the official Aurastays blog

India’s first online platform for rural stays. Travel with us and get introduced to  hosts welcoming you to their abode in rural India.

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Planning a Trip to Jim Corbett? Forget Boring Hotels – Rural Homestays Are Here to Make Your Trip Exciting!

Here’s something many travellers don’t know - a trip to Jim Corbett is incomplete without a visit to the local villages around it!

If you want to experience Jim Corbett to the fullest, say goodbye to conventional stay at budget hotels, set off for an adventurous rural homestay today. Indulge in amazing home-cooked local cuisine, immerse in natural beauty and local culture, bond with your family in the calm and serene locale, and much more! Wondering which villages to explore? Here’s our top pick, just for you.

1.       Homestay in Village Kyari

Situated in close proximity to Jim Corbett, this is one of the most beautiful villages of Nainital with some amazing views to offer. With a plethora of wild as well as domesticated wild animal species including the beautiful Chital, Sambhar, elephants, and the rare species of the Bengal Tiger, Kyari has a beautiful rural stay which is equipped with all amenities in a sophisticated manner. The locals of the place are extremely kind-hearted and will be more than happy to share their local stories with you.

2.       Homestay in Village Chhoti Haldwani

Indulge yourself in the amazingly cooked local organic food at the place where Jim Corbett himself spent a significant time of his life while he was establishing the famous park. With a beautiful forest trail, one can enjoy magnificent Bird Watching activities offered here. This beautiful homestay destination plays host to several tourists and hence, numerous activities are organized here on a daily basis. Take a walk down the many trails originating from nearby regions and witness an overnight improvement in your mood!

3.       Homestay in Village Pawalgarh

Known to be the home of one of the largest species of Bengal Tiger, as well as the Bachelor of Powalgarh, this alternate stay is located at a beautiful location surrounded by virgin forest. The place is deemed to be a completely organic village and hence, one can enjoy the organic food grown here that is completely free from harmful chemical residues. The homestay in itself is so cozy and comfortable that one needs to push oneself into venturing into the jungle for trekking!

4.       Homestay in Village Alchauna

With the 100-acre organic field along with the nearby bee-keeping activities, the homestay in the Village Alchauna is a perfect site for people looking to be close to nature. The Upreti’s, who have been residing in the village for a long time now, play the perfect hosts and welcome you to the place with the amazing local cuisine. The local dance and festivals can be enjoyed while enjoying a peaceful weekend getaway in this homestay. One can also go cycling in the small village or can go camping into the woods. Locations for paragliding and other destination activities are also not far from here.

5.       Homestay in Village Dhanachuli

If you are looking for an alternate stay option where the beautiful sound of the birds wakes you up and you start your day with a walk in the peach orchards, then the homestay in Village Dhanachuli is surely meant for you. Cultivation of plums, apples, litchi, and other fruits is a common activity here. The locals are friendly and help you in spending quality time in the homestay. They will also show you around and inspire you to set up camps in the nearby woods where you can witness a large variety of unexplored flora and fauna.

We hope that the above destinations help you make the most of your vacation.

 You can always choose these cheap accommodations and bypass the budget hotels for an experience that is healthier, wilder and closer to your heart. Please contact at [email protected] or visit www.aurastays.com to know how we can help you enjoy amazing rural stays in India.

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Make Your Camping Trip More Fun and Closer to Nature

If you are like most travellers, you seek comfort in the laps of the nature. And camping is one of the most popular destination activities to enjoy when venturing into new lands. 

Whether you are a first-time camper or a seasoned one, it is hard not to miss the thrilling wanderlust that camping offers – after all, who can resist the temptation of spending a night in the woods beneath a canopy of stars? Or a cozy bonfire in the middle of nowhere with like-minded souls? And when the campsite is a trail of treks and hikes, it is just the perfect weekend getaway!

And yet, it is highly unlikely that you will enjoy camping at popular, crowded tourist destinations that are congested with hotels. Did you know? It is for this reason that camp-lovers like you are now packing their bags and setting off for exciting rural stays!

Rural homestays come with the opportunity to tent-up at serene camp-sites. But there’s so much more to it than regular camping. Real camping is where nature meets local culture – its people, its food, and its fascinating stories. Rural homestay is a popular alternate stay option that is set up and managed by locals. This means that you actually get to soak in the local culture and taste the mouth-watering organic food that they cook.

Here’s why camping in villages is a great way to add zing to your weekend getaways:

1.       Don’t miss that spot – nature holds many beautiful secrets that are only known to the people who live there. Never miss something rare or beautiful just because there was no one to show you around. Engage deeply with your host family and the local community and get fascinating insights about the place, culture and history!

2.       Indulge in freshly prepared, organic food – Why depend on instant noodles and packaged food while camping, when you can get locally sourced ingredients freshly cooked and served hot – just for you!

