Homestays
A rapidly increasing number of home-owners are welcoming visitors from across India–and abroad–into their homes and their lifestyle; for brief as well extended home-stays. Encouraged by the government, people are putting to good use their extra bedrooms by letting them out to discerning travellers willing to imbibe a culturally different way of life. A complete departure from the facility-rich albeit impersonal environs of a hotel, home-stays are indeed answering the home-away-from-home call.
The Mirage, Andretta
Typical home-stays require visitors to check into another’s house and life for the length of their stay, in exchange for respect for their timings, and pocket-friendly tariffs that may or may not include meals. Most of which are home-cooked and usually eaten with the host-family, who will be happy to accommodate dietary restraints if they have prior knowledge. A large number of travellers are happily lapping up this concept as it allows them a chance to experience local flavours through warm and hospitable families.
Home-stay properties dotting the length and breadth of the country include centuries’ old heritage homes, cottages in alpine solitude, colonial-era planters’ bungalows, restored royal mansions, modest yet clean village houses, well-appointed floors in modern homes; the list is endless. However, it is not so much the property that makes your stay worthwhile; in the end, it is the host family that extends the quality of experience.
Puneet, how about listing these….would be really useful for people who love the homestay experience. And you could make this on a page where other people can add the ones where they have stayed. I have stayed in at least half a dozen and would love to share the info with like minded folks.
Am working on it, Anant, in the form of an exclusive guide covering destinations across India. Keep visiting for updates 🙂
Yes, I’ve been pretty determined to stay in one of these too, the next time I visit the hills. Its one of the good ideas (few and far between) that the govt has had to strengthen the local population and provide a comfy experience to travellers!
Nice post!
Thanks Aradhika. I am entirely convinced myself that home-stays are the way forward for the discerning traveller.
Thanks Puneet I am happy you touched this subject, certainly believe that Home stay is much safer healthier and more enjoyable & culturally sound. You learn more and come closer to people than staying in Hotels in a city. Jagjit
🙂
Home Stays Rock! As do you 🙂
😀 You are too kind !
Hi Puneet
Homestays are actually one of the best ways if you actually want to explore the place and know the place inside out. I too love staying in the homestays. One of my best experiences have been in Lansdowne, Uttrakhand. The homestay is called Prem Sadan. If interested you can check out the details here…http://karantraveller.blogspot.in/2012/12/home-stay-in-true-sense-prem-sadan.html
Hi Karan,
Thanks for stopping by. Will look it up for sure.
Cheers!