April 10, 2021

Beautiful Homestays In The Himalayas

Homestays in the Himalayas are the most comforting, peaceful and memorable sojourns for a traveler. Here’s my list of some of the best Himalayan homestays that offer picturesque surroundings, delicious local meals and experiences, homey comfort and priceless hospitality.

Homestays are experiences. If you have stayed at a homestay, you’d know what I mean. And, the experiences get even better when they come from a Himalayan home. Who doesn’t dream of a home in the mountains?

The folks from the mountains of North India keep their heart and hearth warm for you. They let you become a part of their life for a few days – take in the beauty of the mountains, eat the food they eat, listen to their stories, laugh and play with their children, and embrace their simple way of living. No wonder most of the travellers love homestays!

In the wake of COVID19, when travel is not normal or necessary, homestays can be a good escape for someone looking for slow travel or long-term travel. Yes, you need to be careful and not carry infection to the locals living in remote places. It’s advisable to secure a negative COVID report before your trip starts. Also, it’s important that you maintain safe physical distance from the locals, wear your mask (at least for the first 7-10 days of your stay), so that you don’t infect them.

You can also read my post on how to travel safely during the pandemic.

Homestays are ideal during the pandemic for quite a few reasons:

You can garner meaningful experiences in one place without much movement.
It’s a budget option for a long stay. Most homestays include meals in the room tariff.
You’re unlikely to catch the infection, as most homestays are in secluded places.

Beautiful Homestays In The Himalayas

Himalaica Homestay, Shyamkhet

A charming and sophisticated homestay in the midst of pine trees, where you can spend your days just listening to bird songs, reading books and soaking in the sun. It’s Himalaica Homestay, a premium property in Shyamkhet on Bhowali-Ramgarh-Mukteshwar road in Kumaon, Uttarakhand.

It can also be an ideal workation for you, as there’s reasonably good Wi-Fi facility, which is not so easily available in the mountains. Besides, Himalaica is a super comfy home with hospitable staff at your service. Expect some good coffee while you’re at your laptop. Not to mention the Kumaoni meals that come from the Himalaica kitchen are homey and delicious.

You can check rates and book your stay through SaffronStays.com.

Deori Homestay, Almora

Staying in an authentic, traditional village home of Kumaon is an exclusive experience, which you can have at Deori Village Homestay in Deora village, Almora District.

Don’t expect luxury or frills of any sort. If you’re someone who can’t do without an attached washroom, air conditioner, and non-vegetarian food, it’s not for you! However, if you enjoy fresh air of the mountains, rustic atmosphere, and delicious local meals prepared with organic produce, Deori Homestay is waiting to welcome you.

To book your stay, get in touch with the owner Mr Yogendra at 9456362437 or email him at yogendradeori@gmail.com. Alternatively, you can book it through Booking.com.

Palyun Homestay, Almora

Palyun Homestay is similar to Deori Village Homestay and it’s also owned by Mr Yogendra. It’s also set in a secluded village of Almora. In fact, it’s situated in the middle of nowhere.

It’s your chance to be completely oblivious of your mundane, city life and immerse in the pure, beautiful and surreal mountain life of Kumaon. It’s a place to watch the fieriest of sunsets, go on impulsive hilly walks around and spend some introspective time with yourself.

I’d say that these village homestays are ideal for solo women travellers in regards to safety and comfort. You can also read my guide on how to choose your accommodation as a solo female traveller.

Idyllic Haven, Binsar

The most fascinating part of staying at Idyllic Haven is trekking up to 3 kms to reach the homestay. Yes, the retreat is not accessible by a vehicle. You got to walk for an hour to get to Idyllic Haven. But that’s what you should love about the place.

The idea is to get more intimate with nature. So, you should surrender to the charms of simple village life. Idyllic Haven is a clean, comfy and a basic accommodation in a village called Gaunap, which is not on map.

It’s a place where you get to watch the most awe-inspiring moonrise, which, I think, is a rare sight. And, the sunrise!

Idyllic Haven makes you lose yourself into the joys of slow mountain life – watch the nature’s glory, listen to the sweet prattles and shrieks of village children, and just enjoy being.

You can book it through Airbnb or simply visit their website Idyllic Haven.

The Shire Guest House, Gangtok

Perhaps the best place you can find to feel at home in Gangtok (Sikkim) is the Shire Guest House. The owners of the guest house belong to Bhutia community, one of the eminent communities of Tibet found in Sikkim.

