Travellers intending to visit India may want to consider participating in a homestay rather than booking a traditional holiday.
People booking holidays to India may be interested in staying with a local family, as one travel journalist described the experience as “wonderful”.
Writing in the Daily Mail, Elinor Goodman talked about experiencing Indian culture in the southern state of Kerala.
She began her stay at a home on a banana plantation, where she was able to witness a local spiritual ritual – Theyyam – unique to the region, as well as learn how to cook traditional Mopilla dishes.
After sampling the coastal delights of the region, Ms Goodman’s hosts then arranged for her to travel to another homestay further inland, where she was able to experience the jungle and tea plantations of Kerala.
One of the highlights of the trip was the food that the local families provide, which Ms Goodman described as “exquisite”.
Homestays in Kerala have been developed to offer tourists a cheaper option than hotels while allowing them to interact with people from a different culture.
Written by Anthony Nicholson