Top 13 Unique Homestays Across India

Overview of Homestays in India

If you thought homestays in India were very modest, then think again! You don’t have to share a bathroom with the host family or sleep on the floor. In fact, you can enjoy some of the best accommodations that India has to offer. Moreover, you get to feast on delicious home-cooked food and receive personalized attention. If you’ve ever experienced famed Indian hospitality, you’ll know what a treat this is.

While India has some magnificent homestays, a few stand out in terms of facilities, location, and exceptional hosts. Villages, royal residences, forts, and the tranquil backwaters of Goa and Kerala are just some of the mesmerizing settings where you’ll find homestays in India. However, what makes them truly special are their unique features — guests can experience everything from organic farming to Turkish steam baths!

Sunnymead Bed and Breakfast, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

There are bed and breakfasts, and then there’s Sunnymead. At Sunnymead, you don’t just get a bed; you’re welcomed into an exquisite Colonial-style ancestral property with a rambling English cottage garden. You also receive an unforgettable gastronomic experience during your stay.

Undoubtedly, Sunnymead is unique in Shimla. This ancestral home was restored and converted into a bed and breakfast in 2011. Inside, it is filled with family treasures that blend beautifully with the contemporary touches.

The guest accommodations occupy the entire top floor, containing four bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms. Just like the rest of the house, the bedrooms are gorgeously decorated in a classic style with contemporary accents. The main guest room features a solid wood four-poster bed.

• Activities: Reading books from the shelves, nature walks, and bird photography.
• Special Features: The gourmet food at Sunnymead is on par with a fine dining restaurant, prepared using fresh ingredients from the garden.
• Rate: 6,000 rupees per night for a double and 4,500 rupees per night for a single.

The Homestead, Corbett, Uttarakhand

Technically, The Homestead at Corbett is a homestay. However, its luxurious accommodations and excellent facilities feel more like an intimate resort. The understated approach of The Homestead gives nothing away about the property’s grandeur. Once you arrive, it’s impressive enough to take your breath away. The Homestead is perfect for well-deserved pampering. Alternatively, if you’re feeling adventurous, the great outdoors and farm life offer numerous experiences.

• Activities: Bullock cart rides, field trips, milking cows and tending poultry, stargazing with a state-of-the-art telescope, day trips to Corbett National Park, fishing, camping, elephant rides, nature walks, barbecues, and bonfires.
• Special Features: Expansive grounds, a swimming pool, and a spa pavilion with a Turkish steam bath and gymnasium.
• Rate: 6,000-8,000 rupees per night for a double, including breakfast.

The Bangala, Chettinad, Tamil Nadu

The Bangala, Tamil for “The Bungalow,” is a stately heritage property dating back to 1910. Initially, it served to entertain VIP guests. The Governor of Madras, Sir Arthur Hope, visited in the 1940s, and all the furniture, cutlery, and crockery he used remain on display today. The property became a club for formal tea and dinner parties and hosted tennis tournaments. It was revitalized in 1998 and converted into a heritage homestay to preserve its unique heritage.

Conveniently located in Karaikudi at the heart of Tamil Nadu’s Chettinad region, the homestay features 25 air-conditioned rooms, a banquet hall where elaborate Chettinad cuisine is served on banana leaves, a library, and a swimming pool.

• Activities: Visiting elaborate Chettinad residences (ideal for architecture enthusiasts), exploring local villages and markets, shopping for antiques, fine furniture, diamonds, and famous Chettinad tiles.
• Special Features: Ideal for food lovers, this homestay offers seven-course meals, cooking demonstrations, kitchen tours, and special packages exploring local cuisine. The owner, Meenakshi Meyappan, is dedicated to preserving Chettinad culture and even co-authored a book on authentic recipes.
• Rate: Double rooms cost 7,000 rupees per night. Meals are extra.

Kannur Beach House, Kerala

Kannur Beach House is located in one of India’s top off-the-beaten-track destinations, Kannur, in remote northern Kerala. It’s a century-old, traditional Kerala-style home, set amidst coconut groves next to a small freshwater lagoon, and just a couple of minutes’ walk from Thottada Beach.

This simple yet charming homestay is the ideal place to relax and unwind by the sea. The hosts serve delicious local Kerala vegetarian cuisine and offer a wealth of information about the region.

