Darjeeling – What's Next?

12 Homestays you must add to your 2015 Bucket list

20th December 2014Posted in SaffronStays DiariesTagged coorg, Coorg Homestay, Darjeeling, Darjeeling, Darjeeling homestays, Goa, Goa, Goa Homestays, Himachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh homestays, Indian hospitality, kashmir homestays, Kerala homestays, Kottayam, Kullu Manali, Ladakh homestays, Manali homestay, Meghalaya, Rajasthan homestays, Sikkim homestays, Udaipur, Udaipur HomestaysLeave a comment

By Sarita Santoshini

2014 has been a remarkable journey for us. We launched our website and travelled to different parts of the country to bring some beautiful properties to you. As the year draws to an end, we want to leave you with plenty more reasons to travel in 2015 through our curated platform – great adventures, friendly locals, delicious food, beautiful landscapes, and warm experiences irrespective of where you decide to go. Out of the 800, we’ve painstakingly chosen these 12 beautiful stay options across India that we think you should add to your bucket list – one destination for every month of 2015!

1. Surround yourself by luxury, nature and tens of spotted deer – Udaipur, Rajasthan

Udaipur Homestays — You’ll always be surrounded by nature in this luxury homestay.

Amidst verdant and scenic hills of the Aravali mountain range in Udaipur is Shikarbadi. Once the chosen big game hunting area of the royalty of Mewar, Shikarbadi today is home to this beautiful, luxury property that allows you to experience an untouched side of the White City. The six themed suites of the homestay have been set around a manicured garden on a floor above the host’s rooms. Here, you can listen to the songs of the birds and often spot deer, porcupines and foxes trotting outside the fences of the house. Rest assured you can experience true Rajasthani hospitality here through the friendly service and delicious local food, recipes of some of which have come straight from the royal kitchen.

Click here to learn more and book.

2. Getaway from Mumbai to a hilltop farm overlooking the valley – Chiplun, Coastal Maharashtra

Maharashtra Homestays — Plunge into this inviting pool and enjoy the view of the mountains and the valley.

If you’re looking for an offbeat getaway from Mumbai, this farm house in Chiplun, built on an 18 acre land, on a hilltop overlooking the valley, is just the place for you. The rooms are very simple, but you’ll have peacocks and friendly dogs here for company, an inviting open pool that you can plunge into, and home-cooked Maharashtrian fares, prepared on the traditional wood-fired stoves under a mango tree, to relish. During your stay, you can spend your day floating on a boat in the Vashisth estuary and your nights either watching a star studded sky from the terrace or driving through the jungle in a jeep. Not a dull moment here! (Also read: A Surprise Anniversary Getaway )

Click here to learn more and book.

3. Escape to a royal Villa overlooking the Dal Lake – Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir

This beautiful Villa in Srinagar is owned by the descendants of Maharaja Hari Singh.

Overlooking the Dal Lake and facing the Zabarwan range, this beautiful Villa is home to the descendants of the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Nestled amongst apple, cherry and plum orchards, it is a part of their larger private estate, one where they organise fortnightly farmers market and the annual Darah Shikoh Festival. With a 36 feet high central atrium, tastefully done rooms and a lounge that comes with a view, it makes for a perfect retreat when in Srinagar. During their stay, guests can enjoy strolls in the walking trail around the estate and the nearby pond that attracts a large number of migratory birds. If you are lucky you may even come across a Himalayan Black Bear!

Click here to learn more and book.

4. Stay with one of India’s best birding guides – Kewzing, Sikkim

Enjoy the unspoilt beauty of Sikkim while you stay in this Log House.

If you’re a birding enthusiast, this is just the place for you. Mr. Bon, your host, and one of India’s most renowned Ornithologists, has been leading birding tours around Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bhutan and Nagaland since 2001. During your stay, you can take guided birding tours to Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary, Borong and on trails that lie close to Doling Monastery in Ravangla and Mambru Monastery that is perched on top of a hill. The homestay itself is located next to a monastery. You can choose to stay in the log houses, suites or the family rooms, and eat delicious organic meals with a view of the Kanchenjunga during your stay.

