7 Homestays In India Where The Experience Begins Outside Your Room

What stands out most about a homestay might have very little to do with the room itself. It could be a morning spent picking vegetables on a mountain farm beyond it, a loom carrying forward a family’s craft and lineage, a forest that comes alive with the hum of birds, or a village whose traditions become part of the itinerary. These homestays are places where the landscape, its people and their everyday rhythms become as much part of the stay as the room itself.

Fagunia Farmstay, Uttarakhand

At Fagunia, about 15 km from Nainital, the farm is at the heart of the stay. Set in a remote mountain hamlet, this solar-powered homestay is part of a working permaculture farm where seasonal, chemical-free and organically grown produce makes its way into home-cooked meals. Created by a Pahadi-Telugu couple, Aditi and Anil, the stay ensures a slow, mindful, and self-sufficient way of living. Fagunia uses rainwater harvesting and mindful waste management, and works with local communities to create employment. Depending on the season, guests can explore planting, tending and harvesting crops, or simply wander through the farm. You can also follow a forest trail, trek towards a river, or spend the afternoon making bread and wood-fired pizza.

The Information

Address: 40 Faguniakhet, Bajoon, Uttarakhand 263159

Tariff: Starts at around INR 20,000 for two nights for the entire home; rates vary by dates and occupancy. 

Contact: +91 88269 15266

Website: https://fagunia.com/?srsltid=AU7gw4Uv0uN0CYCsw3c_UNC6k-28pA6EbEWuP4AOQKEUUQfBdl2Gog66

How to get the best deal: Fagunia's bookings are managed through Hushstays. Contact the property or booking partner directly with your dates and group size for the applicable rate rather than relying on older third-party listings.

Things to do nearby: Explore the farm, join seasonal agricultural activities, take forest walks, go birdwatching and explore the surrounding Kumaon landscape. Nainital is about 15 kilometres away.

Gajlaxmi Palace, Odisha

Nestled within the pristine surroundings of Dhenkanal, Gajlaxmi Palace is an Art Deco palace built in the 1930s by Rajkumar Sreshesh Pratap Singh Deo. Beyond its vintage interiors and antique treasures, the palace opens into a landscape of sal and flowering teak forests, bamboo groves and water bodies, where birds and wildlife are an active part of the setting. You can explore the town through nature walks, forest bathing, trekking, birding and wildlife safaris, or visit nearby tribal communities and handicraft destinations. Meals are prepared at home with fresh organic vegetables from the garden, adding yet another authentic layer to the experience.

The Information

Address: Rajkumar Sreeshesh Pratap Singh Deo Marg, Borapada, Dhenkanal, Odisha 759027

Tariff: Around INR 10,000 for single occupancy and INR 12,000 for double occupancy, which generally includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Confirm the current tariff directly with the property.

Contact: +91 93374 11020 / +91 98610 11221 / +91 94393 46335

Website: https://gajlaxmipalace.com/

How to get the best deal: Contact the property directly for current room rates and inclusions; its official booking page handles reservations.

Things to do nearby: Visit Sadeiberani Dhokra Handicrafts Village and Nuapatna Weavers Village, explore Kapilas Temple and Sanctuary, visit Joranda Temple, or arrange tribal and wildlife excursions.

Daragaon Retreat, Sikkim

Morning at Daragaon begins with the daily patterns of a village rather than the rush of an itinerary. In Darap, around 8 km from Pelling, this Gurung homestay brings guests into the everyday life of Sikkim through its food, customs and simple rural routines. Run since 2008, the retreat has eight rooms across three traditional huts, with organic vegetables sourced from the adjacent fields.  Whether you are someone who wants to indulge in indoor activities like food preparation, gardening, cow milking, or herbal baths, or someone who wants to explore the adventures of riverside camping, trekking, and biking, there is something for everyone.

The Information

Address: Daragaon Retreat (Gurung Homestay) Darap Viz. Pelling Namboo Road, West District Sikkim

Tariff: Wooden Cottage rooms start from INR 2,500 for double occupancy; New House Room from INR 3,500. Breakfast is included. 

Contact: +91- 95939-76152

Website: https://www.sikkimdaraphomestay.in/

How to get the best deal: The property offers discounts for longer stays, including weekly and extended-stay discounts on some room categories. Contact the homestay directly for the current offer applicable to your dates.

Things to do nearby: Take village and nature walks, go trekking or hiking, camp beside the river, rent a bicycle, or explore Pelling and the surrounding villages.

Laitiam Riverside Eco-Tourism Hub, Meghalaya

In Meghalaya, the landscape rarely feels separate from the lives lived within it. A stay can mean waking up to food prepared in a local kitchen, hearing stories passed down through generations, and seeing how Khasi, Jaintia and Garo traditions continue to shape everyday life. At Laitiam Homestay, the real draw is the connection you get to build with the place. With local hospitality and home-cooked food, you get to experience an intimate introduction to the region, while time spent with the community brings its customs and traditions into focus. A deeper way of encountering Meghalaya is not simply through the scenery outside the window, but by being a part of a living cultural landscape shaped by the people who call it home.

