7 Techies Who Engineered Success in Sustainable Tourism With Their Dreamy Homestays

Years ago, seven young Indians set out on engineering and tech career paths, but soon felt a calling to adopt a sustainable lifestyle and build homes in nature. Here’s how they channelled their love for the outdoors into unique, successful homestays.

[{"selector":"#anim-0e98aa0c-86b3-4d64-9cca-d2216629f324","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3c108b07-53b8-4786-82f5-8c78e290d0e8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.48388%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a81932cf-ce53-4fc6-ae45-e62f3ae572e1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c52f97ea-0cd0-442e-ab1d-110863e0b53c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Arrow

1. Dushyant Vashisht, Bir Terraces When this Delhi engineer visited his ancestral home in Uttarakhand, he converted it into a luxurious homestay on a seven-acre estate in Kumaon. While you explore their sustainable features, like upcycled wood furnishings, don’t forget to enjoy the fresh produce from their organic farm. Book here.

[{"selector":"#anim-fe0b6c4a-7f09-40d4-b9ae-027233c6dc7a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4d05cff3-6e58-40cc-8376-8e6f70dd4cb4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d245fbe3-e9b2-4434-98cb-29f7ff849099","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec508fa3-19c1-41c6-b40f-250ddecc7379","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.48388%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Arrow

2. Insha Qazi, The Cheese Cottage After studying in the UK, Insha returned to Kashmir to open a cosy cottage. Built with local deodar and walnut wood, the homestay offers the perfect backdrop for bonfires and fruit orchards. As you breathe in the pine-scented air, keep an eye out for fascinating vintage decor pieces. Book here.

[{"selector":"#anim-efa8699e-a6e8-483c-bae4-e7be707ffeaa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1eaaaa62-34b2-446d-8fe5-5b32f3bada09","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ba8ca935-5c19-4b1d-a253-255ce45fc87e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5f75b6e0-1cfb-4a11-ac89-8dc30f61c412","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.48388%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Arrow

3. Athul Bos, Jungle Hut While on a trip to Himachal Pradesh, the Thrissur-based mechanical engineering graduate discovered a 20-year-old dilapidated cottage. He rebuilt it into a dreamy homestay using soil, cow dung, rock stones, and recycled wood. You’ll love their car camping concept, where food and stay are arranged in a car while travelling through the major tourist spots of the state. Book here.

[{"selector":"#anim-3e6f8d2e-884d-4501-bce9-53085a814cc9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3a07221-8e42-4364-9edf-02384935fa51","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-10530718-8044-4c6d-9c82-3210a39dbadb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a0983dba-1183-487c-bda5-98477feac461","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.45161%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Arrow

4. Srivathsa Govindaraju, Nature Inspires - Chiguru Ecospace From a young age, his heart was split between the boardroom and the great outdoors. In 2012, the software engineer traded his corporate life for farming and opened a dreamy homestay in Karnataka. Nestled among 350 plant species, it’s a haven for kids, offering activities like soap-making, rafting, and nature walks. Book here.

[{"selector":"#anim-b3817d6f-9a68-45ee-93c9-3d193fd4c903","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ea1c031e-a404-40f0-9b94-8c404799bafc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-865c9922-ceb0-4183-81ba-c1722829eb06","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.48388%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Arrow

5. Hans Dalal, The Spotted Owlet Homestay Located near the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, the homestay is the brainchild of Avantika Chandra, a former aviation professional, and Hans Dalal, a former sound engineer, who both transitioned into conservationists. As you tour the organically fertilised grounds, you might spot tigers, deer, and hares! Hidden among 700 trees, the stay is built using locally sourced and recycled materials. Book here.

[{"selector":"#anim-7d446f1a-6c03-4471-8ed3-f3f4fcd129f8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6502b80e-7b40-4690-978c-e5e7f83ba2c0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3399b551-8ff8-47e3-9663-6a45a5fb7a4e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.48388%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Arrow

6. Hemanshu Joshi, Forest Side Farm After spending 14 years in tech careers in Dubai and Muscat, Joshi realised that he craved nature the most. At his secluded homestay, he has cultivated a sustainable agricultural model with over 300 fruit and medicinal trees. Guests can stroll through the lush grounds or enjoy a picnic by the Guruni river. Book here.

[{"selector":"#anim-a8553cd1-c82e-4b20-b3b3-3d938464d3e6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-50bc0620-6363-40f4-b386-d39c38111ae9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-26e732a6-41d4-4942-b7b3-021df3f4647d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.48388%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Arrow

7. Ashish Godara and Kirti Bisht, Slowness Himalayas As you wake up to the chirping of birds and breathtaking views at their homestay, the reason this couple left Delhi for the mountains becomes clear. Inspired by traditional Kumaoni architecture, this Uttarakhand homestay is built using dry stacked stone and mud. It also boasts permaculture, solar energy, and homegrown vegetables! Book here.

[{"selector":"#anim-9813be85-c714-49ab-8007-ffde154cad02","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4815432b-d635-4346-ad57-9c195e14e737","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ced7bb9-6503-490f-a0b7-5b514ef79ab0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.48388%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Arrow