The
Indian
homestay

The Indian "homestay" experience has grown from strength to strength since the idea first emerged in Kerala, a decade or so ago. Now there are homestay tours and specialist agencies for the many hospitable families offering modestly priced accommodation in a variety of homes from city apartments to plantation houses.

EXPERIENCE HAS GROWN
from strength to strength

Sirohi House, Old Delhi

Once home to the Maharajah of Sirohi, this grand home now belongs to Mr Ashok Sahdev, an established businessman who has become an avid collector of antiques. You can be sure of a charming welcome and excellent service here.

This small stately home will transport you not only into the world of the aristocracy, but also back in time. Experience the history of India through the various antiques and paintings, which, with tasteful luxury, furnish this house.

Behind large gates on the Alipore Road in Old Delhi, is the private drive that leads up to Sirohi House, lined by potted plants and surrounded by a tranquil garden: A wonderfully peaceful and private setting. Only a few minutes outside however, is the new and immaculate Delhi metro, with the centre of New Delhi, Connaught Place, just a ten minute journey away.
Vikram and Paaro Ranawat's Home, Jaipur

Vikram and Paaro Ranawat own this exotic suburban villa in Western Jaipur. While Paaro is a straight descendant from the Royal Aristocracy, her husband Vikram is an ex-airforce officer. The villa encompasses a number of spacious and airy rooms, marble floors, furniture blending the au-courant and the rustic, and a beautiful atrium decked up with flowers. You have the option to choose from the two guestrooms that come with their private lounge or from the private cottage nestled in the garden. A visit to Paaro's own clothing factory or taking some cooking or Yoga lessons from her can be a good leisure activity for your vacation.
Mr & Mrs Mehra's Bed & Breakfast, Dehradun

Set in a quiet residential area, the house has a bowling-green lawn, geraniums spilling out of window boxes and views of the Shivalik hills - this city in the Doon Valley is the capital of Uttarakhand and makes a handy stopover en route from Delhi to the Himalayan National Park. After settling into your homely room, Mr Mehra, a retired wool processing specialist, wheels out the drinks trolley (whisky, anyone?), while his wife hands around her apparently famous snacks (try the tandoori chicken or the lamb brain kebabs). With a large balcony with magnificent view of the hills and Mussoorie, the accommodation is a studio flat which occupies the top floor of the Mehra's home; it has its own access so you can treat it as your own place.Mrs Mehra is renowned in Dehradun for her delicious snacks; her mutton kebabs are quite wonderful. Explore the beautiful foothills in Dehradun or take advantage of the picnic service offered by your hosts and ask your driver to take you to Mussoorie Hill Station built by the British during the days of the Empire.
Colonel's Retreat, New Delhi

This smart city bolthole in south Delhi's Defence Colony is home to well-travelled couple Arun and Suman Khanna (the Colonel takes its name from Arun's Indian army father). Three bright guest rooms offer clean-cut decor and all mod-cons (marble bathrooms, Wi-Fi, air-con, cable TV and hospitality trays). A great favorite with business travelers and overseas tourists alike, offering a truly comfortable, elegant place to stay. Colonel's Retreat has been lovingly created by people who are frequent global travelers themselves and who take pride in maintaining the highest world-class standards of hospitality. All rooms are air-conditioned rooms with cable TV, refrigerator, free wi-fi, electronic safe. Attached baths, with hot and cold running water. Every comfort and amenity, wrapped in elegance. Colonel's Retreat is South Delhi's best-kept secret. A great favourite with business travellers and overseas tourists alike, offering a truly comfortable, elegant place to stay.
Capella, Northern Goa

Capella is Ayesha and Jamshed Madon's cozy retreat that is surrounded by tropical foliage in a calm hamlet between the famous Baga beach and Mapusa. The house has two spacious rooms and a self-contained cozy cottage in the garden. The bar gives you the option of indulging in a drink or two while enjoying the tranquil ambience while rice, curries and salads make up the delicious and fresh homemade lunch menus. Rub shoulders with the family's pets, the dogs and cats who are always around to keep you company. Our homestay offers discerning visitors the unique opportunity of experiencing life with a local family, but with the privacy and level of comfort afforded by the best boutique hotels. Capella is the perfect choice for birdwatchers and nature lovers looking for a relaxed holiday in tranquil surroundings, yet quite close to the happening North Goa beachbelt.
Spiti Homestays, Himachal Pradesh

The few unexplored areas the world, this land often known as Little Tibet, was historically a part of the kingdom of Nariss Korssum (Western Tibet), and is home to few of the oldest Buddhist monasteries and temples in the world. Tucked away in the interiors of the Trans-Himalayan belt of Himachal Pradesh, this high altitude cold desert region has only recently been opened to the outside world. Situated at an altitude well over 3000 mts above mean sea level, this valley is exposed to temperature variations of -28 degree centigrade to +28 degree centigrade and remains cut off for most of the year by the high mountains that encircle it. Due to its relative isolation, various unique and rare aspects of the Buddhist culture (Tibetan Buddhism) are well preserved in this valley. Millions of years ago, Spiti however lay submerged under the Tethys sea. Remnants of its geological past are evident in the unique landscape and the diverse fossils found in the valley. Spiti is also a storehouse of various rare and endangered species of flora and fauna, such as the Snow Leopard, Tibetan Wolf, to name a few.
Nelpura Alappuzha, Kerala

