Hot Water Springs, Dolphins and Tandem Paragliding… sound like some exotic vacation? Guess what? These activities and some more, are right around Maharashtra. If you’re feeling the summer blues, fret not, because we’ve got a list of activities to kiss these feelings a sweet goodbye!
So what are you waiting for? Head out NOW!
Soak yourself in the Hot Springs of Dapoli
Take a dip in the healing waters of Unhavare
Did you know you could step into healing hot water springs so close to home? Well, now you do! Head over to Unhavare for a relaxing and rejuvenating weekend of peace and quiet. Our quaint little Villa 270 promises to be the best bet for your Dapoli stay. Cheggit out!
Set Sail in the Seas around Mumbai
Sailing by the shores of Mumbai is a great way to destress.
Discover the amazing coastline Mumbai boasts of with a quick sailing trip around the shore. Many clubs around the bay provide extensive sailing classes from introduction level to advance stages. If you are even a day over 15 year, join one of the special summer courses where you can learn to be a pro sailor in just a day!
Fly up into the air in a balloon with your family.
Always dreamt of going to Bristol or Cappadocia for a scenic Hot Air Balloon ride? Why look so far away when your neighbourhood has an equally eye-catching ride for you? The lush hills of Lonavala are a delight to see from 1200 ft and you must see it to believe it. Go and book your family a trip right now!
Go solo or fly tandem! Paraglide away the summer heat.
Want to fly like a bird, but don’t have the courage to go alone? Don’t worry! Tandem paragliding is an amazing way to get some wind under your wings, quite literally. Head out to Kamshet, the less boisterous version of Lonavala, to enjoy a ride. Or sign up for a certificate course and stay at the gorgeous L’attitude Villa while you grab the ropes of this daring activity.
Turn up your adrenaline with an adventurous river rafting experience. From: CSG Raft Gear Ltd
Getting into a pool of water is probably the best feeling during the summers. But why stop at that? Jump into a nasty river while you go white water rafting and it shall be one guaranteed great weekend. So gather all your friends and head over to Kolad for a gala time!
Catch a glimpse of these beautiful dolphins right around Mumbai.
Want another example of how ecologically diverse and rich Mumbai is? Hire a boat and head out just a few nautical miles off the coast of Maximum City and spot bottleneck dolphins with your own eyes! Does sound splendid right? Here’s another summer afternoon planned for you and your family.
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
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.
2. Getaway from Mumbai to a hilltop farm overlooking the valley – Chiplun, Coastal Maharashtra
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 )
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!
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.
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.
6. Explore an exotic village while staying in the midst of a community forest – Mawlongbna, Meghalaya
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 )
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 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.
8. Spend the night star gazing from an attic room – Chimney, Darjeeling
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 )
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.
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.
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.
12. Stay in a Wooden Chalet on the banks of a river – Ribandar, Goa
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.
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.
What if, after a ten hour intense journey through the ‘world’s worst road’, your driver turns around and tells you, “We may be a little lost as it is my first time here. I suggest we halt. We’re very close to running out of fuel too. So we may as well try to call someone and arrange for both fuel and accurate directions”
That’s exactly what thirteen of us co-travellers heard on Day 1 whilst en route to Spiti.
The back story:
We’d departed from Manali earlier that morning in a Tempo Traveller with destination Kaza (in Spiti) on our mind. For anyone who’s familiar with the route, the road from Manali via the Rohtang and Kunzum Pass is not called the ‘worst road’ without reason; especially if you have the privilege of being seated right above the rear two wheels of the vehicle; and definitely more so if you have a driver who’s driving skills demand more than a fleeting mention.
Rock, Stone, Gravel – all along the world’s worst road. Photo by Elita
Now what?
Visualize the look on our faces moments after he (our driver i.e.) revealed to us the situation we were in.
It was close to 5 PM with no human life (or any life for that matter) in sight. The sky was blue with tufts of white clouds adorning it. The road was nothing but a dusty pathway. On the one side of the road there was a river. And on the other side of the river seemed a relatively populous village (read: human settlement that seemed to be comprised of about 50 houses from afar).
Stepping out of the vehicle tired, weary and hungry from the arduous journey we found that our driver seemed to have disappeared momentarily after his solemn announcement. Probably to locate some help is this barren deserted place, we reasoned amongst ourselves. With no mobile connectivity on our phones some of us decided to be brave and venture around in the hope of finding someone who could be of some help.
After a couple of minutes the driver did return letting us know that he had managed to establish contact with someone he knew and that fuel had been arranged for. We used his phone, as it was the only one that had connectivity, to reach out to our contact in Kaza (who also then assured us that she was on her way).