3.       Improve your health and lift your spirits – Eat healthy, nutrient-rich food free from chemical residues that can boost your well-being and bolster your spirits!

4.       Know real India – Real India lives in villages, and can be fully known only through local stories and folklore. Immerse in a whole new world of wonder and legend, as you interact with the local community.

5.       Bond with family and friends – Make your camping experience an opportunity to bond with near and dear ones in the peaceful silence and calm of villages. With a quaint home in the countryside waiting for you, strengthening relationships isn’t going to be too hard.

6.       Don’t burn a hole in your pocket – Happiness doesn’t need to be expensive! Camping in villages is a relatively inexpensive activity that you can afford even as a regular weekend getaway.

7.       Stay safe and worry-free – And most importantly, with your host helping you whenever you need and watching out for you, you will be in a home away from home without the fear of losing your way. You will always have someone to reach out to for any emergency, just in case.

We at Aurastays believe in providing an experience of a lifetime to travellers and tourists at memorable village stays. By providing hygienic and safe accommodations in remote parts of the country, we make camping a real and delightful experience for you. Get in touch with us by dropping in a mail at [email protected] or visit us at www.aurastays.com.

[aurastays-blog]

Are You a Foodie Looking for the Perfect Weekend Getaway?

What is it that makes the traveller in you come alive?

For some it’s meeting new people, for some it’s exploring new landscapes, while for others, it’s all about great food. In fact, for most people, relishing local cuisine is integral to the travel experience. But a typical hotel stay can only offer limited choices when it comes to exploring the local cuisine.

Did you know? Travelling in India has come of age and many are now exploring the fresh delicacies offered by scenic villages by booking a home in the countryside. Many rural home stays offer the rich experience of organic food being prepared right in front of your eyes. You will get to savor fresh, residue-free, healthy ingredients from nature, soulfully prepared in organic spices and herbs. Even a weekend getaway can rejuvenate your health and well-being, and lift your spirits.

Many travelers now agree that when it comes to pairing great food with the marvels of nature, rural home stays are the way to go.

Here’s why village stays in India are the ultimate food destinations for every traveler:

1.       Experience nature at its best – get locally sourced, locally prepared food in a homely environment. And what’s more, indulge yourself in the aroma of delicious food as it gets served hot and steamy – straight from the kitchen!

2.       Get organic food free from chemical residues, rich in minerals and nutrients – nature’s very own powerhouse of goodness and well-being is waiting to be unleashed – just for you!

3.       Local recipes are not derived from hotel menu-cards – something new waits for your taste-buds everyday. Whether you are a vegan, vegetarian, eggitarian or a meat-and-fish lover – there’s something for everyone!

4.       Every meal is freshly prepared and hygienically served – say goodbye to microwaved, junk food. Meals replete with local flavors are sure to make your senses come alive!

5.       Instead of watching TV while you eat, relish the food as it gets cooked right before you, while you listen to local stories and folklores!

6.      Take a break from your busy life and bond with your family as you gorge on sumptuous delicacies– nothing fosters family bonding as a hearty meal!

7.       Make your meals complete with long walks in nature and sound sleep in cozy, quaint cottages. Looking to burn those calories? Go for trekking, camping, hiking and other destination activities!

8.      Like a recipe? Bond with your host family and they will soon share their culinary secrets!

9.      Give a boost to your health with local ingredients that come bundled with health benefits – such as herbs, spices, essential oils, and much more!

10.     Hotel staff and waiters can offer you great services and hospitality, but if you want to experience the real love of local communities, rural homestays are the way to go. Soak in their culture as they serve you their delicacies with pride, joy and absolute warmth!

11.    Looking for budget stay and fooding? Forget budget hotels - a refreshing village stay offers cheap accommodations and low-cost yet rich, organic local food. When it comes to value for money, rural homestays are definitely your best bet!

A home in the countryside with freshly prepared local cuisine is the traveller’s dream. So, what are you waiting for?

Plan a weekend getaway now for great food and experience at a village stay with your family and friends!

Visit www.aurastays.com or write to us at [email protected] to book the best rural accommodation today.

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This 100 year old mansion with 150 acres of farmland is a nature lover's paradise with its rich flora, fauna and wildlife. Situated at a distance of 220kms from Lucknow, this calm place is a perfect retreat for weekend getaways. . . #aurastays #uniquestays #uttarpradesh #naturelove #estate #shivpur #ahomeineveryvillage #ahomeincountryside #travelgram #travel #backpack #rurallife #locallife #ruralstays #localfood #organicfood #alternatestays #unhotel #incredibleindia🇮🇳 #culturetourism #tradition #dance #destination #lovefortravel #lucknow #weekendgetaway #lovefornature #gorural #stayrural

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How the Himalayan villages quench their thirst?

