Why staying at homestays works best in the Himalayas
There was a time when staying in hotels was the only option when travelling to the Himalayan destinations. It was also very divisive because of the huge gap amongst the limited choice of hotels, from the luxury star category to rudimentary budget hotels. There were also some “only foreigners allowed” hostels and backpackers’ hotels, especially in places like Manali, Kasol, Darjeeling, and Kathmandu, to name a few.
However, after the 2020 pandemic, travel has taken a revolutionary leap forward, at least in terms of accommodations. The concept of homestay tourism in India was initially introduced in the late 1990s to early 2000s and was further emphasized in 2005 with the Ministry of Tourism’s “Atithi Devo Bhava” program, which focused on self-employment and sustainable tourism.
Although one could always find one or two homestays in parts of the Himalayas, it was only after 2020 that they began to sprout in every nook and corner of the valleys, hills and mountains creating more stay options for visitors.
Why do homestays in the Himalayas work?
These days more and more travellers are opting for overnight stays in homestays. Even I find myself searching for homestays when scouting for accommodation for my inbound clients.
From my experience as a tour operator using hotels in the past to now frequently using homestays, there are few things that are in conflict between the two, and such which tilt in favour of the homestays.
1. Chain of command
In the hotels there is a channel flow of services when pressed with requests. It is professional, yes, but it also creates an unnecessary delay in fulfilling the request. A request for a change of bedsheet has to be relayed to the reception, who will then relay to the housekeeping, from where the service personnel will be assigned, who will first come to understand the actual need (in some cases), and then finally fulfill the request. Comparatively, at a homestay there is a direct channel and more often than not, it takes just one asking.
2. Personalization
Any requests for personalized services at the hotels command supplement prices, or is packaged at premium prices. At homestays, most personalized services are usually obligatory, or costs fraction of what the hotels charge.
3. Food
My favourite essence of homestay tourism is the variety and the quality of food served from private kitchens. While the hotels flaunt menus with gourmet, ala carte, buffet, continental, Chinese, and Indian (North & South) dishes, homestays in the Himalayas offer unique cultural fares, exploring which, is a travel adventure in itself.
4. Rooms
As they say, “the proof of the pudding is in the taste”, a homestay’s ultimate test of comfort is naturally the rooms it provides. While most homestays’ rooms are basic, they are comparatively well maintained and cleaner than most hotels. I presume the reason for this is while in hotels the housekeeping has to mundanely maintain the tidiness, the homestays maintain them as part of their daily house chores. Hence, the maintenance is natural and regular. Nowadays there are increasing number of homestays that are on the par with resorts, offering luxury rooms and exclusive facilities like jacuzzies, swimming pool, dining rooms with heated floor and so on.
Pro-tip:
Most homestays in the Himalayas have opened because of government’s self-employment and self sustainable scheme, and not because they have hospitality background. Host families are genuinely happy and pleased to have you. However, sometimes it seems they are aloof and shy. Yes, shyness is part of the Himalayan charm, but they are also extremely non-intrusive to your affairs, and will respect your privacy. Therefore, if you like conversation and company then it always helps if you initiate the first step.
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Some stepoutandsee.com preferred homestays in Sikkim, Darjeeling, & Nagaland. (In random order)
- Martam Village Homestay (Martam village, Gangtok, Sikkim)
Splendid rooms. Wonderful view. Very knowledgeable hostess. Sumptuous food.
- Yangsum Heritage Farm (Rinchenpong, West Sikkim)
Beautiful location. Good for farming experience. Great rooms. Great food.
- Dhungay Homestay (Bermiok, West Sikkim)
Beautiful location. Great cultural experience. Nice rooms. Good organic food.
- Lepcha Homestay (Dzongu, North Sikkim)
- Sukhim Homestay (Darap, West Sikkim)
Beautiful location. Great organic food. Many activities.Nice rooms.
- Eagle Nest Homestay (Darjeeling)
Nice rooms. Very knowledgeable host. Superb view. Great food
- Sasukini Homestay (Kohima, Nagaland)
Generous hostess. Great rooms. Good location. Great view.
- Visi Homestay (Kigwema, Nagaland)
Kind hostess. Great view. Good food. Nice rooms.
Vishal Eli Chamling
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