Lost – Kaza’s on the other side. Photo by Elita
Light ‘before’ the end of the tunnel…
While we were assured of both, fuel and directions, we were still a bunch of hungry travellers. Amongst the brave who’d ventured out knocking every padlocked door, someone struck gold. In a seemingly deserted village there happened to be a home that welcomed a bunch of thirteen strangers. It seemed unlike anything I’d personally experienced before but there we were being warmly ushered in by this man who could only be heard saying, “Aap toh humare mehmaan ho. Aur mehmaan to devta sammaan hote hain.
“Guests are godlike and so I have the honour of welcoming god into my abode…”
Little did he realize that he was our godsend.
The house was quaint and warm; a sharp contrast to the crisp wind that blew outside. Besides our host who had busied himself into preparing some chai (also known as ‘tea’) for us was a little kid – probably his grandson who kept stealing glances at us from the hinges along the door.
Before we knew it there was hot piping tea for all of us along with a lot of ‘sattu’ for us to eat (that we would soon learn was more than just an acquired taste). We’d spent a good half an hour to forty-five minutes inside sipping our chai and uncramping our bones from the journey before we received a call that both fuel and our directions to Kaza had arrived and we could finally begin to make our way for the destination we’d set out for earlier that day.
To open your home to a group of completely unknown people so wholeheartedly and unassumingly, to provide them with whatever you have no matter how little and to wish them well as they departed without the slightest hint of any expectation but goodwill is reminiscent of a part of India I miss experiencing in the cities.
Spiti is home to some of the kindest, most hospitable locals. Photo by Kartik Mahajan
About the author: Elita is Nondescript. Nonchalant. Observer. Witty. Sarcastic. Skinny. Nomadic Thunker. Square Peg. Sporadic Blogger. Solo Traveller. Blogs at nomadicthunker.blogspot.in; skinnygenus.blogspot.com. Tweets @ellelogical.
As travellers, we’re always on the look out for restaurants and dhabas that will give us a taste of local food, irrespective of whether we’re in a city or somewhere exotic. Sometimes, we stumble upon, or are directed to the right food joints, but other times, we come back from a beautiful place with no idea what the food there tasted like.
Call us lucky, but when we travelled, we managed to satisfy both our curiosity and cravings without stepping out of the comfort of the home stays that we were staying in. Our team and some of our favourite travel bloggers share their stories about discovering local food in home stays across India. Get your taste buds tingling.
New found love for Bamboo shoot – tasting Assamese cuisine in Guwahati
Delicious and flavoursome Assamese cuisine. Photo by Tejas Parulekar
“We’d reached Guwahati after a long day of travel and once in the beautiful home stay run by Mrs. Sheila, we began pining for some authentic local food. So, at a short notice, our cook-cum-caretaker, prepared a flavoursome chicken curry with bamboo shoots – a traditional Assamese dish. I was reluctant at first as I recalled the vegetable curries infused with bamboo shoots that we make back home in Maharashtra and one that I am not a big fan of for its pungent flavour. But as I slowly took a bite of the chicken, I was in for a surprise. It was delicious and the chicken seemed to balance the flavours perfectly well. Just when I thought I was done, the cook served us with another surprise – a delicious chocolate pudding – not a local cuisine but it’s definitely one of the best desserts I have ever eaten.” (Click here to book a stay with Mrs. Sheila)
– Tejas Parulekar (Co-founder, SaffronStays)
Stress busting menu – Cocktail and hot Nepalese cuisine in Sikkim
Delicious Nepalese cuisine in Sikkim. Photo by Sarita Santoshini
“I reached the village of Chota Singtam after a long day in Gangtok and stepped into Mrs. Lalita’s large, stand-alone Bungalow a little more tired than usual. The whiff of fresh vegetables being cooked in freshly grounded spices welcomed me through the verendah and lifted my spirits instantly. After a long chat, she set the table with bowls of hot vegetable soup and a plate full of chicken momos –delicious Nepalese dishes that are a part of most locals’ everyday diet in Sikkim. We also took long swigs of Bay Breeze, a delicious cocktail of white rum, cranberry and pineapple juice perfected by Mrs. Besnett in minutes. Breakfast next day was home-made bread, mayonnaise and peanut butter. Needless to say, I am a huge fan.” (Click here to book a stay with Mrs. Lalita)
Not just another bread, but a delicious souvenior – Tasting Poi in Goa
Poi with Chicken Xacuti makes a perfect set for a dinner spread. Photo by Amrita Das
“It was a memorable moment for a non-bread lover, the first time poi’s light husk fell on my fingers in a home stay. I remember tearing the perfect round bun into two and as my thumbs gently broke into the soft texture of the fresh dough, I knew this would soon become a part of my every day diet. Poi is a Goan local bread which is served with almost everything from rasa omelette to chicken xacuti. It can be had with anything or nothing. As a part of my seasonal job as a property manager of a boutique homestay in Goa, I was expected to know the local delicacies. However, poi wasn’t just another local delicacy in the state. Very subtly spiced and hollow in the centre, one fresh poi is good to set you throw the day as a part of your breakfast. My friends and guests have packed poi and returned to their homes, as if it were a Goan souvenir.”
