OffBeat Travel and Homestay: My Understandings
What is OffBeat Travel?
Life is not meant to be in one place.
Constantly searching for views that take my breath away
I forget where I read the above quotes, but these stuck in my mind. Maybe that’s why I’m so attracted to “Offbeat Place” or “Unknown & Untouched Place”.
The English word offbeat means “unconventional”. We hear this term often nowadays, especially when it comes to travel. So, what is the exact meaning of this word, I think it cannot be explained by language alone.
An unknown scenic destination surrounded by natural beauty away from the urban noise. There is no direct transport to reach, and this remote area does not have the same facilities as other popular tourist spots, most of the time mobile tower signal is not available and electricity connection is limited.
But where you will find the great hospitality of the local people, you can explore the local art, culture, traditions, and rituals, taste the local home-made food, trek through the mountain trails, sitting lazily all day listening to the music of nature and enjoy the beauty of nature.
This is what I mean by Offbeat Travel. When I am talking about Offbeat Travel then automatically comes to my mind about accommodation in those remote places, this is called Homestay.
I think that this new concept is a revolution in Indian rural tourism because, for the past several years, the Indian government has been promoting it as a means of developing the tourism industry, which is strengthening the country’s rural economy and serving as another source of income for natives. Off Course without harming Mother Nature and educate local people and travelers both to build up environmental awareness.
As per my understanding, this is satisfying the concept of ECO-TOURISM.
What does the word “Homestay” mean to me?
I am starting my offbeat travel blog (www.myoffbeatravelog.com) to share my offbeat Himalayan experiences with you. So, I currently focus on Himalayan homestays, which are mainly located in remote villages (called Basti in some regions) or agricultural farms or tea garden areas or wildlife sanctuaries, which are far from towns or cities. Where tourist accommodation means Homestay only.
Travelers can stay for a few days in the local environment and get a chance to explore the surrounding offbeat places and mingle with the local culture and taste homemade organic delicious food. I find homely comfort in this type of accommodation, and it makes a huge difference between a Homestay and a Hotel/Resort. As per my experience, this is a home away from my home.
Why do I love to stay at Homestay?
- Location: These are usually located in remote, unknown places surrounded by natural beauty. The reason for being so far away from the urban noise is to see a natural beauty here.
- Local Traditional Organic food and indigenous cooking style that makes simple food more delicious and enticing. This is a new culinary journey for me as I love to eat a variety of foods.
- Simple lifestyle of local people – This kind of lifestyle fascinates me and inspires me how to live happily in a simple way.
- Security: It is a complete homely environment. You will never feel insecure during your stay because the host family members are very simple, and they respect the guests very much. Even the villagers always come forward to help.
- Local people’s Arts & Crafts, Festivals, and Rituals – symbolize India’s heritage to the world.
Keep in mind the below points before traveling to any offbeat places
- Please try to avoid polythene and plastic items like plastic mineral water, chips packets, etc. because these are non-biodegradable and unhealthy for the environment, they should not be used in Himalayan villages as they pollute the environment and clog the drains, causing landslides. Please use a Reusable Water bottle to avoid plastic waste.
- Follow the rules of the homestay where you are staying and be courteous to the local people & respect their food, customs & privacy. Need to take permission before taking any local’s photo session.
- Since most Homestays are decorated with various types of flowers and fruit trees and also, they grow many types of vegetables in front of their preemies. Experience the beauty of your surroundings but not try to damage these.
- During Trekking/Hiking time, try to hire local people as guides. Don’t litter here & there, dispose of waste in the disposal basket, if it is not available then carry all waste in a jute type of bag and later to a designated forest disposal area.
- Don’t use any type of soap & detergents when you are washing & bathing in mountain streams or springs.
- For campsite cooking, try to avoid wood as fuel. Open fire is a danger to forests.
- Before entering any reserved forest or any protected area please registers your valid details at checkpoints. Don’t do anything that disturbs natural solitude.
- Post Covid-19 Situation, need to get information about the local Covid-19 rules from the Local Authority where you are traveling before your travel to any offbeat place. Always carry proof of vaccination & booster dose.
- As Offbeat places are located in remote areas, there are usually no ATMs or Bank facilities. So, need to carry sufficient cash to visit these places.
- Always carry photocopies of Identity cards and Passports & other valid documents and recent passport size photos. You should carry your original IDs for any cross-verification purpose.
- Avoid alcohol, stimulant drinks & drugs.
- Need to take some common medicines which are required for any travel and inquire about nearest health center or hospital if it is required during the journey.
- A Mexican architect, environmentalist and international ecotourism consultant Hector Ceballos-Lascurain is known as the Father of Ecotourism and was credited with introducing the term Ecotourism and its preliminary definition in the year 1983.
- Thenmala, India’s first planned ecotourism destination which is located in Kollam (Indian State Kerala) was selected as a major eco-friendly project by the World Tourism Organization. For details. click on the below link.
Thenmala
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So nize and informative.
You enrich my knowledge. Appreciate kore theme na theke homestay te theke asle bodh hoye beshi bhalo hobe. Feeling proud of you dear
Beautiful n indeed great job Mrinal. Proud of you.
Samar, thanks for your inspiration & good comments. Old is Gold.