Homestays in Rajasthan Archives - India Someday Travels

Best Homestays in North India

Posted on August 22, 2018May 7, 2025 by Harsh Sonawala

A big part of the draw of travelling, especially in a country like India, is being able to interact with the locals – and boutique hotels, BnBs and homestays are a great way to get started with that! While you will certainly find some of the country’s top hotels in North India, this list of best homestays in North India offers a more authentic experience, bringing you that much closer to a local way of life.

It’s also a great way to make new friends, not just with fellow travellers, but also the people who run the homestay or boutique hotel. In North India, you’re spoilt for choice – you’ll find everything from small guesthouses and intimate boutique hotels to luxury bed-and-breakfasts.

Here’s our pick of the best homestays in North India! We at India Someday would be happy to plan a personal intimate trip to fit all your travel needs. Get in touch with us now.

Our very beloved family – Sunnymead Estate, Shimla (Photo Credit – TripAdvisor)

Jaipur Friendly Villa, jaipur

We love this charming, four-room homestay in the pink city of Jaipur for many reasons – it is luxurious without being ostentatious, the facilities are top-notch, the hosts are delightful… we could go on! Jaipur Friendly Villa is tucked away in a quiet, residential area close to the city centre, and gives you a welcome respite from the clamour and chaos of the old city.

The rooms are homely and comfortable, and have pretty much everything you could need – and if they don’t, the friendly hosts, Shveta and Kul will do their best to get you what you need! This one makes it feel like home and is a definite among our best homestays in North India.

Jaipur Friendly Villa

Tree of Life, Delhi

Located in a lovely, tree-lined South Delhi neighbourhood, Tree of Life is a charming option whether you’re transiting through the capital or spending a few days exploring it. This is the brainchild of Ashwani, a travel industry veteran, and the free-spirited Suruchi.

The well-designed, modern rooms are kitted out to make you feel like you’re right at home. There’s a common lounge area, kitchen and terrace that’s perfect to unwind in with your morning cup of tea or coffee.

Living room common area – Tree of Life

Bansi Homestay, Agra

Bansi Homestay feels like an oasis of calm far removed from Agra’s bustle, even though it’s only an easy, 15-minute walk away from the city’s star attraction, the Taj Mahal.

Rooms are comfortable, and have lovely rain showers – all the better to wash Agra’s grit off! We really like that the owners use solar heaters for the water, and the home-style vegetarian food (available on request) is another big plus!

If not for the convenience of the distance to the Taj, then for the comfort feel – this makes it to the list of best homestays in North India.

Bansi Homestay

Devra Udaipur

Rajasthan’s lake city is full to bursting with hotels, guesthouses and homestays. One of our favourites in Udaipur is Devra, located just far enough from the city centre to offer a sense of the countryside. Run by Major Durga Das and his charming wife, Jyoti, this 10-room property is really special. The rooms are a perfect balance of modern comforts and old world heritage. Plus there are loads of little nooks and corners that you’ll want to curl up with a book in. There are some nice walks around – talk to the warm owners, and they’ll point you in the right direction! And don’t miss sampling their traditional Rajasthani meals; rich and ghee-laden and bursting with flavour.

Devra (Photo Credit – TripAdvisor)

Mohan Niwas homestay, Jodhpur

Built by a member of the erstwhile Jodhpuri royal family, Mohan Niwas promises an authentic Rajasthani experience. The family opens up five rooms of their home through the tourist season, offering you a taste of home life in the desert state.

They’re always happy to sit down and chat, offering you a local perspective to the city and its offerings. The lady of the house, Mrs. Chottu Singh, will even open up her kitchen to you and teach you a few traditional recipes to take home (on prior request).

Perfect Heritage Homestay (Photo Credit – Mohan Niwas)

Aashray Homestay, Varanasi

Exploring Varanasi can be an overwhelming experience. Which is why we love retreating to the tranquil environs of Aashray Homestay whenever we’re in that holy city. An escape from the onslaught on your senses, it is a definitely among the best homestays in North India.

The owners, Mr and Mrs Kapur are passionate about Varanasi and its history and have created a charming space in a quiet neighbourhood that’s the perfect antidote to the chaotic ghats.

The rooms are cosy and welcoming, with quaint antique accents. And Mrs Kapur’s cooking will have you returning, night after night!

Morning breakfast – Aashray Homestay)

Sunnymead Estate, Shimla

You might feel like you’ve entered another era when you step into Sunnymead Estate, up in the hills of Shimla – and you won’t be too far off the mark! This lovely home was built at the turn of the last century and still remains true to the traditional Dhajji style of architecture.

None of the guest rooms are alike, each with its own bursts of colours, and full of artwork and lovely furnishings. The owners are working to minimise Sunnymead’s carbon footprint and their use of local produce is just the cherry on top. This makes it among the best homestays in North India!