• Activities: Swimming, boating, bird watching, and walking. The homestay organizes visits to Theyyam performances (from October until May), the hand loom weaving center, and other local attractions.
• Special Features: Rooms with balconies and sea views next to a private stretch of the beach.
• Rate: 3,400 rupees per night for a double, including breakfast and dinner.

Shahpura Bagh, Rajasthan

For a luxurious and authentic royal experience, look no further than Shahpura Bagh. Set on 45 acres in the vast Rajasthani countryside, midway (five hours) between Udaipur and Jodhpur, this remarkable property was once the summer residence of the rulers of Shahpura.

Currently a working farm estate, it features a variety of vegetation with neem, ashoka, peepal, and mango trees along with cows, peacocks, and other birds.

There are two residences on the estate: the 19th-century Nahar Niwas, which remains the family home, and the restored Umaid Niwas, originally built as a guest house for nobility, now equipped with six suites, all the amenities of a premium hotel, adorned with antique furniture and royal paintings.

• Activities: Expeditions to neighboring forts and temples, safaris, local explorations, nature trails, birding, and boating.
• Special Features: Royal hosts, a secluded infinity pool with two pavilions featuring daybeds.
• Rate: Starting from 13,000 rupees per night (low season) for a double suite, one excursion, sundowner, and breakfast.

Olaulim Backyards, Goa

Olaulim Backyards is a homestay where you can truly reconnect with nature. Located along the Goa backwaters in Olaulim village, it is about 30 minutes from Panaji, the capital of Goa. Run by a Finnish-Indian couple, they live there with their two children and a variety of pets (three dogs, one cat, two goats, and a mischievous donkey).

The couple has added three delightful cottages to their property — each unique in size and decor — all nestled within the foliage of the backyard, offering captivating views of coconut groves, paddy fields, and the swimming pool. While rustic in essence, the cottages do not compromise on comfort, boasting memorable bathrooms — partly open-air, allowing you to shower under the Goan sky.

• Activities: Swimming, kayaking, fishing, canoeing, cycling, nature trails, and bird watching, as well as visits to the local tavern for local gossip.
• Special Features: An immersive nature experience away from worldly distractions.
• Rate: 4,500 rupees per night for a double from October to May, and 4,000 rupees per night from June to September. Breakfast and all in-house activities are included.

Vembanad House, Alleppey, Kerala

Can you envision a completely harmonious retreat, surrounded by still water on three sides? This idyllic scene is real at Vembanad House, located along the banks of Vembanad Lake within the Kerala backwaters. This ancestral home has been lovingly restored by the hosts, boasting an interior adorned with beautiful traditional wooden furniture and artifacts, complemented by lush tropical foliage and paddy fields outside.

• Activities: Cooking lessons, local fishing trips, walking through paddy fields, shopping in local markets, open-air dining, traditional dance performances, Ayurvedic massage, houseboat trips through the backwaters, bird watching, and educational tours about the coir industry.
• Special Features: Serene location beside Vembanad Lake, with options for night fishing where you can catch your own seafood.
• Rate: 7,000 rupees per night for a double including breakfast.

Chhotaram Prajapat’s Homestay, Rajasthan

Experiencing an authentic Rajasthani village life is increasingly popular, and Chhotaram Prajapat’s Homestay offers one of the best experiences. Situated in Salawas village on the outskirts of Jodhpur, this homestay belongs to an enterprising family of weavers.

• Activities: Village safaris, village trekking, camel safaris, and folk music and dancing.
• Special Features: Accommodations are built in the style of traditional village huts.
• Rate: 2,500 rupees per night for a double room including breakfast.

Devra, Udaipur, Rajasthan

Devra homestay could well be described as a colonial-style farmhouse focusing on a natural and organic lifestyle, located just 10 minutes from the city of Udaipur. The local term “Devra” refers to a tribal temple and is also the name of the family temple, which is revered by the local villagers. The striking landscape surrounding Devra offers panoramic views of hills and farmland, extending to the City Palace itself. Each guest room features window seats with views of the mountaintop Monsoon Palace, and the entire house is tastefully decorated with spacious sitting areas, balconies, and terraces.

• Activities: Trekking in the Aravalli ranges, cycling (bikes available), village walks and temple visits, bird watching, yoga classes, gardening, and sightseeing in Udaipur.
• Special Features: Experience organic living with meals prepared using homegrown organic ingredients. Those eager to learn more about India will appreciate the host’s vast collection of relevant literature.
• Rates: Starting from 5,500 rupees per night for a classic double room including breakfast.

