A Home Beneath the Universe
Stay in Home Stays began with a simple wish: to share the darkest skies in India without ever dimming them.
At 4,500 metres, on the remote Changthang plateau of eastern Ladakh, the air is thin, the silence is total, and the sky is the brightest you will ever see.
We are a family-run homestay reimagined as a luxury retreat — thick stone walls and heated floors to hold the warmth, hand-woven textiles from the valley, and windows framed on the endless high desert. A place to arrive slowly, breathe deeply, and remember what a truly dark sky feels like.
One kilometre away stands the Indian Astronomical Observatory, home to one of the world’s highest optical telescopes. Around us: thousand-year-old monasteries, nomadic Changpa shepherds, snow leopards and black-necked cranes. We simply help you meet them — gently, respectfully, unforgettably.
There Was a Gap
Krisha Charla
Co-Founder
8+ years in the travel industry.
After 8+ years in the travel industry, I saw the same gap again and again. Travellers wanted authentic experiences. Local hosts had beautiful homes and stories to share. But somehow, the two weren’t finding each other.
Somewhere along my journey in travel, I stopped looking for the perfect hotel. I started looking for something else — a place that felt connected to where I was. A home-cooked meal. A local story. A host who knows the road beyond the tourist map. A quiet room in a place most people have never heard of.
We can find almost anything online — flights, hotels, resorts, itineraries. But some of the most memorable places to stay are the hardest to find. A family home in a remote village. A room with a mountain outside the window. A host who cooks what their family eats. Places with stories, warmth and a sense of belonging — but little online presence.
I kept wondering: if travellers can’t find these homes, how will these homes find travellers?
That question became the beginning of Stay in Home Stays — our attempt to build the missing bridge, connecting travellers with local homes, local people and destinations beyond the usual tourist trail.
We’re not just listing rooms. We’re helping travellers find a reason to stay a little longer — and helping hosts share not just a room, but a little piece of their home and their world.
We started with a simple belief: travel should not always feel like checking into a property. Sometimes, it should feel like arriving somewhere you belong.
Because sometimes, the best place to stay isn’t a hotel. It’s someone’s home.
Luxury ThatGives Back
Dark-Sky Stewardship
We protect the night. Warm, shielded lighting and quiet operations keep Hanle’s skies pristine for generations.
Community First
Built and run with the people of Hanle. Local guides, local kitchens, local stories — fairly paid and proudly shared.
Gentle on the Land
Solar-assisted power, water conservation and low-impact design in a fragile high-desert ecosystem.
Rooted in Ladakh
Traditional architecture, textiles and cuisine — luxury that belongs to this place, not imported from elsewhere.
The JourneyIs the Beginning
Fly to Leh — daily flights from Delhi. We arrange your acclimatisation and private transfer.
Drive to Hanle — a spectacular ~250 km journey (a full day of roughly 9–12 hours) across high passes and the Indus valley, with stops curated by us.
Permits — Hanle requires an Inner Line Permit. We handle the paperwork before you arrive.