Bookshelf and fireplace – Sunnymead Estate

All Seasons Homestay, Jaipur

There were a few better options than All Seasons Homestay if you’re looking for a ‘home away from home’ experience in Jaipur. However, following renovations in 2016, this homestay has upped its game.

Each room is uniquely themed, and most have private balconies attached. There are also two gardens to unwind in. And a common living area should you feel like socialising with the hosts or your fellow guests. Need more incentive? All Seasons Homestay also offers home-cooked meals (both vegetarian and non-vegetarian), as well as meditation and yoga sessions on request!

Central Hall (common area) – All Season’s Homestay, Jaipur

Life Tree Bed and Breakfast, Delhi

Running Bed and Breakfasts seems to run in this family’s blood! LifeTree is owned by the parents of the brains behind Tree of Life and is another great option in Delhi.

There are four large bedrooms (each with an attached bath) in this bungalow, and the loving ‘house mother’ Mrs. KantaBazaz-Manocha is always around should you need any sort of assistance.

The dining room of Life Tree Bed and Breakfast – TripAdvisor

Dia, Pushkar

This private home-turned-Bed and Breakfast offers a different take on the holy city of Pushkar. The five, airy rooms are all charming in their own ways, with plenty of natural light and gorgeous furnishings.

It’s an easy walk to the centre of town, where all the action is. They also offer complimentary transfers at certain hours if you so wish. Most rooms either have a spacious verandah or open out into the common courtyard. This provides plenty of serenity after a day spent exploring!

Plan Your Escape: Best Places to Visit in North India

Luxury Getaways: Hotels in India

Bedroom that doesn’t stop the beautiful sunlight

If this list of best homestays in North India hasn’t helped you decide, don’t worry. We can even help find the best homestays in South India, or give you the accommodations you desire, and we can even plan your dream Indian vacation!

Our Favourite Homestays In India

Posted on December 15, 2017May 6, 2025 by Harsh Sonawala

There is a saying in India, ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ which literally translates into ‘Guest is God’. That is exactly the kind of service and thought process that goes into many homestays in India. Anytime you walk into an Indian family home be expected to be treated extremely well. The homestays in India range from Royal palaces to lovely bungalows and even small two-bedroom apartments in cities.

We at India Someday highly recommend homestays because they just enrich your experience of the city. You not only get a local’s perspective on the city but delicious home-cooked food along with it.

We began India Someday with helping people travel to India. However, when we started, never did we once think that we would come across such a lovely bed and breakfasts and homestays. After 6 years of running the company and having sent 3000+ people to different homestays in the country, we have tried to make a shortlist of some of our favourite homestays in India.

Spacious dinner area at Tree of life on each floor

Jaipur Friendly Villa – Jaipur

Run by a lovely couple, the Mehra’s, this quaint home is tucked away in a quiet residential part of Jaipur. This is a cosy accommodation which comes with perks like a large projector to watch films and charming hosts, Shveta and Kul, who are always ready for a conversation.

Each room, of course, has en suite bathroom with 24 hours supply of running water (both hot and cold), air conditioning, and all modern amenities that you would need in a room. The two terraces are great places to lounge after a long day of sightseeing. Shveta and Kul both love helping people plan their day in Jaipur so ask them as many questions.

They run an absolutely amazing and friendly homestay, Oh and we must not forget the breakfast! Local food cooked fresh and delicious for every morning.

Clean, spacious and great facilities at Jaipur Friendly Villa (Photo Credit – Jaipur Friendly Villa)

Sunnymead Bed and Breakfast – Shimla

This charming little colonial-style property lies just before the chaos of Mall Road in Shimla. Hidden away by a long flight of stairs, this is one of our favourite places in the mountains. And the best thing about the property is its owner Madhavi, the most delightful lady you could meet, forever smiling, a world of information about the mountains, hidden walking routes and a great cook.

This place has four bedrooms, three double rooms and one small single room. A common area with a cosy fireplace, gourmet-style food, and lovely views from the rooms and veranda of the hills. Just a point to note is that if you are afraid of dogs and cats then this place is not meant for you as there are plenty of in house resident pets.

Witnessing Shimla in the snow is a beautiful experience during the winter months (Photo Credit – Sunny Mead Estate)

Tree of life – Delhi

More a bed and breakfast than a homestay, but this lovely property is home to Ashwani bazaz and his delightful family. In the leafy and green residential neighbourhood in Saket Delhi, Tree of Life has seven rooms and the family lives on the top floor of the building.

The rooms are spacious and clean and have all the amenities like television, air conditioning or heating in winter and earthy Indian interiors with a modern touch. The breakfast is fresh and cooked by the staff. The biggest draw to the place though is Ashwani’s insight on the city.

A big foodie himself he has the best suggestions for places to eat and the hidden gems that make Delhi special. His mum does run another special place called Life Tree and that also is just as nice and in the market area of Lajpat Nagar.

One of the many perfectly sized and nicely decorated bedrooms at the Tree of Life

Mohan Niwas – Jodhpur

Descendants of the Royal family, the owners of Mohan Niwas are a father-daughter duo. The house is full of character and trinkets, pictures and showcases the glorious history of the Royal family. The breakfast here is one of the best spreads you will have and don’t be in a hurry to leave as when you sit down with Madanji conversations get interesting and then you inevitably end up sitting for longer than you expected.

They have five rooms and each are spectacular. Located close enough to the old city maybe 15-20 minutes ride out. A lovely place to come back to after the hustle of the old city.

Perfect Heritage Homestay (Photo Credit – Mohan Niwas)

Dewar – Udaipur

This place is right up on our list, in the small village Sisarma 7 kms away from Udaipur is this beautiful home of colonel and his family. They live in one section where they serve you a delicious breakfast and meals or you can share a beer with them in the evening on the terrace which has a fantastic view of the entire city of Udaipur.

Having worked for the Maharajah of Udaipur for the longest time, hospitality is in this families blood and they are fantastic hosts. The rooms are nicely decorated and are extremely large. Local furniture and rugs brighten up the room.

They do have a few friendly dogs roaming the property. And you would wake up in the morning and spot peacocks and plenty of other birds. You can take a few short hikes from here also.

Open your front door and witness this pastoral, mountainous view from Devra Residency (Photo Credit – Devra Udaipur)

Seetalvan Apple Orchards – Kotgarh

This farm stay is in a small village 60 kms north of Shimla. Imagine 6 wooden cabins tucked away in the Indian Himalayas. A wood-fired pizza oven, great Indian food, a warm fireplace and a common room, an evening fire and with that two lovely owners.

They live in a separate house maybe 50 flight of stairs above the rooms and are always there for advice and conversation, but also give you enough space to just soak in the view of the property. Each room has a verandah which overlooks nothing but the Himalayan mountain range. You could snuggle up with a hot chai, blanket and a book for days.

You could explore the small towns nearby and visit a lovely little church, one of the oldest in India if we are not mistaken. If you visit in September it is apple season and the colours of the orchard are spectacular. A lovely offbeat destination for some downtown. Definitely a contrast to cities in Rajasthan and Varanasi.

Dive Into: Rajasthan’s Finest Places

Breathtaking views day or night (Photo Credit – Seetalvan Orchards)

Aashray homestay – Varanasi

Another homestay made special because of the owners. The first thing we have to mention is their amazing food, we could go back there just to eat. The location is unfortunately not on the ghats. However, the wealth of knowledge that the Kapoors have about Varanasi history and heritage make up for that.

And it is a half an hour walk to the ghats. Sometimes Kamalji would accompany guests and share little details about the alleys. The trinkets of information that he shares make Varanasi so interesting.

This city can have a profound effect on you. The fact that living and dead seamlessly coexist can be alarming for a few. It is always good to have the comfort of a home to go back to at the end of the day. They have four rooms and have recently renovated the rooms on the first floor.

Luxury Retreats: Top Hotels in India

Feel welcomed at a homestay as though it was your own (Photo Credit – Aashray Homestay)

Note: We, the India Someday team have stayed in all of these properties. We further recommend these to our guests all the time. So if you would like to stay at any of these or a combination of them during your trip to India we would love to help you plan your trip.

Homestays in Rajasthan – Castle Bera, Hem Guesthouse and Chandelao

Posted on September 16, 2015May 6, 2025 by Harsh Sonawala

India Someday has exposed to me to an array of accommodations. All were quite clean, had interesting architectures and were filled with characters! I haven’t researched any of them beforehand, leaving myself open to surprise in each locale. From tastefully restored Havelis (private mansions) to hotels with exquisite rooftop views, I have had safe, comfortable and generally pleasant stays. I do wish the WIFI would work better though – getting these blogs up is sometimes a challenge! Some of my favourite accommodations have been the home-stays in Rajasthan.

The view of Mehrangarh Fort from Hem Guesthouse, Jodhpur

Staying at Castle Bera

Not quite sure what I envisioned for a home-stay. Perhaps something rustic like the small Hmong village I stayed at in Northern Vietnam. I certainly didn’t picture a beautiful white castle! One with a marble-floored suite, with antique wood furniture, photos of maharanas (kings), and a chieftain to dine with. When my driver dropped me off, I thought we had just entered another walled city – it was actually the grounds of Castle Bera!

At Castle Bera, Thakur Baljeet Singh greeted me and it took me a while to grasp the nature of the place. We climbed the stairs and entered one of the many doors and sat in his personal living room. It was filled with family photos, plush furniture and a well-lived-in feel. We chatted for a bit about our late afternoon leopard safari, what time I wanted lunch and which part of the castle I wanted to stay in.

I had used the washroom in a large guestroom just off the living room – and there were other guest rooms to choose from just off the courtyard. His staff (I wish I could remember his name) walked me around a bit, pointed out the dining area where lunch would be served and we agreed on the beautiful guest room I would stay in. The arched-entry hallway, sitting area with nature magazines, king sized bed, beautiful wooden antique furniture, changing room area, large bathroom, regal carpets and working fans and AC were all quite welcoming.

Dinner time!

Curious and hungry, I went to the dining room as scheduled. I was pleasantly surprised to see two place settings set up on the long dining table. I quite appreciated this aspect of the homestay experience. As I waited for the owner to join me, I enjoyed looking at the array of family shots, photos of royal visitors filling the walls. Leopard pictures were taken by some of the most renowned wildlife photographers who had stayed there.

It was a pleasant opportunity to get a better understanding of the rich history of the castle and his family. We also talked about contemporary life in India – our jobs, travels, work philosophies and more. I can’t lie, it was a bit awkward at first to make conversation and feel my way around the situation. But it was exciting to get my first flavour of a homestay in India – and to be in a place where the proprietor opens up his home and shares experiences. After my bike ride through the area villages (accompanied by his friendly staff), we embarked on our leopard safari. While we didn’t spot any leopards, it was a beautiful excursion. We returned to enjoy drinks, popcorn, and other snacks in the restorative garden. Another delicious Indian home-cooked meal followed.

Leopard safari organised by Castle Bera

HEM Guesthouse

My next homestay was at the HEM Guesthouse in Jodhpur. The driver arranged for me by India Someday dropped me off just outside the clock tower area. This was where I met one of the two exceptionally sweet brothers who carry on the legacy of their hospitable mother, Hem. Hem founded and ran the homestay before she passed away.

An adorable two-year-old boy who generously handed me a toy truck greeted me. Colourfully decorated wood furniture (their other business), bean bag style chairs and hot chai, I felt the family feel of this operation. The five-year-old daughter came home from school in her endearing little school dress, sharing with great enthusiasm that she hadn’t eaten her banana! Very sweet.

The Nepalese teen who works for Hem’s walked me up a couple of flights of stairs, where we passed the family’s kitchen and on the next floor, the clean and small (only relative to the other places I’ve stayed) room and finally, the beautiful rooftop view of the fort. En suite bathroom, a small balcony and fun artwork on the walls made it a pleasant place to catch up on some sleep and take advantage of the WIFI for writing.

Home-cooked food

I was eager to experience more delicious home-cooked food. However, I was a tad disappointed by the lunch and the very thin (runny) lassi I ordered. Similarly, perhaps I should have chosen Indian style for the morning breakfast. But I was getting used to the lavish western spreads at my first few accommodations. I was let down here as well, only to later learn that Hem is very popular for its Indian cuisine.

I think my disappointment in the food could likely be attributed to the calibre I had been receiving at my other places. It was probably a big dinner meal that could have wooed me here but I never gave it a try. Working hard on writing and resting, I could not connect much with this exceptionally warm and friendly family as I’d have liked. Most regretfully, I didn’t get to know the women of the house. Pregnant and radiant, they probably would have been amazing to speak with and learn from.

Hanging out with the family at HEM Guesthouse

Chandelao homestay

Chandelao, my other homestay, offered a glorious, relaxing, and restorative environment. The bright blue pool waters called my name loud and clear. I had a rich experience of personal connections. I entered the beautiful fort residence and again had to pinch myself that this is where I would be staying.

In the family for generations, the land was a gift for having fought for the Maharana centuries ago. I had the opportunity to visit the women’s empowerment and craft-making centre serving the local village. I also met three of the generations, each one warmer than the next. Enjoyed lunch with the mother/grandmother (it pains me to not recall first names) of Chandelao. Though she didn’t eat, we enjoyed our conversation, despite some language challenges! She was excited that her daughter and grandson would be joining for dinner.

It was a joy to meet them as well, to talk about everything from women’s issues to the family history and Bollywood film! We will likely get together in Jaipur to go see one. Veer, her grandson, had an infectious laugh. As I typed away with giant grasshoppers and other insects accosting me, he chatted on the phone with a friend he would connect me with in Jaisalmer, laughing hysterically for the duration of the call. Always a great sound!

Chandelao Homestay, Rajasthan

Why you should consider homestays in Rajasthan

I’ve found joy in personal connections, shared elaborate meals, interesting architecture, luscious pools and a sampling of real-life living. Figuring out the norms of each place presents its own unique challenge. But overall, I highly recommend breaking away from the backpacker hostels or 5-star conglomerates to give the homestays in Rajasthan a try.

Thank you, India Someday for making sure I have some truly memorable home-stay experiences!

Meeting beautiful people in beautiful places