A hearty Malayalam breakfast – eating Puttu right for the first time in Kerala
When in Kerala, make sure to try a hearty breakfast of Puttu. Image Source : mydiversekitchen.com
“Puttu, honestly, is not something I thought I liked. But after having tasted it at Maranat Mana, I realised I hadn’t eaten the right stuff till then! Imagine alternating layers of ground brown rice and coconut, steamed in bamboo cylinders and then tumbled onto your plate in neat sections of white and light brown. This is then topped and surrounded by a dark, rich kadala or gram curry. Roughly ground coconut against the soft texture of rice chased by spicy curry that breaks through the sweetness of that coconut. What you have is a breakfast that could easily masquerade as lunch! But it didn’t end there. This was washed down with a cup of strong filter kaapi, and then sealed with sticky and sweet steamed plantains. Excuse me, can you ask for a stretcher please?”
Simple, authentic and delicious – Feasting on a Malvani spread in Maharashtra
A delicious Malvani spread . Photo Source : Mid-day.com
“It’d been a nasty ST bus journey from Mumbai to Velas. The sight of the welcoming shore was something to feast on. But the body demanded a real feast or at least some nourishment. Settled on the floor right next to our homestay host’s kitchen from where the aroma of hot pipping food engulfed our nostrils, we decided to play the let’s-guess-what’s-been-cooked game. In true Malvani style, coconut was the mainstay ingredient permeating the air. Our lunch spread comprised of steamed rice, nachni/ragi (cultivated in their fields) bhakris along with ladiesfinger/okra prepared with groundnut, and – the icing on the cake – prawns, fried as well as prepared with the local curry (on special request just for us). Right from the rice, which wasn’t the basmati a hotel would serve you, and the bhakris roasted over the embers, everything was authentic in spite of the simplicity. Or may be because of the simplicity!”
A non-vegetarian’s confession – Enjoying Dum Aloo in Kashmir
Enjoying a preparation of Kashmiri Dum Aloo in Srinagar. Image Source – tasteofindiafoods.com
“After the long and tiring jourey from Mumbai to Kashmir, the only thing keeping me up was my craving for Kashmiri food. There was a curfew and going to a restaurant wasn’t an option. This is when the cook at our pure -veg homestay served me some delicious Kashmiri dum aloo, prepared with perfectly fried baby potatoes and the right amount of spices, with a stack of rotis. I am not a fan of vegetarian fares, but this was definitely an exception.” (Click here to book a stay with Mrs. Anita)
– Greeshma Soley (Travel ninja, SaffronStays)
Developing a taste for Organic food – Home made meals in Chikmagalur
Delicious home cooked food in Chikmagalur. Image Source – sugarandspice-nz.com
“Our trip to Sunkasale was made pleasant not only by the heavenly location, but also by the scrumptious meal prepared by Guna aunty in her homestay. The stark contrast of the spicy baby cabbage curry and sweet rice made for a hearty lunch. Homemade butter and rice papads kept us seated on the dining table and chatting even after we had greedily wiped the plates clean. I realised then that there is something different about organically grown food which makes you yearn for more even though your belly screams no!” (Click here to book a stay with Mrs. Guna)
– Sameer Tambe (Travel ninja, SaffronStays)
Have you ever discovered and enjoyed local food in ahomestay during yourtravels? Share your experience with us.
Over the last few months, we’ve travelled to different parts of India, from its remotest corners to its most touristy belts. Our team of photographers and travel writers visited more than 700 homestays and personally interacted with as many hosts and locals. We also discussed the concept with a lot of friends, colleagues and like-minded travellers to understand why they indeed travel, and what has prompted them to move from hotels to homestays. All this has led us to believe that we are truly onto something magical.
So, while we at SaffronStays are busy curating our website with beautiful properties and travel experiences, I leave you with these reasons to choose a Homestay for your next holiday.