At Kuttanad, a tranquil corner of the Keralan backwaters, this "heritage homestay" is the 150-year-old home of a Syrian Christian family, Chackochan Edayady ("Mr Chacko") and his wife Salimma and Salimma and embraces beautiful pagoda-tiled flooring and carved-wood furniture. The exotic St. Mary's Forane Church is a nearby attraction while you could also go boating along the river Pampa. A traditional Keralan granary house (carved wood, a wraparound verandah, a pagoda-like tiled roof), provides three guest rooms (two are air-conditioned); and the food is fresh, homely and plentiful.
Evergreen Estate Bungalow - Mundakayam, Kerala

In the heart of rubber country (between the hot coastal plains and the high tea gardens of the Western Ghats), George and Anju Abraham's 1950s house looks more Florida than Kerala - all Art Deco curves and decks of concrete – but what it offers is a taste of traditional Indian plantation life. Associated with the pioneers of the Rubber plantations fron 1910 who started off as farmers and forged into the plantations. Today family members have diverse interests in Cardamom, Rubber and Coffee.

Located on the southwestern tip of India, Kerala with its unmatched natural attractions is a holidayer's delight. To experience the land in its entirety Stayhomz brings to you along its fine network of Homestays spread between the land from the beaches through the verdant midlands, up to the lush peermade hills, deep into the evergreen forests of the Periyar valley munnar and down again to the mesmerizing backwaters - it's a leisure filled holiday package, designed to show Kerala in all its natural splendor.
Nandan Farms - Sawantwadi, Maharashtra

'Atithi Devo Bhava' is a tradition of India. How could be Konkan an exception for it? In fact we welcome our guests with more joy and love. Litterally like a holy festival. In konkan, people use 'Fishtail Palm' leaves for decoration in joyful festivals. So, even we have used those leaves in our logo, to assure you that we as well as our Nature are eager to welcome you. We are sure that you will love 'Nandan Farm Stay' surrounded by 12 Acres of beautiful Nature and our delicious hot food along with warm hospitality.

In the Sindhudurg region of southern Maharashtra, this rustic, adobe-style home offers two guest rooms opening on to a wide verandah that overlooks Ammu and Ashish Padgaonkar's farm - 12 acres of cashews, pineapples and coconut palms. It's off the beaten track, a bit of real India, but they offer hot water, proper loos and a great location.
Itachuna Rajbari - Panduah, Hooghly

The other name for Itachuna Rajbari is ' Bargee Danga'. The term has been derived from Bargee , which was a name given by the bengali's to the Maratha warriors. There was a time when Maratha's attacked Bengal repeatedly to collect Chauth, which was 1/4th of the tax that was to be paid by the Nawab of Bengal( Sub-e-dar), Bihar and Orissa. Apocryphally, after Aurangzeb the downfall of Mughal empire had started. The Bargee's attacked under the the guidance of Bhaskar Pandit and Raghuji Bhosle from 1742-1752. Katwa , near Hooghly was made the early centre which was later changed to Medinipur. Though the Maratha warriors stopped their attacks after the assassination of Mir Habib, they gained control over Orrisa. As a result many maratha Bargee's stayed back in Bengal and started their own trade. They amassed a lot of wealth. One of such Maratha warriors were the Kundans, now known as Kundu's also settled here. The Itachuna Rajbari was built by the ancestors of Shri Safallya Narayan Kundu in 1766.
Rai Resort - Tinchuley, Darjeeling

Nestled at 30kms from the overly populated Darjeeling is a small quaint village of Tinchuley which offers some breathtaking views of the valleys down below and the the mighty Kanchenjhanga. Rai Resort is a homestay run by the Rai family and is situated at a tranquil location some distance away from the other popular staying options, offering some breathtaking views of the snow-capped peaks and valleys. Rai Resort, the newest addition to the accommodation solution of Tinchuley caters lovers of nature from its heart. The rooms are comfortable and cozy. The location is good and the scenic beauty and surroundings are outstanding.
Nestle Homestay, Darjeeling

Located in this 'queen of hills', is Nestle Homestay. Owned by Mrs. Marmit and Mr. T.N. Pradhan, a retired couple and natives of Darjeeling. Under their care and hospitality your stay can be the most pleasant, homely and enlightening experience in tune with all that you had imagined. Searching for a suitable accommodation or hotels in Darjeeling can be quiet tricky. Nestle Homestay can be your perfect getaway in this very famous and sometimes crowded tourist town.

The word itself evokes beautiful imageries of resplendent hills, heavenly sunsets amidst cloudy mountains, tea gardens, convent kids in their uniforms regularly spilling into the town, conversations in cozy hangouts and cafes along narrow winding lanes… the list can go on and on.