Many village stays in Uttarakhand run as registered homestays under a state scheme. If you are a traveller choosing where to stay, or a village family thinking of hosting, the rules explain what a homestay is meant to be. This article summarises what was reported about the scheme, including its 2026 revision. It is a summary of news reports, not legal advice, and the official notification governs.
Background
A May 2026 report in ETV Bharat on the revised scheme says it began in 2015 and continued under later governments. In 2018 an earlier self-employment tourism scheme was merged into the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Graha Awas (Homestay) Scheme. The report gives more than 5,000 registered homestays and about 1,500 individuals who have received subsidies since 2015.
A 2024 report summarised by Drishti IAS describes the aims as attracting visitors to popular and remote places, adding local lodging, creating jobs, giving homeowners an extra source of income and offering affordable, clean stays with exposure to local culture and food. It reports subsidies on loans for the first five years of repayment: in hilly areas, a capital subsidy of 33 percent or Rs 10 lakh, whichever is lower, and an interest subsidy of 50 percent or Rs 1.5 lakh a year, whichever is lower.
What the 2026 revision reports
According to the ETV Bharat report on the revised scheme:
- Size limits. The room limit for a registered homestay rose from six to eight, with a limit of 24 beds.
- Location. Homestay registration is for Nagar Panchayats or rural areas. Bed-and-breakfast units are a separate category and can operate in rural and urban areas.
- Who can host. Permanent residents of Uttarakhand who own a residential building and live in it can offer accommodation and meals.
- Community-based tourism units (new). A group of 8 to 10 homestay units in one destination, one village or a cluster of three to six villages can operate together, if organised as a registered society, cooperative or community-based organisation. A group-level grant for construction, renovation and amenities is proposed.
- Registration. Proposed to last five years, with online registration, verification and renewal.
The report does not give registration fee amounts or the new subsidy amounts, so we do not either. Check the official notification for current figures.
What this means for a guest
- Scale. An eight-room cap means a homestay is a family house, not a hotel. Expect shared meals and local routines.
- Registration. You can ask a host whether the stay is registered under the scheme and see the registration.
- Community units. If several homes in a village work together, a group booking can be spread across houses, so more families share in the visit.
What this means for a village host
A homestay can add income without leaving home, but guests have expectations about cleanliness, water, safety and food. Hosts who want help organising bookings and itineraries can speak with us through the agro-tourism page. We have not made any commitment to any host in this article, and any partnership is agreed individually.
Questions a guest can ask
- Is the homestay registered, and can I see the certificate?
- How many rooms and beds are there, and are the rooms private or shared?
- What meals are included, and how are dietary needs handled?
- How do I get there, and what happens if the road is closed?
- How is the fee shared, and what does the family receive directly?
- What does the family ask of guests (dress, photography, water, waste)? See our responsible visit guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a homestay under the Uttarakhand scheme?
A home owned and lived in by a permanent state resident that offers accommodation and meals to tourists, within the room and bed limits.
How many rooms can a homestay have?
According to the 2026 report, up to eight rooms and 24 beds after the revision.
Is a homestay the same as a bed-and-breakfast?
No. The scheme treats bed-and-breakfast units as a separate category, although they share the room and bed limits.
What is a community-based tourism unit?
A new category in the revision: 8 to 10 homestay units in one destination, village or cluster of villages, organised as a society, cooperative or community organisation.
Does Himalayan Region run homestays?
We plan village programmes with hosts in Kumaon and Garhwal and confirm stays in the written itinerary. See the agro-tourism page.
Last updated: 18 October 2026.
Sources: ETV Bharat, "Uttarakhand Homestay Scheme Revised: Community Tourism Promoted For The First Time", reported 20 May 2026; Drishti IAS, "Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Home Stay Development Scheme in Uttarakhand", 27 September 2024. Several revised rules were described as proposed at the time of the report. Check the official notification before relying on any figure.