We believe that the concept of travel has tremendously evolved in India over the years. While you’d like to visit the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, you’d perhaps also like to dine at a historic restaurant that doesn’t feature in tourist guides. With the little time that we all squeeze into our lives for travel, it is only important that we make the most of it. A Homestay lets you do just that. When you live with a local, you are exposed to local sights, sounds and flavours. A brochure in a hotel’s reception will never match up to that.
Homestays are largely run by families or a small staff personally appointed by them. Whether it be a sprawling Farm House in Meghalaya or a simple two bedroom home in the mountains of Sikkim, the hosts themselves take care of everything. It is in their own interest to ensure that theirs is a safe place for travellers to have a pleasant stay in. While living with a family gives you company and makes you feel safe, hosts also ensure that you have enough privacy by letting out rooms in a separate floor or an adjoining building some times. Both safety and privacy are ensured here.
Reason #3: “We can savour home-cooked local delicacies”
The best part about staying in a homestay is undoubtedly the delicious home-cooked food. It allows you to understand local cuisine and even learn what goes into the preparation as most hosts willing share secret recipes with you. A lot of homestays in Rajasthan, for example, hold active cooking classes during meal hours. Without the effort of hunting for local restaurants, you can indulge in Pandhi (pork) Curry in Coorg, Gatte ki Sabzi in Jaipur and Malvani Fish Curry with Solkadhi in a quaint village called Parule near Tarkarli.
Reason #4 : “Sometimes, I need my own local Sherpa”
Nobody knows a place better than someone who was born and raised there. Online research is great but usually, all you have to do is ask and your homestay host will share his local insight and vast network with you in minutes. Whether it be the contact number of a reliable auto driver, closing time of a local museum in Shillong, the timing of a special event in a Fort in Jaipur, the best eateries in Mysore and the dishes you should order or the direction to a virgin beach in Kerala – you’ll get this information from no one but a local and your homestay host is the best person to rely on.
Reason #5 : “I need warm glass of turmeric milk at 10 pm for my 5 year old daughter who has a sore throat”
A host in Sikkim who gladly opens up her kitchen and large kitchen inventory to guestsA SaffronStays host in Ladakh
By staying in a homestay with another family (host) around, you can be assured that you’re not alone in case of a medical emergency. As a mother, I sometimes need access to the kitchen to be able to cook khichdi (simple rice and lentil dish) for my parents-in-law or prepare a glass of warm turmeric milk for my kids. A lot of homestays will allow you to use the kitchen or willingly help you deal with different situations.
Reason #6 : “Home stays are comparatively affordable”
Hotels have become prohibitively expensive. Especially during peak season, hotels could charge you an arm and a leg. Homestays, however, offer a clean and affordable alternative and come with better experiences. While you might pay the same price in some places, you do so for the personal care and service that you receive in return.
Travellers are extremely curious and want to soak up as many stories as they can. Staying with a family gives you access to a lot of such stories during your many conversations with them. Most hosts have interesting background – some have ancestors who were the rulers or royal Diwans of the local state or Governor General of India or are simple families with deep cultural roots in the place that has been inherited over centuries. In Sikkim, we heard a host play a traditional Bhutia instrument called Damney while in Jodhpur, we heard stories about the Maharaja of Jodhpur – each a lasting experience.
Reason #8 : “Home stays generates income for locals”
Homestays help women, like our host Mayadevi, gain income and take charge of the household.
Homestays are simple establishments run by local families to augment their family income. These families tend to open their homes to locals for want of company or for the sheer passion for hospitality. We’ve visited a number of community run homestays during our travels and have realised that the income that is generated from their operations is usually with the aim of making the women in the families more independent. By staying in these homestays, you contribute to their income.
If you’re someone who adheres to strict rules when it comes to food, home stays give that option to you. The temple town of Pushkar, for example, is perfect for vegetarians as you can be assured that the hosts cook and serve just that in their homes. Homestays will also prepare and set up your meals in a specific way and with special care for your needs.
Reason #10 : “We travel as a large Indian joint family”
Host families, like that of Tanuja & Dilip’s, enjoy the company of those travelling as a joint family and take special care for their comfort.
As Indians, we like to travel as one large joint family. Most often, you’re not looking for luxury but a caretaker or a host who takes care of all your simple needs. You could simply be looking for a place where mattresses are laid out on the floor and you are allowed the space and privacy to have a good time with your family. While you could be restricted to do so in a hotel, a large number of homestays are all about joint families and accommodate these simple requests.
Reason #1 1: “Because, there is no better place than a home”
Homestays leave you with a warm, everlasting experience.