The Information

Address: Laitiam Village, East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, around 17 kilometres from Sohra

Tariff: Around INR 4,025 per night for a Deluxe Room, excluding taxes and service charges; breakfast is included. Rates vary by date.

Contact: Bookings are currently handled through OurGuest; contact details are +91 76695 03993 / +91 97348 13101

Website: https://www.ourguest.in/homestays/details/resort/laitiam-riverside-ecotourist-hub

How to get the best deal: Compare the live rate for your dates before booking, as the published tariff varies by date and occupancy.

Things to do nearby: Explore Laitiam's forest and riverside landscape, visit seasonal waterfalls around the village, and use the property as a base for exploring Sohra and the wider East Khasi Hills.

Chhotaram Prajapat's Homestay, Rajasthan

In Salawas, the story of the homestay is woven into the village itself. About 20 km from Jodhpur, Chhotaram Prajapat's Homestay has been welcoming travellers since 2009, offering an intimate glimpse into rural Rajasthan and the Prajapat family's dhurrie-weaving heritage. The traditional mud huts echo local building traditions, while handwoven dhurries made by the family lie underfoot. Step outside and the village becomes part of the itinerary: guests can watch artisans at work, try their hand at the loom, join the family for a traditional cooking workshop or head out on a Bishnoi village safari. Back at the homestay, home-cooked Rajasthani meals bring the day to a close, often under an open desert sky.

The Information

Address: Salawas Village, Kumharon Ki Dhani, Near Gosala, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342013

Tariff: Stay packages are currently available on request and vary by dates, group size and duration.

Contact: +91 94147 20724; cmhomestay37@gmail.com

Website: https://salawashomestay.com/

How to get the best deal: The property currently offers one-, two- and three-night packages. Contact the homestay directly through WhatsApp for a personalised quote; longer packages include additional experiences and can offer better value depending on your itinerary.

Things to do nearby: Join a Bishnoi village safari, watch or try dhurrie weaving, take a traditional Rajasthani cooking workshop, go on a camel safari, or explore Mehrangarh Fort and Jodhpur's old-city lanes.

Organic Village Homestay, Kerala

Imagine waking up to a landscape where pepper, spices, vegetables and fruit trees replace the usual hotel garden. In Palavayal, Kasaragod, the Organic Village Homestay sits within 10 acres of organic farmland, with fish ponds, poultry and desi cows adding to the farm’s everyday happenings. The farmhouse draws from traditional Kerala architecture, using wood and locally available materials. You can get to explore this working landscape more closely through experiences such as beekeeping and honey harvesting. When it is time to venture beyond the property, trekking, sightseeing, off-roading and camping offer other ways to explore the surroundings. Here, agriculture shapes the experience, from the land outside your window to the activities that fill the day.

The Information

Address: Palavayal Theyyani Road, Palavayal, Kasaragod, Kerala

Tariff: INR 1,500 per day for two adults, with breakfast included, according to the property's published information. Confirm the current rate before booking.

Contact: +91 86067 26831 / +91 94004 12077

Website: https://www.keralatourism.org/homestays/organic-village-homestay/5559

How to get the best deal: Contact the homestay directly before booking to confirm the current tariff and meal inclusions, particularly if you want to add activities or meals beyond breakfast.

Things to do nearby: Explore the organic farm, try agricultural experiences, take a jeep ride, go boating during the rainy season, or trek to Thabore Hills and the Odakolly Natural Caves.

Dzuleke Village Homestays, Nagaland

In Dzuleke, the forest is not simply scenery beyond the homestay; rather, it is an intrinsic part of the village’s story. Around 40 km from Kohima, this small Angami settlement has transformed from a hunting village into a wildlife sanctuary through collective efforts to protect its natural surroundings. Travellers can stay in village cottages, walk through the settlement, meet residents and experience the patterns of Naga life. The landscape is home to species including the Blyth’s tragopan, barking deer and stump-tailed macaque, while streams harbour rainbow trout. Local food brings another taste of the region, with dishes such as fresh crab and Binni rice. It is a stay where conservation, community and everyday village life share the same landscape.

The Information

Address: Dzuleke Village, Kohima District, Nagaland; 30 km drive from Kohima. 

Tariff: Homestay rates are currently not published on the village's official website. Older published rates were around INR 700 per person for accommodation, with meals charged separately; confirm the current tariff before booking.

Contact: contact@dzuleke.com for current stay information.

Website: https://dzuleke.com/

How to get the best deal: Homestay allocation and availability can vary. Contact the Dzüleke tourism initiative before travelling rather than arriving without a confirmed stay.

Things to do nearby: Walk through the community-conserved forests, go birdwatching, explore village trails and mountain streams, visit riverside picnic spots, and experience local food and everyday village life. Kohima is about 30 kilometres away.

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