Click here to learn more and book.

5. Stay in a charming cottage surrounded by apple orchards – Manali, Himachal

The homestay lies surrounded by apple orchards and green mountains

Located in Bipasha Valley near Manali, this charming cottage lies nestled by apple trees and offers a scenic escape from the chaos of city life. The bedroom comes with a number of windows and a small personal balcony overlooking the hill station of Manali. There is a small garden outside where you can spend time enjoying the view, writing or sipping a cup of hot tea. The friendly hosts also whip up a delicious meal using fresh organic produce from their garden. During your stay, you can go for short treks around the cottage, on a trail leading to the Some River and another to a beautiful waterfall.

Click here to learn more and book.

6. Explore an exotic village while staying in the midst of a community forest – Mawlongbna, Meghalaya

Your cottage lies a walk away from this breathtaking spot. — Your cottage lies a walk away from this breathtakingly beautiful spot.

The beautiful village of Mawlongbna in Meghalaya, tucked away from local tourists, houses two cottages for the adventurous travellers. Reaching the village involves a walk through the community forest, with little streams, brooks and a waterfall en route. During your stay, you can set off with the locals to discover fossils of sea-creatures (remnants of an era when the entire area was covered by the expanse of the seas), go fishing or kayaking in a water reserve nearby, and visit the local markets. The best part? Dining on local Khasi cuisine with a view of the plains of Bangladesh! (Also read: The Bridges that Grow )

Click here to learn more and book.

7. Experience a lesser-known Ladakh by the cliff bank of River Indus – Uleytokpo, Ladakh

Set on the banks of the Indus river, these cottages let in a stunning view of Ladakh's landscape. — Set on the banks of the Indus river, these cottages let in a stunning view of Ladakh’s landscape.

Set at the cliff bank of river Indus, 70 Kilometers into Sham valley is the village of Uleytokpo. Here, set amidst apple and apricot orchards is a beautiful eco property that allows you to experience luxury, serenity as well as a lesser-known side of Ladakh. The rooms are large and spacious with a large number of windows where you can wake up to a view of the vast mountains. During your stay, you can pick from one of the many books in the cosy library, indulge yourself with a refloxolgy session in the in-house spa, or venture out for river rafting and hiking.

Click here to learn more and book.

8. Spend the night star gazing from an attic room – Chimney, Darjeeling

The stunning bird's eye view from the village of Chimney — The stunning bird’s eye view from the village of Chimney

Located in a charming little village called Chimney that lies at an altitude of 6800 feet, this homestay is your window into a side of Darjeeling that not many know or talk about. The best part about the location is the bird’s eye view of Teesta River, Siliguri and neighbouring regions from its roads. On the other side is a beautiful misty juniper forest, and there are a few waterfalls and viewpoints that lie a short hike away. Stay in this cosy attic room, taste some delicious Nepalese food, and spend your night star gazing or watching lights flicker in the valley below. (Also read: Memories of a Dreamy Village )

Click here to learn more and book.

9. Experience the lavish plantation life in a Colonial Bungalow – Coorg, Karnataka

Experience the lavish plantation life in this Heritage Bungalow in Coorg

Surrounded by sweeping vistas of the ever picturesque Kodagu Hills, this Heritage Bungalow is fit for royalty. With large, spacious rooms, fireplaces, Victorian furniture and manicured lawn, the Bungalow takes you back to a bygone era with its old world charm. During your stay, you can eat scrumptious meals of Coorg delicacies like Pandhi (pork) or Koli (Chicken) Curry, Akki Roti (Rice Roti), Kadumbuttu (Rice Dumplings), Wild Mushroom and Mango Curry. While there, other than strolling through the coffee plantations, you can take a trip to Abbey Falls, Nagarhole National Park and the Namdroling Tibetan Monastery.

Click here to learn more and book.

10. Stay in a rustic cottage in the heart of a forest – Corbett, Uttarakhand

These rustic cottages allow you to be one with the forest.

These cottages make for a very special wilderness destination where you can be in, and one with the forest. Situated on the banks of the Ramganga River in Corbett National Park, and accessible on foot, it’s for true forest lovers and those that seek the wild in its original, pristine form, away from the crowds, the vehicles and heightened human activity. The cottages here are beautiful and have been constructed with locally sourced clay, savannah thatch and wood inspired by traditional Vangujjar tribal style. While here, soak up the wilderness from your verandas, enjoy some delicious meals, explore the forest on foot, enjoy birdwatching, butterfly spotting, or look for signs of the big ones.

Click here to learn more and book.

11. Watch the sun set over lush fields from a hill top Bungalow – Kottayam, Kerala

Enjoy a gorgeous sunset from your balcony in the hill top Bungalow.

Set in the hills of the beautiful town of Kottayam, this bungalow lets you soak up the rich natural surroundings of Kerala away from the tourists trails. The charming rooms open up to a view of lush green fields and backwaters, which can be enjoyed with multiple cups of tea from the veranda. Other than enjoying delicious Malayali meals, you can enjoy cycling by the hilly countryside, take long leisurely walks through the fields and go for backwater rides through sleepy villages.

Click here to learn more and book.

12. Stay in a Wooden Chalet on the banks of a river – Ribandar, Goa

Goa Homestays — The beautiful wooden chalet by the Mandovi river in Goa.

Situated on the banks of Goa’s largest River, Mandovi, is this beautiful wooden chalet that looks straight out of a Hollywood movie. Built in 1730, the property comes with three bedrooms, one of which opens up to a paved patio by the edge of the river, living rooms, dining hall, kitchen, sun decks and even a convenience store. The house is designed perfectly to allow the view of the river, the Salem Ali Bird Sanctuary and adjacent islands from every location in the house. During your stay, you can enjoy fishing or rent a bike to explore the town of Ribandar.

Click here to learn more and book.

Which one of these homestays would you add to your 2015 Bucket list? Tell us in the comments section.

About the Author: Born and raised in Assam, Sarita Santoshini has been travelling around India and penning down her experiences over the past year. She currently works as the Content Editor for SaffronStays. You can read more of her travelogues on her blog-http://crumbsfromyourtale.wordpress.com.

Moods, Memories and Memorabilia of a Darjeeling trip

24th October 2014Posted in DarjeelingTagged Bara Mangwa, Darjeeling, Darjeeling, Darjeeling homestays, Ghum, Ghum Monastery, Kanchenjunga, Makaibari, Makaibari home stay, Mall Road, Sangeet, Teesta, Toy TrainLeave a comment

By Sreejita Basu

Few things spell ‘happiness’ better than the idea of a trip to the hills when the thermometer is close to touching 42 degree Celsius in the plains. So, when the idea of a Darjeeling trip was floated on a sultry afternoon, it was unanimously vetoed by all participants leaving no scope for discussion.

The four day trip executed in May was divided into two parts. The first day was to be spent in Bara Mangwa (Bara Mangwa literally means ‘Big Village’. There is a Chota Mangwa or ‘Small Village’ in the vicinity as well), a village towards the western side of Kalimpong Hills, followed by three days in the district of Darjeeling. The plan to head to Bara Mangwa was aided by a colleague of mine who had founded a charitable trust in this region back in 2005 with the objective of helping the local community of the village. Since then, the trust has begun organic farming, animal husbandry and flower cultivation in this region.

We were to stay at the Bara Mangwa Farm House also run by my colleague within the premises of the trust. One could say that we were not in the highest of spirits after the night-long train journey that was followed by a two hour bus ride and a bumpy jeep drive. But a refreshing drink of orange squash straight from the nearby orchard, and we were sprinting to explore the virginal beauty of Bara Mangwa. Accompanying us was Tyson- a distant relative of the Kumaon Mastiff and Rahi, a six month old German Shepherd. A quick spell of unexpected rain, endless servings of piping hot momos with the tantalizing Tibetan chilli dip, the strumming of the guitar and the spine-chilling (and sometimes comical) versions of ghost stories under the moonlit sky made our stay at Bara Mangwa more than just a perfect affair.

We started for Darjeeling early next morning where our plan was to first dig into the famed breakfast at Glenary’s before doing anything else. The first stop was the Teesta-Rangeet confluence- the meeting of the two largest rivers of Sikkim. Local guides of this region love to regale tourists with the anecdote of the ‘Lover’s Point’ with Teesta as the woman and Rangeet as her lover. Having lapped up the stories and the breath-taking beauty of the region along with some Wai-Wai noodles,we were on our way to Darjeeling again. This is when the surprise package of the tour presented itself before us. The pleasant morning breeze had turned into a nippy wind and soon a hailstorm struck the mountains with such gusto that all roads leading upto Darjeeling were jammed for a good forty-five minutes. But this was no ordinary hailstorm…this, believe it or not (even we did not until the newspapers announced it the next morning) was snowfall in the month of April! Although our feet were on the verge of developing frostbites and our luggage was soaked to the core, this was serendipity indeed.

Darjeeling snow — Hail…or was it snow? Photo by Subhadip Dutta

The hail and the rain gave way to bright sunshine the next morning and we began the day with a languorous ride on the heritage toy train from Darjeeling to Ghum where we visited the Ghum Monastery and Batasia Loop, the obvious tourist destinations. What was not quite obvious was when the driver excitedly pointed out to St. Paul’s School on our way back, a location where the blockbuster ‘Main HoonNaa’ was shot more than a decade ago!

A visit to Darjeeling wouldn’t be complete without visiting its famed tea-gardens. We headed to the famous Makaibari tea estate. Apart from stocking up on tea-packets for friends and family, do not forget to don the traditional tea-pickers’ costume (available for a small rent) and get yourselves clicked if you happen to be visiting the tea estate. You will have a good laugh going over these in times to come.

Before we knew it, it was time to leave..The endless trips to Mall Road, the haggling over silk scarves and woollen caps, the meals at Keventer’s (alas, they do not serve the scrumptious pork ribs anymore), the cosy feeling of sporting woollens long stacked in naphthalene scattered suitcases, the headiness of sipping freshly brewed Darjeeling tea-we left with these images well stacked in our cameras and our heads. We weren’t lucky enough to catch a sight of the Kanchenjunga in its morning glory or the time to visit the Sumendu Lake at Mirik. But no one was complaining. For, as Lao Tzu very succinctly put it, “A good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving”.

Visit our website to book homestays in Darjeeling.

About the Traveller: Born in the steel city of Jamshedpur, Sreejita grew up in Calcutta and Bombay and now resides in New Delhi. She loves unfamiliar roads and uncommon tastes. When she is not working as a communications professional for a living, she likes to read, eat, travel and pen down her random thoughts in her blog.

Memories of a dreamy village

30th September 2014Posted in Darjeeling, Hosts, Ninja Diaries, Responsible tourismTagged Chimney, Darjeeling, Darjeeling, Darjeeling homestays, great view, Juniper forests, Kurseong, North BengalLeave a comment

We stood there gaping at the bird’s-eye view of the rivers Teesta and Mahananda , patches of inhabited land that was Siliguri and its neighbouring towns, and a clear strip of land that we were told was Bagdogra airport. The wind continued to blow us over but we were too adamant to take pictures which could come close to replicating what we were observing with our naked eye.

Tejas and I had just about managed to get ourselves into the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway for Kurseong that morning. After what had been an extremely slow and scenic ride, with the sight outside our window never falling short of pine and juniper trees, we’d reached the small hill town of Kurseong. There on, we’d taken a shared taxi to reach Chimney, a village that lay a rugged drive away. Other than the half-baked information about the village deriving its name from a 23-foot tall abandoned Chimney that dated back to the British era, there was little else we knew about the place. We weren’t expecting much, until our cab screeched to a halt outside a beautiful house with yellow washed walls and a blue roof, and the driver called out for Amal, our host.

Bird's-eye view from Chimney — The stunning bird’s-eye view from Chimney

The Chimney that the village is peculiarly named after

Hugging ourselves against the strong wind and the biting cold, we made our way into the cosy house that had the prettiest attic room I’ve ever seen. Old classics and a few travel magazines lay scattered about the living room and guest room, both made partially of wood, and there was a certain old-world charm to the place. We spent the next few hours taking short walks around the village, gazing at the bird’s-eye view and watching the sky burst into shades of pink and orange during sunset. A short walk downhill from the home stay, kids ran about in the make-shift football field that stretched in front of the juniper forest, while uphill, the chimney lay hidden by tall wild grass in a small patch of land.

