HOMESTAYS WITH HEART

Long before “slow travel” became a buzzword, before private villas replaced hotel suites, and well before authenticity became a luxury tagline—Tejas Parulekar was quietly building SaffronStays, a platform rooted in turning meaningful homes into unforgettable stays

- ANKITA RATHOD

A Chartered Accountant by training, Tejas left behind corporate banking stints at Ernst & Young, ICICI, and HSBC, only to answer a calling rooted in something far less transactional: the idea of home as experience. