An Indulgence in India Sat 27th Jan 2018

I feel that this is rather an important blog because I would like to talk about our experience at a homestay with an extended family who are working hard to preserve and share traditional Indian culture and family life.
As part of of our month long holiday in Delhi, Rajasthan and Goa Helen and I were keen to experience at least one homestay in order to try to get a little more under the Indian skin than the usual tourist package holiday /multiple retail opportunities. I met the Prajapat family with the help of that well-known "dating agency"  Booking.com.

Knowing only what I had read on the aforementioned website, which I must say was effusive in its praise, we arrived with some apprehension and our driver. Chhotaram and his family could not have been more welcoming. There are three generations of the Prajapat family involved in the enterprise. Mr Prajapat senior of the splendid Rajasthan moustache is pictured below chopping up the cabbage for lunch. He is a weaver by occupation who was responsible for forming the local weavers cooperative. His eldest son, Chhotaram was responsible for setting up the homestay business and seems to do most of the day to day running of it. Chhotaram is very aware that the traditional lifestyle of weaving and farming is bound very soon to change. His aims are threefold, to try to preserve the local culture, to try to give foreigners an insight into it and to make some money. Chhotaram has three brothers on hand to help but it is Shambhuram who is his first lieutenant.

Here you can see inside the accommodation which Helen and I shared. You can see through into the en suite facilities, shower, toilet and wash hand basin. There is limited storage space available but remember you are choosing to stay in a traditional hut and not a hotel. 

The huts from the outside. I think there were five together here and a couple closer to the communal area.

Grandad and Grandma weaving a durry whilst simultaneously caring for the apple of eyes, Chhotaram's 11 months old niece.

Shambhuram joining us for breakfast. The quality of the home grown, organic food is first class and cooked over open fires in front of us. Visitors are welcome to help with the food preparation. All the food is vegetarian and is cooked to suit each individual's taste.

The patriarch, matriarch and grandchild. They are sitting in the communal area where meals are taken when it's light. Behind to the left is the kitchen and evening dining area and directly behind is the office and durry store

One of the greatest strengths of this family is their cohesiveness. The children's turnout, politeness and general willingness to help is outstanding by any comparison anywhere in the world. 

Two young men ready for school. 

So, to summarise our experience. First of all this is a working farm, indeed on our second night we witnessed the birth of a calf first hand,  and a craft enterprise and not just a holiday with a difference for foreigners. It was well above my expectations but there are some areas that perhaps need some reassessment. Indian villages are noisy places all day and night. Don't be surprised when you hear the many dogs barking or the people at the temple drumming and singing into the small hours. Perhaps a warning of this on the website would be useful for some people. Chhotaram also offers the opportunity to go on a safari trip. I didn't think that it was made clear that the cost was 1000 rupees (about £12) a head. It involves a trip in a jeep to see the local potter (you can try to throw a pot) then the chance to buy some pottery. Next on to the opium man who also makes pestle and mortars, which you can buy. Through the countryside to see the local wildlife comes next. Realistically you will see wild peacock, antelope and gazelle if you are lucky. Finally off to the recycling centre which consists of a warehouse where old garments are reused to make such as bedspreads and wall hangings. Clearly a lot of new items also come in here and you are exposed to quite a hard sell. I'm not sure about everyone else but I get really fed up with the Indian hard sell and the ritual of tea followed by an avalanche goods being offered. Then there is that guilty feeling you have when you try to leave purchase free or with that thing you didn't really want and will never use.
Chhotaram, you really are doing a great job and I would like to wish you all the very best. I really think that you ought to reassess the safari to make all that you offer a cut or two above anyone else. You are very welcome to use all or some of this blog as you like. Please see contact details below.