Attic room, Chimney — The pretty attic room in the home stay

Victoria on her way to school on a rainy morning — Victoria smiles her way to school on a rainy morning

Later that night, we accompanied Amal’s daughter, Victoria, as she made drawings of little princesses on her notebook, a talent she’s picked from her painter dad whose framed religious and landscape paintings adorned the walls. Minutes later, over a delicious dinner of chicken curry and rice, Mr. Amal Rai also modestly showed us a copy of a travel magazine dating back to 2010 where the writer wrote fondly about the very same home stay and their excellent hospitality.

I particularly remember the lines about their terrace. It made us tip toe up the stairs ourselves. It was cold and windy and a few stray clouds obstructed our view. But it was clear enough for us to spend a while watching the night sky flicker with a million bright stars and in the distance, the urban lights flickered in unison. I have been recalling that moment every now and then. In my head, I retire to the night in that beautiful village, and for the moment, it’s all okay.

Find more about Mr. Amal’s listing:

https://www.saffronstays.com/view/romantic-getaway-in-a-hill-top-home-stay-OaZGrf294H482ICK

About the Traveller: Born and raised in Assam, Sarita Santoshini has been travelling around India and penning down her experiences over the past year. You can read more of her travelogues in her blog- http://crumbsfromyourtale.wordpress.com .

Empowered in a beautiful tea estate

29th September 2014Posted in Community tourism, Darjeeling, Hosts, Ninja Diaries, Responsible tourismTagged Darjeeling, Darjeeling, Darjeeling homestays, Makaibari, Makaibari home stay, Rajah Banerjee, Tea garden, women empowermentLeave a comment

Born and raised in the tea gardens of Assam, I’ve always related home to the sight of dark green leaves glistening in the sun, the sound of large dryers whirring in the factory, and the smell of garden fresh tea lingering in the house. Habituated to the flat plains though, this was the first time that I was laying eyes on tea plantations that stretched across vast slopes of hills with greener mountains at their backdrops. In Darjeeling, the tea gardens provided a more dramatic and stunning sight than I was used to and I definitely wasn’t complaining.

On a rainy morning, Tejas and I reached Makaibari Tea Estate, our last destination in Darjeeling. Famed for producing the finest quality of organic tea and also the most expensive Silver tips tea, Makaibari hosts travellers and tea enthusiasts from across the globe every year. Seven villages and a dense forest cover characterise the tea estate.

As we zigzagged our way through narrow lanes of the villages that day, visiting the houses of the tea pluckers on our way, we noticed a pattern more striking than that of multiple cups of flavorful tea. The tea estate, through its various little policies over the years, had given rise to an empowered women population. Other than encouraging women to set up responsible home stays so they could generate extra income for their household, Makaibari had also begun the trend of electing female garden supervisors. In fact, our host, Mrs. Maya Devi was a garden supervisor herself, with a sizable number of tea pluckers under her, whose work she inspected and managed on a daily basis. We met Mrs. Bhumika, who actively took part in garbage management in the area, and Mrs. Verbina who encouraged her children to improve their English and learn about different regions and their cultures from her guests.

The most inspiring person we met, however, was Mrs. Ranju. Guiding us to her village of Phoolbari that lay a scenic walk way, she introduced us to home stay owners there. She constantly asked us for our suggestions and feedback, and advised families on ways to improve their service and hospitality. We learnt how passionate she was about propagating her culture to people from different parts of the world. In fact, she had been organising and taking part in local cultural shows out of the same passion. It was evident how the position of power, the ability to be entrepreneurs and contribute to the family income, had encouraged these women to be fearless and confident.

Before we said said goodbye, Mrs. Ranju left us with a beautiful Nepalese song and told us how much these interactions with working women encouraged her. I hope she realises that women like her inspire us way more.