India’s best farmstays for immersive rural experiences in 2026: From forest walks to farm-to-table dining

India’s best farmstays for immersive rural experiences in 2026: From forest walks to farm-to-table dining

Chandeliers, caviar and carpeting used to spell luxury, now it is time. If your resolution this year was on living better, and learning to slow down, these holidays are for you. Responding to a growing thirst for the simple life and fresh air, farmstays across India are offering guests a space to harvest their own meals, hike, bake bread, forage, or enjoy the novel joy of doing nothing. From Rajasthan to Tamil Nadu, we have found you farms that will teach you how to breathe easy again.

Harvest produce @ Sangam Farms, Bhilwara, Rajasthan

The seed for Sangam Farms was sown a few years ago — when it was just a family farm. Arihant Jain, chief operating officer, says the journey of the farm at Bhilwara, Rajasthan, started with conventional farming that led to net houses, hydroponics, and animal husbandry. “From there, our hospitality journey began. We started with a fine diner, SOL, to share our fresh, farm-grown produce with the public. The overwhelming response led us to the idea of a comprehensive retreat.”

Children at Sangam Farms | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

There are three premier suites, five luxury suites, and a presidential, two-bedroom unit with a private backyard where curated experiences like movie watching under the stars, live culinary experiences, etc. are offered. Immersive farm experiences involve learning about farming techniques, harvesting produce, and interacting with farm animals. “We offer serene spaces for meditation and yoga, walking trails through our lush fields, a pickleball zone, and quiet corners where you can simply read, reflect, and reconnect with Nature,” adds Arihant.

Children at Sangam Farms | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

He adds that scaling the hydroponics unit is on the cards, as well as retreats. “Soon, we will also be introducing a series of curated workshops, led by local artisans, on pottery, weaving, etc. We're also developing comprehensive wellness retreats as multi-day programmes that combine our farm experiences with yoga, meditation, and farm-fresh meals.”

Upwards of ₹22,000 on sangamfarms.com

Outdoor dining at Sangam Farms | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Village picnics @ Nayalap, Kumaon, Uttarakhand

A boutique stay tucked away in Uttarakhand's Kumaon division, Nayalap was founded by Anindya Biswas and Tanuja Sah in 2017. When scouting for locations for their hospitality venture, the duo learnt of palayan, the exodus of people from the mountain villages to towns and cities in search of better livelihood. “We set up Nayalap as a small endeavour to address this. As a result, Nayalap is the letters of palayan reversed,” says Anindya.

Guests on a hike at Nayalap | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

He explains how Nayalap had primarily been set up for adventurous families and couples who would “love hiking, crossing rivers and seeing the local lifestyle, but would like good food, a comfortable bed and a hot shower at the end of the day”.

Paathar House at Nayalap | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Nayalap comprises four places to stay, all situated on a 12-kilometre stretch of the Shitlakhet Valley: a standalone modern cottage in an old Kumaoni village, luxury tents, Paathar House (a traditional Kumaoni house situated in an orchard next to a mixed forest), and Earth Homes that comprise two cottages with mud flooring in a field of seasonal grains, pulses and vegetables.

The creek walk and picnic is a popular activity at Nayalap | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Hikes are the main attraction at Nayalap. “The guided walks take guests to the nearby village, and the forests to understand the relationship between forests and the community. These walks are an insight into the local flora and mycelium, along with the villages that border the forest. In the summer, it turns into a food walk considering the various berries available in abundance,” explains Anindya, adding that the creek walk and picnic is a popular activity too. “The village walk is a great way to learn about how a Kumaoni village has been built: how the architecture of the houses accommodates insulation, pest control, honey production, the millstone, and more.”

Guests at Nayalap | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

In addition to two new hikes, the duo is expanding the culinary offerings too. “Pahadi isn't a monolithic cuisine but a cosmopolitan amalgamation of various cuisines. This includes the various local uses of bhat (black bean), rajma, and gahat (horse gram) in chutneys and soups, to dals and ground gravies,” adds Anindya, who shares that Nayalap's sister brand, Bakhli, focusses on traditionally preserved pickles, marmalades and flavoured salts.

