Homestays started officially only a couple of years back - in 2001-2002, when the tourism department of Kerala officially announced the start of the program, even offering its own recommendations / certifications to homestay houses if they met certain standards. The programs seems to be a success - part of the reason is that tourism in Kerala is geared to the elite tourist with sophisticated tastes - which means no partying, discos, drug scenes - but an interest in the social and cultural heritage of Kerala and its great scenery.

In normal ciscumstances, a homestay would involve interacting closely with the household, and unless you have s serious interesting that, homestay would not be a good idea for you. On the other hand, many of the new homestays that have come up in Kerala and the rest of India are practically hotels disguised as homestays.

We expect god himself to descend, one day at our doorsill as a guest to our household consequently, our culture enjoins us to extend a Godly welcome and a heavenly stay, deifying the guests in our homes.