The honking cars the endless notifications the stale office air I had reached my breaking point. The city was suffocating me, and I knew I needed an escape. Not just a vacation but a complete detox. That’s how I found myself scrolling through pages at 2 AM searching for a place where time moved slower where the only sounds were birds and rustling leaves. 

The Search for Hidden Peace 

Jim Corbett National Park had always been on my list, but I didn’t want the usual safari crowds. I craved something quieter a place where nature spoke louder than tourists. That’s when I stumbled upon the hidden gems of Jim Corbett Kosi River’s ‘Magic Hour’ spot a little-known stretch near Mohaan where the river turned to liquid gold at dusk. No jeeps no guides shouting just raw unfiltered wilderness. 

I booked my stay at Sterling Corbett for its reputation as a nature-immersive resort and because it’s a sanctuary for the soul. Little did I know how true that would turn out to be. 

First Glimpse of Magic 

The drive from Ramnagar was already a balm for my frayed nerves. The chaos of Delhi faded into rolling hills then dense Sal forests. By the time I reached Sterling Corbett the resort’s wooden cottages perched like treehouses felt like a warm embrace and the only noise was the distant call of a Himalayan pied kingfisher. 

The Golden Hour That Stole My Stress 

As the sun dipped behind the Shivalik hills, the Kosi River transformed. The water usually a rushing blue green turned into a shimmering ribbon of molten gold. The reflection of the sky painted the surface in hues of amber and peach and for a moment I forgot to breathe. 

Then movement downstream a small herd of elephants emerged from the forest their silhouettes dark against the golden water. A calf playfully splashed sending ripples across the glowing surface. Above a wallcreeper bird a rare sight flitted between rocks its crimson wings flashing in the fading light. I sat on a smooth boulder my phone switched off my mind finally quiet. The city’s noise the deadlines the endless rush it all felt galaxies away. 

Back at the resort the magic didn’t end. My cottage’s balcony overlooked the forest where fireflies flickered like tiny stars. Dinner was a silent affair just me a bonfire. The next morning, I woke to birdsong instead of alarms.  

Kosi’s Magic Hour didn’t just give me a pretty photo it gave me back my peace, Sterling Corbett  was the silent guardian of that peace a place where I could finally exhale. 

Start your journey at Sterling Corbett to escape the city 

Ashwani Kumar  

Tax Consultant