Bhubaneswar, Sept 27: For travellers seeking more than hotels and tourist resorts, Odisha’s villages are opening a new chapter in rural tourism through homestays. The idea is simple: stay with local families, experience their way of life and discover the state beyond its familiar tourist circuits.
The state’s homestay initiative aims to turn traditional homes into comfortable stays while giving visitors a closer look at Odisha’s culture, food, crafts and everyday rural life. Instead of simply passing through a village, tourists can now become part of it—even if only for a few days.
The programme has generated considerable interest, with hundreds of applications reportedly being received from people keen to convert their homes into registered homestays. A significant number have already moved through the provisional registration process, expanding the accommodation options available in rural and tourist destinations.
The appeal of a homestay lies in its personal touch. Guests can wake up to views of paddy fields, enjoy locally prepared meals, explore nearby attractions with residents and experience customs that rarely find their way into conventional tourist packages. For visitors, it can mean a slower and more intimate holiday; for hosts, it can become an additional source of income.
The initiative also has a wider rural-development dimension. By bringing tourists into villages, homestays can create opportunities for local cooks, farmers, artisans, guides, transport providers and small businesses. Women and families, in particular, can participate in tourism without leaving their communities.
Odisha’s villages already possess many of the ingredients that travellers increasingly seek—traditional architecture, local cuisine, handicrafts, folk culture and landscapes away from crowded urban centres. Homestays can bring these experiences together under one roof.
More than just a place to sleep, the homestay model offers a way to experience Odisha through its people. As more homes join the network, the humble village house could become an important new gateway to the state’s culture, hospitality and rural economy.