Upwards of ₹5,000, nayalap.com

Sukoon Baag | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Forest treks @ Sukoon Baag, Bir, Himachal

Shashi Thakur, an engineer by profession, opened the doors of his family farm to the world five years ago. “Sukoon Baag began with the intention of creating a space where travellers could reconnect with Nature and slow down,” says the 34-year-old.

Paragliding at Sukoon Baag | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

At Sukoon Baag, located in Bir, Himachal, he offers cottages, and studios, alongside home-cooked meals with ingredients sourced from their farm. Guests can lounge, or participate in guided farm walks, milking cows, forest treks, and paragliding. “The farm walks and Nature trails have been the most loved, as they allow guests to learn about organic farming practices, local flora, and traditional wisdom,” he adds.

A forest walk at Sukoon Baag | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Shashi is now working on expanding the experiential offerings to include pottery workshops, farm-to-table cooking classes, and curated retreats focussing on wellness and mindfulness. “We are also coming up with a new guest home, and are currently renovating our Earth & Eat restaurant that is aimed at fusing local Himachali flavours with world cuisine.”

Upwards of ₹7,500 a night at sukoonbaag.com

A guest at Munchis Malaikal | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Day picnics @ Munchis Malaikal, Santhanapalli, Tamil Nadu

After a two-decade-long career in fashion, Saritha Hegde turned to a slow life. In 2022, she purchased land in Santhanapalli, Tamil Nadu, and moved there. Since then, she has planted over 1,800 trees, adopted rescued puppies, and created food experiences with organic food grown at the farm. “The farm is inspired by Agriturismo (agro tourism) in Italy, and the Italian term Dolce Far Niente that celebrates the sweetness of doing nothing, especially in cities where we are constantly on a treadmill,” says Saritha, 55, who launched the farm with an Ethiopian table for 20 people.

Guests at Munchis Malaikal | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Since then, she has hosted picnics, poolside barbecue, and curated menus at the farm. “We organise treks, cooking classes, and there are forests and dams to explore nearby. As advised before, we actually tell guests to take it slow and not look at this break as a to-do activity list,” says Saritha.

An outdoor dining experience at Munchis Malaikal | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The property's highlight, she says, is the food. “We offer Mediterranean, Mangalorean and Asian cuisines that we serve al fresco. Cloud kitchens, influencer marketing, and looking for the next ‘new' experience has taken away the taste and experience of food and kinship, sadly.”

₹2,000-₹5,000 per person for day picnics, and ₹13,000 per night, including all meals for two. @munchismalaikal on Instagram.

The food at Vanilla County | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Breaking bread @ Vanilla County, Kottayam, Kerala

In his early 30s, Mathew Vallikappen refers to himself as the planter and proprietor of Vanilla County in Kottayam, Kerala. Originally his ancestral home that was built in 1947, it was converted into a boutique stay in 1997 by his father. Mathew took over the reins about five years ago, bringing in his experience of studying hospitality and culinary arts. “Our intention has always been to offer travellers a window into authentic rural life, local culture, and Kerala's timeless traditions.

Vanilla County is an eight-bedroom boutique stay | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“Travellers want to slow down, engage with local communities, and take away something meaningful beyond just a holiday snapshot,” says Mathew. The eight-bedroom boutique stay has an in-house Taranaki Bakery, an ayurvedic spa in collaboration with wellness brandGeetanjanaa Ayurveda, and farm-to-table dining featuring local produce. “We also have The Quiet Farm where we're cultivating black pepper, tropical fruits, and sandalwood,” says Mathew, who also grows crops like black pepper, fruit trees, and coffee on his family's estate.

The spa at Vanilla County | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Guests can harvest pepper, and learn breadmaking at the bakery. “The latter has been especially popular. We also organise cultural evenings, riverside picnics, and birdwatching,” he says, adding that they are expanding their farm holiday experiences at The Quiet Farm, with new orchard plantings and interactive farm trails.

