Distinctive and Characterful Accommodations -- Tired of sterile hotels? Homestays offer an unparalleled opportunity to experience the incredibly diversity and delights of India. The options are almost endless and include plantation bungalows, historic havelis (mansions), forts, and remote rural cottages. One on hand, it's possible to stay with a royal family. On the other, a tribal family. There's no better way to interact with Indians from all walks of life!
There's a saying in India, "Athithi Devo Bhava", which means "The Guest is God". Indians consider it a huge honor to have guests in their home, and go out of their way to please them. There's nothing like Indian hospitality. Sadly, most visitors who come to India and stay in hotels never get to experience true Indian hospitality. The good thing is that all this is changing as a result of the growing popularity of homestays in India.
Safety -- If you're a solo female traveler who is visiting India for the first time or are simply concerned about staying safe, you'll have a family who looks after you at a homestay. They'll provide you with advice, and may even pick you up from the airport or provide a car and driver.
Personalized Service -- In contrast to a hotel, a homestay usually only has a few rooms. The family who resides there runs it, and acts as host. This guarantees that guests receive plenty of individual attention. You can spend as little or as much time with the host family as you like. Some guests choose only to dine with them, while others spend hours chatting to them. Regardless, staying with an Indian family is the easiest way of finding out about Indian culture. Many guests and hosts find that they bond with each other so much, they keep in touch long after the vacation is over.
Local Knowledge -- The wealth of information that the hosts have about their local area makes deciding what to see and do a breeze. Such local knowledge is extremely helpful in getting the most from your visit. Many hosts are delighted to show their guests around their local area, providing them with invaluable insights that simply aren't available from a guide book. Hosts usually have reputable contacts and can assist in making travel bookings too.
Home Cooked Food -- There's a huge difference between the Indian food served in restaurants and hotels, and the food that's cooked in an Indian home. By staying at a homestay, you'll be able to taste authentic Indian home cooked food, made to order. It's a lot lighter, and has more variation and flavor than restaurant food. Some homestays even welcome their guests into their kitchen, and let them watch and participate in the cooking process.
Unique Activities -- As a guest at a homestay, the focus is on you, and your likes and preferences. The hosts are typically very accommodating and will put a great deal of effort into arranging activities that are of interest to you. These activities will vary depending on location. Exploring a coffee plantation in Coorg, watching a polo match in Rajasthan, herding animals in remote northern India, village visits, picnics, and temple tours are just some of the options. Guests are often invited to attend weddings as well.
Celebrating Festivals -- The ideal way to celebrate India's many festivals is with an Indian family. You'll gain a deep appreciation and understanding of what the festival is about, as well as get to participate in the rituals associated with it.
Staying at a homestay in India is all about immersing yourself in India, rather skimming over it.
Choosing Your Homestay in India
While the idea of a homestay might sound quaint and alluring, it's important to choose your homestay wisely. As with most accommodations in India, the quality is very variable. Those who prefer their privacy may feel more relaxed at a homestay that has separate accommodations for guests, rather than rooms in the family home. Also be aware of the type of food that's served. Some homestays only prepare vegetarian cuisine, which may be an issue for hardcore meat eaters!
Getting Off the Tourist Trail -- Homestays are commonly located in residential neighborhoods, rather than tourist areas. This means you'll be away from all the tourist traps, touts, scams and other hassles.
Staying at a homestay in India is all about immersing yourself in India, rather skimming over it.
Kalimpong is an east Indian hill town in the Himalayan foothills of West Bengal. Perched on a ridge above the Teesta River, it’s home to colonial-era buildings like MacFarlane Memorial Church, named after a Scottish missionary. South, the hilltop Durpin Monastery, or Zang Dhok Palri Phodang, contains sacred Buddhist scriptures. Deolo Park has landscaped gardens and offers views of the town and surrounding hills.
This is the major attraction in East Kalimpong. The tourism department has created an 8-acre lush parkland with manicured flower gardens and several view points with breathtaking views of Kanchenjunga, Durpin hill, Kalimpong Township and the valley with rivers flowing through them.
Deolo hill is the highest point of Kalimpong with an altitude of about 5,500ft. There is a GTA (erstwhile DGHC) lodge here and a multi cuisine restaurant. Children can also take pony rides. At one corner of the lawn are stalls offering coffee and snacks. Overall a great place to have a picnic or just relax.
Pineview Nursery is one of the stoppage points in a standard local sightseeing tour. This is a private commercial nursery. You will find exotic and rare collections of north, south and central America's cactus plants here.
There are couple of nice shaded seating areas in the lawn behind. You get lovely view of Kalimpong town from there.
Kalimpong Science Centre communicates science and technology to the peoples in such a way with the primary objective of developing a scientific temper in the society and promoting of the knowledge and ideas of science on various educational institutions/organizations.
Kalimpong Science Centre has been conceived, designed and developed by National Council of Science Museums (Ministry of Culture, Government of India). This Science Centre has been officially handed over to the Department of Education-Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council on 11th September’2007.
Kalimpong Science Centre has been registered under West Bengal Certificate of Registration of Societies Act XXVI of 1961 on 27th July’2007.
Kalimpong Science Centre has been established in Kalimpong, one of the Hill Sub-Division of Darjeeling District in the year 2008, conceived, designed and developed by National Council of Science Museums (Ministry of Culture, Government of India). It is knowledge-based organization of high quality and dedication; engage in popularizing Science and Technology among the general masses particularly, in students.
Kalimpong Science Centre was inaugurated on 2nd October’2008 by Shri B. L. Meena, IAS, and Honorable Administrator-Darjeeling Gorkha Hill council.
The Science City has a garden with various outdoor activities like tyre-swings, climbing ropes , see-saws, along with models of dinosaurs like a little Jurassic Park. It provides great joy to all visitors especially because of its location being on a hilltop and specially its a place of great joy to children.
Morgan House has been converted to a tourist lodge which is now under the supervision of the department of tourism of India. It is an ancient bungalow which was built during the reigning period of British. This bungalow was considered to be the favorite house of a rich jute merchant who belonged to England.
With marvellous gardens, it has remained as a beautiful example of colonial style of architecture in Kalimpong. The blossomed flowers add to the beauty of the house and a person can view the scenic beauty of the hills located at a distant horizon. Forests that surround this place are a habitat of wild animals and different birds.
Bird watching experience from this house can be a pleasant one as tourists can sight some of the rare species of birds. Tourists can also spend some quiet moments here away from the hustle and bustle of the cities.
A small peaceful hamlet in the Kalimpong District, Lolegaon is nature's paradise on its own with beautiful landscape, comprising lush green forest and serene valleys. The peaks of Kanchenjunga rise majestically in the morning mist. Lolegaon is a one hour journey from Kalimpong and Lava through the serpentine forest road. Lolegaon offers small treks and trails. An Ideal destination for unwinding and relaxation.
Lolegaon is a beautiful Lepcha village of scenic spledour. It is situated in an extreme end of a Himalayan Ridge and located at a distance of 24 km from Lava lying at an altitude of 1,675 mtrs. It comes under the Kalimpong I block in the Darjeeling District of West Bengal. Lolegaon can be reached from Siliguri with a 4 hour drive covering 124 km via Kalimpong and Lava. Kalimpong, the nearest town is 55 km from Lolegaon. Lolegaon is locally known as Kaffer. Lolegaon stands along a lovely forest drive. It has a heritage forest and an observation point called Jhandi Dara, for viewing the snow peaks of the Singalila Range. According to some, it offers an even better view of the sunrise than Tiger Hill.