Fort Rampura, Rampura, Uttar Pradesh

Fort Rampura homestay has one of the most spectacular settings in India — situated in a 700-year-old fort that speaks volumes of a bygone era. The village of Rampura, located in the Jalaun district of Uttar Pradesh, is not prominently featured in tourist books, enabling visitors to have a truly authentic experience. Despite the vastness of the property, the homestay accommodates only three guest rooms, allowing plenty of exploration within the imposing Fort, showcasing numerous unique and priceless artifacts, rugs, and furniture.

• Activities: Enjoy bonfires, utilize the games room, peruse the library, dine al fresco, photography adventures, picnics by the River Pahuj, boating on the Yamuna River in the hosts’ boat, attending village fairs and markets, visiting the family temple, and wandering through the fields and Fort.
• Special Features: An extraordinary historical setting coupled with an off-the-beaten-path location.
• Rate: 5,000 rupees per night for a premium double room including breakfast.

Thippanahalli Homestay, Chikamagalur, Karnataka

Thippanahalli Homestay is a historic red mansion featuring 28 rooms, located about 15 kilometers from Chikamagalur in the fertile coffee district of southwest Karnataka. Built in 1934, this heritage bungalow has hosts with a long lineage in coffee plantation, having been growing coffee in the district since 1860!

The hosts opened their home to guests wishing for the warmth of the extended family they grew up with, offering a welcoming atmosphere for visitors. There are five guest rooms: one situated in the mansion, while the other four are in separate cottages on the property, with two cottages refurbished and two newly constructed.

• Activities: Coffee plantation tours, trekking, driving in the mountains, golfing, and bird watching.
• Special Features: The mansion boasts a remarkable collection of rare paintings, artifacts, chandeliers, carpets, dolls, and antique furniture amassed over five generations. The garden features a massive cactus tree over 50 years old.
• Rate: 6,200 rupees per night for a double in the mansion; 5,200-6,200 rupees per night for doubles in the cottages.

Red Hill Nature Resort, Ooty, Tamil Nadu

Red Hill Nature Resort occupies a private space in the untouched upper Nilgiri mountains, around 30 kilometers from Ooty and over 7,000 feet above sea level. The road leads you through lush countryside and picturesque villages, past extensive tea gardens alongside fields of cabbages and carrots.

This peaceful property consists of a carefully restored heritage bungalow built in 1875, providing mesmerizing lake and mountain views. Situated on a 250-acre tea garden, the hosts are expert tea growers. The bungalow offers eight elegant Colonial-style guest rooms, most equipped with fireplaces and bathtubs.

• Activities: Trekking, fishing, camping, bird watching, mountain biking, visiting local tribes, and daily yoga. Yoga-themed tours of South India are provided.
• Special Features: The traditional kitchen features a wood-fired stove and family recipes passed down through generations, many of which cannot be found elsewhere in India. Additionally, the homestay has cows, chickens, and a garden that grows organic seasonal vegetables.
• Rate: Expect to pay 7,000 rupees per night for a double, including all meals.

Hidden Forest Retreat, Gangtok, Sikkim

Hidden Forest Retreat is a slice of paradise only a couple of kilometers from Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. This haven is perfect for individuals who cherish privacy and a connection to nature. The three-acre property is teeming with flowers, fruit trees, and forest.

The homestay serves as an extension of the host family’s 40-year-old orchid nursery, which is central to the property. It was opened to guests in 2003 and is mainly managed by Kesang, the daughter, a horticulture graduate. Her parents assist with welcoming guests and showcasing the nursery.

This homestay features 12 spacious guest rooms, each with balconies overlooking the mountains and paddy fields, along with an extensive library. Breathtaking views of Rumtek Monastery, Rani Khola river, and Gangtok town are visible from the veranda.

• Activities: Nature walks, trekking, local sightseeing, and nursery tours. Spring (March and April) is ideal for flower viewing; however, blooms are plentiful throughout much of the year.
• Special Features: The entire property connects through stone-paved pathways leading through dense forest and the orchid nursery. The food prepared is organic, served fresh from the hosts’ garden, and often tailored to guest preferences. In the evening, locally brewed chaang (millet-based alcohol) is offered on the terrace.
• Rate: Expect to pay 2,500 rupees per night upwards for a double.