It has to be one of the most inspiring ways to see India. A new scheme devised by travel company Mahindra is tapping into the trend for staying with locals but with a twist.
From majestic palaces and historic forts to colonial mansions, some of the most impressive houses on the subcontinent are opening up their doors to tourism. Not only are they in jaw-dropping locations, the houses are all affordable and the idea is that guests truly interact with the hosts tapping into their local knowledge to get an experience of a lifetime. It all makes a refreshing change from anonymous hotels and tours that keep travellers at arm's length from local life. Rather than being a spectator, you take part.
Mahindra, one of the top four companies in India, cherry-picks the best homes for the European market. The concept is simple — and seductive. Each of its 300 properties is different but all offer irresistible charms and character, from architectural gems sympathetically restored to their former glory to design showcases.
The latest additions are impressive. Arco Iris in Margao, the cultural capital of Goa, is a 120-year-old Portuguese mansion that has been converted into boutique-hotel style. This bright-yellow heritage home has a wide courtyard with hammocks and is surrounded by seven lakes.
The 700-year-old Fort Rampura, in the Jalaun district of Uttar Pradesh in India's northeast corner, meanwhile, is packed with priceless artefacts and relics of a long-gone era. Its historic grandeur is intact and given a contemporary update. The owners have their own boat — available for you to use on the Yamuna River — and the fort's moat is now a mustard field brimming with flowers.
