Spectacularly situated on the periphery of UNESCO World Heritage Site Kaziranga National park, Diphlu River Lodge provides guests with a never-before intimacy with the natural world. Separated from the park by its namesake river, wild buffaloes and elephants often bathe in its waters as fishermen cast their nets a short distance away.
Set up in 2008, Ashish Phookan, with his wife, Jahnabi, reincarnated his father’s pioneering ecotourism lodge of the 1970s, Kamrup Komplex, into its present avatar as Diphlu River Lodge. Like Kamrup Komplex, the Lodge was purposely built to blend into the surrounding foliage and terrain. Its thatch-and-bamboo cottages on stilts are inspired by the simple architecture of Mishing tribal homes and the unique weaves and artefacts that adorn the lodge are handmade by local artisans.
Committed to responsible tourism, Diphlu River Lodge takes great care to ensure that nature, the wild and local communities always come first – this means recycling the greywater, providing hospitality training to young boys and girls from neighbouring villages, starting an in-house women’s weaving unit, and subscribing to a low light and noise policy within the Lodge premises, among other initiatives.
Lonely Planet adjudged Diphlu River Lodge as one of the top two wildlife resorts in India. Additionally, Diphlu River Lodge is associated with the Ecotourism Society of India – the peak advocacy body for ecotourism – and is part of Travel Operators for Tigers (TOFT), an international campaign that supports responsible tourism as a way to save the Royal Bengal Tiger and other wildlife.
In April 2016, Diphlu River Lodge was honoured to have had the opportunity to host the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, HRH Prince William and Catherine Middleton, on their state visit to India.
Sustainable design
Diphlu River Lodge offers accommodation for 24 guests at a time, ensuring an exclusive and serene experience. There are 8 individual cottages and 4 semi-detached cottages. The raised cottages are made of natural materials like bamboo and wood, topped with thatched roofs to blend in with the forest surroundings. Special care has been taken to make full use of local materials and artefacts.
Each individual cottage has a wide folding glass door opening onto a verandah with inviting cane chairs. The Lodge has no fencing and has been purposefully designed to blend seamlessly into its green surroundings.
The in-house team of women and men weavers from neighbouring villages are responsible for all the woven objects of the Lodge. Most of the staff at Diphlu River Lodge are from villages in and around Kaziranga National Park and the remaining few are from other parts of Northeast India.
Staff were offered skills training in hospitality by Diphlu River Lodge and their friendly, gentle natures are undoubtedly the Lodge’s biggest asset.
Organic farming
Diphlu River Lodge even grows its own organic rice, vegetables and mustard. Guests are also able to see the crops growing within the Lodge premises. The Lodge also recycles grey water that drains into the central pond and is used for irrigation. Organic waste is converted to compost.
Diphlu River Lodge has its own team of well-trained naturalists to accompany guests on visits to the park. Most of the Lodge’s naturalists come from the villages near Kaziranga and, thus, possess a deep knowledge of the park’s ecosystem and are experts in spotting and identifying the park’s varied species of wildlife and birds.