The Shire Guest House is one of the most beautiful homes of Gangtok. I loved my stay immensely because the house is not part of the “touristic buzz of the MG Marg”. The beauty of the place is that it’s secluded on a hillside, away from crowd and noise, yet you’re not too far from the main attractions of Gangtok.

The hosts are warm and kind. They serve you traditional, local food of Sikkim if you tell them in advance. Besides, the house has a haunting vibe with the sound of gyaling exuding from the monasteries around.

Sojourning at the Shire Guest House is an excellent way to extract some of the fascinating aspects of Sikkimese culture and living.

You can check rates and book your stay through Booking.com.

Daragaon Retreat, Gurang Homestay, Pelling

Gurang Homestay is set in a dreamlike village called Darap, which is a little ahead of Pelling (West Sikkim). I call it dreamlike because nothing seems real at Gurang Homestay – the sound of stream flowing by, many beautiful flowers and trees, the cardamom plantations, the cute little tribal huts and the hazy view of the mountains.

My first impression of the place was like I had set feet in a different world altogether. It was an exceptional joy to live the Gurang way of life with the lovely hosts – eat their local food, enjoy their local beverage called tongba, partake in their traditions, and embrace the simplicity of their everyday life.

You can book your stay through bookyourhomestay.com.

Kalden Homestay, Dirang

There are places that grow on you. It’s hard to like them in first instance. Kalden Homestay, a cozy homestay on the highway of Dirang valley, in the West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh, is one such memory from my travels.

Even though I wasn’t so impressed by it immediately, I began to love it the following day. After spending 4-5 days at Kalden Homestay, I can confidently say that it was one of my most memorable stays ever. The way the hosts treated me was beyond expectation.

I can’t thank my hosts enough for the delicious Monpa food that they served me, the villages, orchards and monasteries that they took me to, and the kind of warm bonding that I could build with them are priceless.

Kalden Homestay is also a great layover for those who would like to visit Tawang.

You can check rates and book your stay through Airbnb.

Kettle Valley Homestay, Darjeeling

Kettle Valley Homestay, a modest home set in a village called Dilaram, is the best way to explore Darjeeling. I’d advise you to skip the main town of Darjeeling and stay in Kurseong, the lesser-known town in Darjeeling district.

My stay at Kettle Valley Homestay made me experience the authentic Gorkha life of Darjeeling – the famous ‘Darjeeling tea’ straight from the tea gardens, the traditional Nepali cuisine, and the warm hospitality of the locals.

It was extremely generous of my hosts to take me to some of the hidden trails of Darjeeling, such as Bhangzang Salamander Lake, the town of Kurseong and many non-touristic tea gardens.

To book your stay, get in touch with Jeetu Giri, one of the hosts at Kettle Valley Homestay.

Mahatta Homestay, Srinagar

Srinagar, a beautiful city, the capital of Kashmir, has a comfy home for you called Mahatta Homestay, which is run by Ms Anita Mehta, a Punjabi by origin, and a Kashmiri daughter-in-law for over 50 years.

Mahatta Homestay is the prefect place to sojourn, to be able to savour the beauty of Srinagar. Besides the insightful conversations with the host, you can go around on your own and explore the city vibe, enjoy the Kashmiri food and the bakery culture.

You will enjoy yummy Punjabi meals at the homestay. It’s a place to relax and not do anything. You can also make it your workation, as they have reasonably good Wi-Fi connectivity.

You can book your stay through their website Mahatta Homestay.

Ros Common, Kasauli

Although Ros Common is not exactly a homestay, I wanted to add it to the list for its homey vibe. I had some of the best Aloo Parathas of my life at this modest Himachal Tourism’s colonial bungalow in Kasauli (Himachal Pradesh).

To begin with, it’s surrounded by pine trees and has the best mountain views. I remember it so fondly because I thoroughly enjoyed staying in a vintage suite – my cottage had a big living room with large French windows, a spacious bedroom with an attached washing area. There’s a lovely portico along with an open-air space to lounge and enjoy tea in the midst of nature.

There are lots of beautiful homestays in Himachal Pradesh that I’d love to experience in the days to come.

You can book your stay through Trivago.in.

Lassu Guest House, Leh

I have unusual memories of Lassu Guest House. Even though I could not continue my Ladakh trip, I still hold my stay at Lassu Guest House quite close to my heart. The warm and generous hospitality of the hosts is unforgettable.

The homestay is located away from the main city of Leh, in the midst of beautiful surroundings of valleys and streams. It’s a joy to gaze the mountains from your room with a cup of traditional local tea of Ladakh.

You can check rates and book your stay through Airbnb.