A hotel room can provide a place for anyone. It has a bed, a TV, and a sometimes pleasant view of the next building. But to gain a destination, feel it beat and breathe in its spirit, one has to experience it. And, for a hill station, magically nostalgic as Ooty—the one and only Queen of the Nilgiris—it means one thing only, leaving the inhabitable for an intimate homestay.
From bungalows built from heritage, houses with echoes from an old Raj, and family-run cottages located amongst green tea estates—homestays in Ooty offer guests more than a roof over their head. They offer a feeling—a home away from home—almost always without the cost of an experience and they facilitate a memorable and immersive holiday for all. Solo travelers wanting to escape and be alone, couples needing to reconnect on a romantic getaway, and families wanting space to spread out and connect – Ooty’s homestays are a perfect fit. Get ready to trade room service for heart service, and a lobby for a living room – snuggling in front of a crackling fireplace. Your Ooty journey begins here, at your home in Ooty – local flavour and comfort.
Here is our Handpicked List of Ooty’s Finest Homestays
With so many options tucked away in the misty hills, it can be overwhelming to find the right homestay! Welcome to your insider’s guide to finding a great basecamp for your Ooty adventures. Every one of the properties here will guarantee the three essentials; authentic hospitality, clean and comfortable rooms, and that unquantifiable homely feeling. However, they all have their own uniqueness. Some are grand and aristocratic while some are humble and heartfelt. It will depend on the experience you’re interested in creating. So, let’s dive in and find your Ooty home.
1. Ooty White House Homestay
At the Ooty White House, you can step through a time warp without losing a single shred of comfort. While it is not a homestay, it is indeed a diligently preserved aspect of history. When you walk through the gates, the colonial style architecture dating from the early 1900s transports you to the Victorian era: the house itself is pristine white and the gardens are manicured. It is the epitome of a British-era bungalow in Ooty that is both authentic and opulent. This home has 12 spacious rooms filled with sun light that straddle a delightful line between antique charm and modern comforts. Think high ceilings, expansive glass facing the views that appear so similar to that of the Nilgiri range, and rooms to accommodate a family or a group of friends.
The experience continues outside of the room. Imagine sipping a cup of exquisite Nilgiri tea in the shared lounge area while swapping travel stories with other guests, or even settling into a book in the peaceful garden area. They have thought of everything: free Wi-Fi that will be the envy of all your friends back home, a 24-hour front desk for your convenience, a shuttle service to worry about travel, and if you want to relax in the evening, a choice of further options, including a welcoming crackling campfire or just you, a perfect barbecue as the stars slowly appear. The ideal choice for those seeking a bit of comfort heritage elegance but with a touch of modern comforts.
Location: Mount Pleasant Road, Ooty
Amenities & Activities: 24-hour reception, Campfire, Parking, Room service, BBQ facilities, Free Wi-Fi, Garden area
Price: Starting from ₹1,200/night
2.Glen View Homestay
Located in the more peaceful and scenic suburb of Lovedale, Glen View Homestay is a classic family-run bed and breakfast in Ooty. It feels less like a business and more like you’re visiting a cousin you have not seen in a long while in the hills. The hosts are the key to the homestay, and they do everything possible to ensure your stay is as perfect as can be. They have a choice of well-furnished rooms- Standard, Superior, and Executive- to rest in, which have everything you need, like heaters to keep you warm on cool Ooty nights. But the real attraction here is the food. The cook at the homestay prepares delicious home-cooked meals on request. They can serve you anything from authentic South Indian cuisine to Continental cuisine.
What sets Glen View apart is the very hospitable hosts. The hosts happily offered to coordinate any sight-seeing outings and cab services for you, taking you to the best spots like Doddabetta Peak, Pykara Falls, and the Ooty Lake. They even offered pick-up and drop-off services from points of transit. Everything is done to make your arrival and departure as easy as possible with zero concerns. This is just the sort of place you want to return to at the end of a long day of sight-seeing when you’re looking for a snug bonfire and pleasant conversation. For travellers craving connection, local stories, and an element of true caring, Glen View is a terrific option, one that feels like a hug from the hills themselves.
Location: Sathya Sai Nagar, Lovedale, Ooty
Amenities & Activities: Room service, Bonfire, Free parking, Balcony/terrace, Living room, Home-cooked meals on request, Car rental assistance
Price: Starting from ₹1,800/night
3.The Irinjalakuda Homestay
If you think luxury is in simplicity and space then The Irinjalakuda Homestay is your refuge from a world that does not understand simplicity. This is one of the most luxury homestays in Ooty that embraces opulent minimalism instead of flashy extravagance. The rooms are attractively furnished – minimally styled and incorporate spectacular views of the gardens outside the large windows. The natural wooden furniture throughout the property emanates a cozy elegance—a graceful style that will effortlessly stand the test of time. Irinjalakuda is the ideal family accommodation in Ooty for a family that values privacy as part of their new and upgraded family travel experience.
The communal spaces are designed to unwind and foster conversation among your family and friends. The kitchens and pantry spaces are furnished and allow some flexibility, while the shorter, cozy living and dining spaces will have you catching up for hours. Outside, you will love relaxing on well-kept lawns that have inviting outdoor seating and can partake in your yoga practice in the serene surroundings while watching the sun set in the evenings. When night falls, it is nice to take a turn with the grill (an additional fee) and elevate a regular evening into a memorable experience under the stars. Irinjalakuda is for those who want to escape the noise outside and reconnect, reconnect to quietness, reconnect to beauty, reconnect to each other, and reconnect to all of those things while in a restful and aesthetically pleasing space.