Upwards of ₹7,500 per night, inclusive of breakfast. vanillacounty.in

Dhyaana Farms is a 14-acre organic farm | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Cave hopping @ Dhyaana Farms, Ellora, Maharashtra

This homestay — founded by friends Sahaj Sharma and Aparna Phalnikar — has been popular ever since its first official guest, Hillary Clinton, in 2023. Aparna says they bought the land around 2019-20 and then the pandemic hit. “Our travel business called Doorways Travel ceased operations for a couple of years, and Sahaj moved to the farm and we focussed on developing the land and creating Dhyaana Farms,” she says of the 14-acre organic farm that is solar powered.

Guests can partake in farming activities like harvesting fruits and vegetables | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The intention behind setting up the venture in Ellora, Maharashtra, drew from their experience as tour guides and travel professionals. “We had seen and experienced how underrepresented this region was in the travel and tourism landscape of India, in spite of having the most incredible and the most ancient and still accessible sites of India in Ajanta and Ellora. We wanted to change that and help to promote the region by starting this farmstay there,” says Aparna.

At the property, they offer horse riding, pottery, yoga, and opportunities to assist with farming activities like harvesting fruits and vegetables. “Crystal hunting is popular among children as they are often learning about different kinds of stones/rocks in school. This is one of the activities that we have customised for them as the area is very rich in different kinds of quartz, malachite, and crystal varieties,” says Aparna.

Dhyaana Farms | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

These activities aside, guests can go hiking in the hills around, and have high tea at a special spot with sunset views. “Ellora is just 15 mins away, and we take you through scenic village backroads early in the morning for the best experience. There is also Ajanta, Daulatabad Fort, Pitalkhora caves, Khultabad, Bibi ka Maqbara, a weaving centre for Himroo and Paithani weaves,” adds Aparna. “As a sustainable, off-grid property, we do not have air-conditioning, television or high-speed internet. However, we have plenty of books, mud-plastered walls and a sky full of stars to look up at!”

Outdoor dining at Dhyaana Farms | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Soon, visits to a local farmer's home will be included. “Visiting the local village school to get a better understanding of education in rural India is also in the offing. As we work together with other farmers to expand our organic footprint, guests will be able to visit nearby farms as well.”

Upwards of ₹25,000, double occupancy, all inclusive. dhyaanafarms.com

A guest at Native Place | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Fly Away @ Native Place, Kamshet, Maharashtra

In 1994 Astrid Rao, along with her husband Sanjay Rao, purchased a piece of land in Kamshet with the idea of recreating her childhood. “I grew up in a small village in Bandra, then a leafy suburb of Mumbai. Summers meant raiding neighbours' fruit trees, running barefoot, and exploring the wild green pockets of what was then called the ‘Queen of the Suburbs'. I wanted to recreate that sense of freedom and abundance, and my first wish was simply to grow fruit trees,” says Astrid, now 62.

Native Place | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A few years later, Sanjay discovered paragliding and founded a paragliding school called Nirvana Adventures in 1997. In 2002, the duo began building a base where their students could stay, and that soon transformed into the property it is today. “From the start, our vision for the garden was clear: grow fruit trees, nurture native species, and create low-maintenance, water-wise landscapes with flowering plants to attract birds and butterflies,” says Astrid, who turned to permaculture in 2009.

The food at Native Place | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

While their initial guests were paragliding students and pilots, soon they were visited by families and Nature aficionados. “They came not for luxury or manicured lawns, but to share authentic nature experiences with their children,” says Astrid, of the property that offers seven rooms overlooking the garden, in addition to dormitory and tented accommodations.

Guests on a trek at Native Place | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“Birding is accessible to everyone. With our self-designed discovery cards, guests can explore the garden on their own, identifying birds, trees, and flowers. It fills people with wonder and helps them connect with Nature in a simple, joyful way,” says Astrid. The duo also hosts Permaculture Design Workshops over weekends that are aimed at introducing people to growing their own food, reducing ecological footprints, and making more conscious lifestyle choices.

Rooms upwards of ₹6,500 on nativeplace.com

Published - January 09, 2026 04:36 pm IST

The Hindu Weekend / travel and commuting / lifestyle and leisure / farmhouses / holiday or vacation / organic foods / slow-food / hobby / mountains and hill-stations

Source: TheHindu
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