Udaipur Homestays – What's Next?

Holi, the festival of colour, is one of the major events in the Hindu calendar and is celebrated with much prompt all over India. It is no surprise that most of us begin a countdown to the festival days in advance. SaffronStays takes great pleasure in introducing you to some regions that celebrate Holi differently, where you can travel to make your Holi a little more festive this year.

Yes, Holi falls on a long weekend in 2016 and we think you should make the most of it!

1. A Royal Affair – Udaipur, Rajasthan

Holi is of particular importance to the people of Udaipur because of the special interest the members of the royal family take in bringing the festival of colour to their people. The first day of Holika Dahan is observed at the City Palace every year in the presence of Mewar’s Royal family. The customs of lighting the Holi pyre is traditionally performed by the current custodian of the Mewar dynasty. An elaborate function then takes place at the City Palace.

Click here to plan or book your stay in Udaipur

2. Elephant Festival – Jaipur, Rajasthan

What sets Holi in Jaipur apart from celebrations in any other part of the country is the Elephant Festival. Watch as elephant after elephant parades past you, bedecked in jewellery, anklets, bells and even elaborate head-plates specially designed for the procession. Elephants march into the Jaipur Polo Ground to the accompaniment of nagadas (Indian kettle drums) and bankiyas. Soon follow events which include elephant parades, elephant beauty contests, folk dances, and elephant tug-of-war. All of this makes for a beautiful Holi in Jaipur.

Note: The celebrations in Polo Ground have not included Elephants in the last 2 years. It would be advisable to check with the authorities in advance.

Click here to plan or book your stay in Jaipur

3. Carnival of Colors – Goa

Holi in Goa is celebrated as Shigmotsav, and is seen as a kind of fusion between the festival of colour and a full-fledged carnival. People from all religions and walks of life come together to drench each other in water and colour. Shigmotsav is celebrated over an entire fortnight, and the grand finale of the festival involves colourful parades and folk dances that are organised by the Goan locals. Of special mention are the artistically designed and beautifully lit floats that are taken out in Panaji and other places like Ponda, Vasco, Madgaon and Mapusa. The shimmering floats move along with the parade gripping the attention of a huge crowd that aligns the streets of Goa. It is a great time to experience a unique side of Goa.

Click here to plan or book your stay in Goa

4. 40 Days of Celebration – Kullu, Himachal Pradesh

The hill town of Kullu began Holi celebrations on the day of Basant Panchami in January. The festivities date back to 1660 AD when, Jagat Singh, the then King of Kullu, brought the idol of Lord Raghunath (Lord Rama) from Ayodhya and installed it at a temple in Sultanpur in Kullu. Since then, locals gather at the temple every year and apply gulaal or colors to the idol. Following a special ritual, the chariot of Lord Rama is wheeled to a festival ground, amidst the sound of drums and trumpets, where temporary camp is set up by devotees. Prayers and colors are offered for 40 days until the day of Holi. The festivities will definitely add to the charm of the snow-clad hill town, we think.

Click here to plan or book your stay in Kullu-Manali

5. Spring Festival – Shantiniketan, West Bengal

The renowned Poet Noble Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore, began the tradition of celebrating Holi as Basant Utsav or Spring Festival in Shantiniketan. Every year, the students and faculty of Vishva Bharati Institute dress up in colors of spring and put together a cultural programme for visitors – with colors, folk dances and performances to Tagore’s songs and poems. An important part of Bengal’s history and culture, the celebration of Basant Utsav in Shantiniketan is definitely worth travelling for.

Santiniketan is about 160 km from Kolkata and you can make the city your base and take a day trip from there. Click here to plan or book your stay in Kolkata

6. Traditional Celebration – Vrindavan & Mathura, Uttar Pradesh

This list will perhaps be incomplete without the mention of Holi celebrations in Uttar Pradesh. The towns of Mathura, the birthplace of Krishna, and Vrindavan, where he spent his childhood, come alive with colour and zeal for a whole week during Holi. What is interesting is that the different temples of Lord Krishna celebrate Holi on different days while the celebrations at Shri Banke Bihari Mandir in Vrindavan go on for an entire week. If you’ve ever wanted to experience the local culture of Uttar Pradesh, this is the best time to do so.

Mathura is about 160 km from Delhi.

Click here to plan or book your stay in Delhi

Where will you be celebrating Holi this year? Share with us in your comments.

About the Authors:

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.

Alaric Moras spends most of his time reading, writing and interning with industries that read and write. He aims to become a clinical psychologist, providing therapy and catching Freudian slips during the day, writing and reading through the night. He likes all manner of animals, the smell of books, and the oxford comma.

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.

Tag: Udaipur Homestays

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