7 Homestays in India That Feel Like a Fairy Tale Come to Life

1. The Cheese Cottage, Gulmarg ‘The Cheese Cottage’ in Gulmarg borrows inspiration from European settings and was born out of owner Insha Qazi’s idea to let the dairy industry of Tangmarg thrive. The factory once saw the production of several cheese varieties — gouda and kalari among others — until the pandemic brought the experiment to a halt.

Unwilling to let the space lie dormant, Insha architectured a homestay on the land using local materials like deodar and walnut wood. Address: 3C4F+GRH, Mohyen, Jammu and Kashmir – 193402. Book your stay here.

2. Blue Book at Gethia, Nainital The Blue Book chapter at Gethia invites you to relax in a 130-year-old heritage bungalow that has been revamped with modern amenities.

The furniture is velvet — reminiscent of the Victorian era. Address: House No – 1 Village and P.O, Chinkuwa, Gethiya, Uttarakhand – 263127. Book your stay here.

3. AsanjA, Maharashtra An upscale version of a Hobbit’s home (like the one popularised by the fantasy trilogy ‘Lord of the Rings’), the stay is cocooned by the earth, flooded with natural light and suited for nature lovers.

The architecture is inspired by the works of renowned Mexican architect Javier Senosiain and brought to life by skilled organic architect Nitin Varchha. Address: House no 435 Village Dehari Taluka, Dist, Murbad, Maharashtra – 421401. Book your stay here.

4. H2O House, Himachal Pradesh Decades ago, the land on which H2O House now stands was home to a garhat (grinding mill). The still gurgling stream that runs beneath the rooms is a reminder of those times.

Meals are hearty at the homestay — platters of vegetables and dals (lentil curries), babru (bread with yeast), khada prantha (stuffed bread), mountain herbal curry, and natural wood-fired roti (flatbread) are a few menu specials. Address: Saho, Village – Chaminu, Road, next to The Art of Living Gurukul, Chamba, Himachal Pradesh – 176314. Book your stay here.

5. La Villa Bethany, Mussoorie Landour has had the reputation of being a sleepy, sombre town, but an English House has been breathing life into it for years now.

Offering a view of the sprawling Doon Valley (Dehradun city), La Villa Bethany’s decor is an ode to the founding fathers of the town. Address: La Villa Bethany, Landour, Mussoorie, Uttarakhand – 248179. Book your stay here.

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6. Jungle House, Shimla The 19th-century cottage has a layered story. From a local shepherd, its ownership passed to an English settler, and eventually to the princess of Bharatpur.

The homestay is perched at an altitude of 7,700 feet on Jakhu Hill in Shimla, wrapped in colonial magic that will set the mood for winter. Address: Near, Forest Hill Rd, Jakhu, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh – 171001. Book your stay here.

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7. Cossimbazar Palace of the Roys, Kolkata The 300-year-old palace in Kasim Bazar, Murshidabad, West Bengal, was in a state of ruin until recently when the Roy family decided to revive its glory.

Now, it boasts beautiful restorations of the patio, the clock tower, the marble stairs leading into the main building, the north corridor, the ballroom annexes, dining room artefacts, Andar Mahal (an indoor space where the women of the palace lived), some of the temples, and the well-manicured gardens. Address: 12 Cossimbazar Palace of the Roys (Rajbari) Cossimbazar Road, Berhampore – 742102. Book your stay here.