<\/p>\n
\u00a0I always get caught on Valentine Day. I would like to\u00a0come up with\u00a0something meaningful to my husband every year something that goes beyond dinner reservations and last-minute gifts. I had chances to surprise him this time with an experience. Something unexpected. Something memorable. This is when I have come upon Sterling\u00a0ReWild\u00a0Sariska, a modern-day wilderness resort, right on the frontier of the\u00a0Sariska\u00a0Tiger Reserve, and only a four-hour drive away through Delhi.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Last\u00a0year Valentine Day was on a\u00a0Friday\u00a0and without saying a single word to him I made a reservation of a quiet wild adventure just with the two of us. The\u00a0resort is\u00a05 hours away from Delhi, so\u00a0we left early\u00a0morning\u00a0and got ourselves\u00a0we out of Delhi and then we drove through the dusty scenery of Rajasthan as the city drifted away in the\u00a0rear-view\u00a0mirror.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What had been attractive in the road, as it wound up into the Aravalli hills, became dramatic rocky country, broad open skies and a feeling of repose that promised to be the opening of a new world. He continued to make conjectures of locations and I continued smiling. It was half the fun to see him so much curious.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n First Impressions: Wild and Finely Refined<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0As soon as we\u00a0arrived at Sterling\u00a0Re-Wild\u00a0Sariska\u00a0that afternoon\u00a0I realised that I\u00a0had made the right decision. The resort is spaced over 13\u00a0acres,\u00a0and it has a natural integration within the surroundings\u00a0rock formations, canvas tents and rough textures reflect the land rather than an overlay of it. The Sterling\u00a0Staff\u00a0received us with ease, with their casual, thoughtful, and sincerely good nature. Check-in was easy,\u00a0relaxed\u00a0and established the\u00a0appropriate atmosphere\u00a0of all that ensued.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We stayed in the Mountain View Antler Tent with Outdoor Shower and Sit-Out and it was all I had hoped. It was very roomy, well planned and all so comfortable that it was not like a tent but rather a sheltered rest area in the wilderness. The personal sit-out had rolling hills and open skies, which were ideal in quiet conversation and leisurely mornings.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Surprise of Valentine<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Valentine’s Setup I confess- this is what I found nervous.\u00a0I\u00a0contacted the Sterling team in advance to organize a Valentine surprise in our tent as we were out on an expedition around\u00a0Sariska\u00a0in the\u00a0morning\u00a0and the staff\u00a0assured me\u00a0that everything would be done.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That was\u00a0the\u00a0morning when we drove to a Sarika jungle safari and were able to feel the excitement of the reserve the calmness, the expectation, the picturesqueness of the forest awakening. When we were back in the\u00a0afternoon,\u00a0we found the tent door open and I froze in dismay. The room had been changed upside down\u00a0with mellow lights, amorous decor, the flowers carefully put and a well-packaged Valentines cake on the bed waiting on us. It was not too much\u00a0nor too artificial but was very cozy and personal, just like I had imagined.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n My husband stood there a moment or so and turned to me and said,\u00a0you\u00a0planned all this? This was the only thing that justified the trip. The Sterling\u00a0ReWild\u00a0staff\u00a0did it all in the same way an expert would do it, without raising any commotion.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Food, Cozy and Considerate Hospitality<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Another highlight was having a meal at the resort. Food was cosy and well-balanced – the combination of local cuisine and commonplace options. Breakfasts were leisurely, and breakfast gave us energy to last the day,\u00a0whereas\u00a0dinner were relaxed and personal after a day in the country. However, the hospitality was\u00a0remarkable.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The employees were aware of our tastes, could easily adjust the schedule and showed up regularly without being obtrusive. It\u00a0never seemed to be\u00a0written;\u00a0it was\u00a0just good\u00a0human service.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n How This Valentine Trip Succeeded\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sterling\u00a0ReWild\u00a0Sarika strikes a balance\u00a0as it is very\u00a0much attached to nature, but never out of comfort. It is riotous and yet not crass, lavish but not noisy. Our Antler Tent was a lowly love-nest of ours, every morning a cup of coffee on the\u00a0siteout, every night a quiet night under the stars, and all the rest we should have had only silence and clear skies can provide.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Getting Out\u00a0with\u00a0More Than Memories<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0It was all too soon\u00a0as we were\u00a0checking. Within a few days, we had caught up, reintroduced each other and had moments which were truly special\u00a0and\u00a0not hurried. By the time we were heading back to Delhi with the Aravalli hills fading out in the rear-view mirror we were already discussing a return trip.\u00a0Maybe for\u00a0an anniversary\u00a0or\u00a0maybe just\u00a0because. Sterling\u00a0ReWild\u00a0Sariska\u00a0did not only present us with a few days in lovers paradise,\u00a0but it also\u00a0presented us with a memory we will have permanently. And honestly? I suppose it is just the best Valentine surprise I have ever\u00a0planned last year.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Rishika\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Civil Engineer<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0I always get caught on Valentine Day. I would like to\u00a0come up with\u00a0something meaningful to my husband every year something that goes beyond dinner reservations and last-minute gifts. I had chances to surprise him this time with an experience. Something unexpected. Something memorable. This is when I have come upon Sterling\u00a0ReWild\u00a0Sariska, a modern-day wilderness…<\/p>\n