night
Children (5-10 yrs.): 2,250/- night
Inclusions: All meals (from lunch on the day of check-in till breakfast on the day of check-out), tea coffee snacks, guided hikes & walks in the forest, bonfire, applicable service charges and taxes.