Location: 66/8 Havelock Road, Ooty
Amenities: Stunning garden views, Outdoor fireplace, Barbecue facilities, TV area, Spacious rooms
Price: Starting from ₹2,000/night
4. Hill Bird Homestay
The term ‘budget’ can be a bit misleading. Hill Bird Homestay exemplifies that you can have an amazing Ooty homestay experience, while being thrifty with your funds. It is perfectly located close to the energizing Fun City area on Coonoor Road, meaning you strike a good balance between the excitement of the town and being able to return to a tranquil, home-like space. The staff here are known for their out-of-the-way and any-time service, making sure you get everything you could want. The rooms are clean, comfortable, and have everything you need; making it a fantastic Ooty homestay option for certain budgets, including students, backpackers, and families alike.
The real attraction of Hill Bird is the communal feel it creates. The kitchen is shared, allowing you to cook your own meals when you wish. The cozy fireplace in the common room is the focal gathering point for those who seek company on a cooler night; it is lovely to curl up in a blanket, read a good book, chat with your fellow travelers, or just enjoy the inviting weather. The ambience at Hill Bird is as close to a homestay as you will find: sincere, inviting and all about you having a “home’, albeit in a different way to recharge to see all the visitors’ sites that are just around the corner from Ooty. It’s proof that the richest travel experiences often come with the most reasonable price tags.
Location: Fun City, Coonoor Road, Ooty
Amenities & Activities: Daily housekeeping, Room service, BBQ facilities, Fireplace, Family rooms, Shared kitchen, 24-hour support
Price: Starting from ₹1,250/night
5.Lymond House
If your idea of an ideal vacation in Ooty is to feel like you are in an era of drama, then, you must spend some time at Lymond House. It is not just a homestay; it is a grand tribute to British architecture and part of Ooty’s colonial legacy, and truly comes alive when you step on the estate. Upon arrival you will be ushered in by pristine, expansive lawns and the colourful flower beds that will add colourful splashes to the visual experience. Lymond House is a heritage homestay in Ooty that allows you to indulge the grandeur of the past and leave satisfied with the comforts of our time.
Lymond House, pampering you thoroughly! Perfect for a special occasion, for honeymooners, or anyone wanting to experience a truly aristocratic stay in the misty hills. This is where you come to live the legacy, not just see it.
Location: Next to Taj Savoy, Sylks Road, Ooty
Amenities & Activities: Fireplace, Room service, TV, Multi-cuisine restaurant, Car rental services, Free Wi-Fi, Doctor-on-call, Estate walks
Price: Starting from ₹4,500/night
6.180° McIver Homestay
Located in the peaceful setting of Coonoor, just 30 minutes away from Ooty’s main attractions, is the 180° McIver estate. This heritage villa which invites you to breathe and relax with its stunning and uninterrupted views – hence we think, the name! This property has three stars but feels five-star for the soul, set in the peaceful setting that feels light years away from the tourist crowds below. It’s the kind of atmosphere that is so wonderfully relaxing you will want to cancel your sightseeing plans, forget about exploring Ooty, and just relax in the villa and surroundings.
This homestay is also a family haven. The tasteful and appropriate decor aligns with the heritage estate, and the facilities and in-house activities are terrific! Lawn games, a children’s play area, table tennis, and golf access are just some of what they offer. The lettings range from standard rooms to large suites, making it the solution to all family sizes. Not to mention, there is a restaurant onwards on-site, along with airport transfer services as well.180° McIver is as unwinding a place as it gets. The perfect place to recharge, to reconnect with family, and to create those leisurely, slower travel memories which last a lifetime!
Location: Orange Grove Road, Coonoor (near Ooty)
Amenities & Activities: Golf Course access, Table Tennis, Garden, Playground, Free Wi-Fi, Restaurant, Airport Transfer
Price: Starting from ₹3,800/person
7. Tiger Hill Cottage
Have you ever imagined waking up to a million shades of green, immersed in the unmistakable scent of tea leaves drifting on the morning mist? Welcome to Tiger Hill Cottage, a lovely getaway located amidst the cosmic tea gardens of the Nilgiris. The name evokes a bit of curiosity (the area used to be a tiger corridor, no kidding!) but today, it’s more like a peaceful nirvana offering one of the absolutely best (and peaceful) views/ vistas off an unspoiled valley in Ooty. It is not a homestay with a lot of fancy frills; it is priceless because of the location and the raw, natural beauty of it all.
The rooms are fun, yet comfortable, and partner quite well with all of the essentials. The luxury here is the balcony, especially for the rooms located on the first floor—the performance you and the world are about to see are the greatest in nature and why stand in the front row when you can have an unparalleled experience in the best seat in the house? The balcony provides endless views of the rolling hills, luscious, lush valleys, and even a spring of refreshments from locally sourced tea may signify ‘stop the clock and have a book in hand to enjoy’. Generous rooms and stay-with-family creates a holiday experience and atmosphere that allows for family and relaxation and being close. With a party lawn, a children’s play area, and delicious homely-cooked food, Tiger Hill Cottage offers an authentic, back-to-nature experience that is both refreshing and incredibly affordable.
Location: Tiger Hill, Coonoor (near Ooty)
Activities & Amenities: Party lawn, Children’s play area, Wi-Fi, Homely-cooked food, Currency exchange, Balcony with valley views
Price: Starting from ₹1,500/night
Wrapping Up
As the mist envelopes the deodar trees and the fragrance of eucalyptus fills the air, you will realize that a Ooty homestay was the best choice you made. These homestays, from colonial mansions to family cottages, will be the guardians of Ooty’s real soul; the one thing you will not get from a hotel is a connection. Connection to the place, the people and the cadence. So as you map out your escape to the Nilgiris, think beyond the regular program. Move beyond the guidebook. Find your home in the hills.
Your hosts are ready with a pot of chai and a bounty of stories. All you need to do is knock.