The picturesque villages in the foothills of Himalayas are known for their cool beautiful weather, cheerful and friendly people, dense forests and teeming wildlife. Whoever travels there comes back with memories of pleasant experiences. 

The nature and greenery of these places just seem so endless.

It won’t come to anyone’s mind that these green villages were once facing huge water shortages. The whole area is situated on mountain slopes, so the water when it rains just rushes down to the plains quickly leaving very less for villagers to use. Also, the rocks beneath the soil make tube wells or bore wells unsustainable.

 How to get water for living then?

 Some nearly 80 years back, there was a British engineer who along with a group of villagers started digging small canals throughout the area. The idea was get water from perennial Himalayan streams far up in the mountains to the villages. It took years to dig up the whole system which is around hundreds of kilometers long.

Even today these canals are the main source of water for these foothill villages which crisscross the village with their dense network. 

Each and every member of the village has pledged to keep those canals clean and slit free.

These canals are a attraction to travellers who don’t forget to take a swim when they visit!!

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Have you tasted the sweetness of #Himalayan #honey? Book a stay at the estate of Mr.Upreti, a native of the hills and learn #beekeeping with him. Witness Organic farming, Himalayan bees in their own habitat at #Aurastays #goRural and #stayrural with #localhosts in #Villages #nature welcoming you at this #village of #Uttarakhand

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Stay here with your friends for a night to have memories for a lifetime. #bonfire with #friends at this #Aurastays Aurastays welcomes you to village DaanKhuri #goRural #stayrural #village #rurallovers #experience #ruraltour #ruraltourism

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3 incredible villages which refresh the memories of Jim Corbett

The man behind the tiger- Jim Corbett.

Photo taken at Jim Corbett Museum at Kaladhungi, Uttarakhand. 

The greatest hunter of man-eating tigers turned conservationist and author.

 This man was responsible for hunting down more than 50 tigers and leopards who had turned into man-eaters and waged terror in the forests of Uttarakhand. 

Photo taken at Jim Corbett’s Museum, Kaladhungi, Uttarakhand

 They say, some of these felines killed more than a thousand people. That’s what renders them the king of the jungle after all!

 Let’s look at some places which are associated with the great Jim Corbett and his tigers.

1- Village Kyari 

Small picturesque village situated near Ramnagar town, the place is surrounded by jungle from all sides. This lush-green lively village is like a heaven for nature and adventure seekers.

River Khichdi in Village Kyari

 Enjoy a jungle walk on the way to village Kyari

 Tigers from Corbett National Park frequent the farmlands and forest surrounding the village and their howling and roars can be heard quite frequently here.

 2- Village Chotti Haldwani

This is the place where Jim Corbett lived for more than 30 years.

Gurney House, Chotti Haldwani, Jim Corbett’s bunglow

 Just 28 KMs from Haldwani, this village lives in and around the memory of Jim Corbett.

 This place also has North India’s first iron foundry and a functional watermill.

Stay here and discover the wall built by Jim Corbett, the trees where Jim Corbett took shelter to spot the man eaters, the rifles used by him for hunting and many more memories associated with him.

3- Village Pawalgarh 

Ever read about the ‘Bachelor of Pawalgarh’? This is one of the biggest and most ferocious tiger which was hunted in the village Pawalgarh. 

Read about it in Corbett’s book “My India”. 

Village Pawalgarh is surrounded by virgin Pawalgarh forest, making the village, one of the main attractions near Corbett park.

 Your window will open to this organic field

This village once lived in the fear of tigers and now, it boasts of its rich organic agricultural produce. 

Plan a stay in these villages with the locals and relive the Corbett trail with Jim Corbett’s memories and experiences.

                                  Aurastays welcomes you to relive the memories of Jim Corbett by staying in these villages.

[aurastays-blog]

Aurastays for ridiculously easy travel to rural India.

A person wants to travel in rural India. Then, he has to follow a schedule. Which is-

1. Doing a Google search and listing down all websites/names of stays/properties that come up. (the list could contain some thousand names)

2. Shortlist from that list a few names. (short-listing is manual and is based on data and photos provided)

3. Call the short-listed ones.

4. Try to get the various unknowns cleared. (unknowns maybe price, check-in/check-out timing, availability of electricity, mobile network etc.)

In spite of all this, the results may vary than what is expected.

Thus, the traveler might refrain trying new stay options.

The hotel industry has platforms to search, view and book rooms anywhere. But, this is lacking in the stays category in rural space (or rural stays).

There are thousands of rural spaces in India which provide stay options. At the same time, they give the traveler the chance to connect with nature, people, cuisine and local culture (unlike hotels which provide little more than basic AC, TV and some other amenities).

The catch in this category is to make the search, filter and book option easy. Also, care to be taken for ensuring the originality and uniqueness of these rural stays.

Aurastays pledges to work towards this, thus making the life easier, and increasing the happiness in the whole rural travel ecosystem.