While we travel to get away, how amazing would it be to find second homes and make new connections with people that become like family by the end of your trip! We believe that in this busy, chaotic world, travel should leave you with an experience like that. By staying in a homestay, rest assured you’ll never be away from home.
About the author: Tejas Parulekar is a first generation entrepreneur who has (ad)ventured into a domain that is traditionally dominated by large hospitality chains and other travel portals. A Banker by experience and Chartered Accountant by training, she is aspiring to leave an imprint in the hospitality sector by bringing together the little fish (Homestays) to take on the mighty shark. Encourage her and her homestay hosts by booking your next stay on www.saffronstays.com.
Close your eyes and think of the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘Wedding’. For years, the first thing that came to my mind was chaos. Turns out, that’s no longer the case. I am a proud convert. If I close my eyes right now, I can see myself having the most amazing time at my friend Anjali’s wedding in Kalpetta, a small town in Wayanad. Surrounded by gorgeous mountains, Kalpetta is a great place to go hiking & then come back to a delicious spread of home made Malayalam cuisine. Yes, I am referring to spicy Meen curry served with hot rice to the view of lush green forests and coffee plantations.
Small towns have their own charm. But it may take a while for you to discover it if you are an outsider and don’t know any locals. In my case, it was different. I got off the bus late in the evening and was met by Abhinav, an old friend of Anjali’s. We were meeting after years but the conversation was easy and effortless. The walk up to Anjali’s house was beautiful. It was a full moon night and I couldn’t help but notice the clean air. That’s the thing with us city folks, we get very excited about clean air.
To make the most of our stay, we even decided to brave the rain and heavy mist one morning. We chose a scenic route and hiked our way up to Edakkal Caves – a site that has drawn the interest of numerous archaeologists owing to detailed carvings that depict human and animal figures as well as tools of pre-historic age. Although not the easiest hike, once we reached the caves, we realised that it was totally worth the effort. Some of us even befriended a few monkeys on our way up and had our share of laughs. That day, Kalpetta really felt like paradise.
The beautiful mountains of Kalpetta. Photo by Gopika Nair
Anjali’s parents moved to Kalpetta a few years ago because they wanted to live a better life. A life that didn’t include the everyday madness of a city like Delhi. And boy, one look at the house and the green expanse behind it, I knew what a good life this must be. I later found out that they even make their own coffee. Yeah, fresh coffee that comes from the coffee plant in their garden. Dinner was followed by our first conversation with the groom, Nishant. A desi, born and brought up in Australia. One of us asked him what he likes the most about this small town. ‘I like sleeping in the room upstairs, especially when it rains because I can hear it pour so clearly. This may seem trivial, but to me, it feels really magical now,’ he answered. That’s all it took. We all connected with him from the first day and couldn’t be happier for Anjali.
The bride-to-be performing a puja at home. Photo by Ananya Banerjee
The next morning started with a big breakfast of idlis, vadas & baby utthapams. Although most of us didn’t speak the language, we communicated just fine with the caterers. Gorgeous breakfast, followed by the devi puja, conducted by the bride, for which we all dressed up in traditional cream & gold saris. After the puja was lunch and then, all the women were asked to make 1,000 wicks with cloth, as part of a ritual. But a) it wasn’t easy to make those wicks and b) we’d eaten too much. Again. Evening was mehendi – not a Mallu ritual but Anjali wanted to bring in some Delhi spirit to Kerala. It was amazing to be around so many excited and happy people. That same evening some of Nishant’s friends from back home joined the festivity and together, we all had a blast.
The six-hour long Vedic wedding in progress. Photo by Gopika Nair
Next morning was the six-hour long Vedic wedding at home with about 80 people. It was a beautiful ceremony, during which we got time to connect with Nishant’s friends. It’s amazing how it doesn’t matter where you are from if your values are the same. All of us felt that about them. We had grown up in such different environments but it was surreal how similar we were. This connection with the people and their locale is what made the wedding trip so special. I’ve only just gotten back, but as I write this, I find the gorgeous landscapes and unspoilt traditions of Kerala inviting me again, and I am lost in the heap of memories. God’s own country indeed!
Kerala is historically termed as Keralam, and is a beautiful state in the south-west region of India. And the best time that reflects the beauty and faith of the people of Kerala is during Onam, the biggest festival of Kerala. A harvest festival, a Malayalam New year, is the perfect time when the beautiful landscapes of Kerala is in its full radiance.
We bring you five best reasons why you must visit Kerala and experience the most marvelous facets of its people as they unfold their rich culture.
About the traveller: Komal Singh is a fiction writer, based in Bangalore. Beer, books, films, good food, parks, connections and travel make her really happy.
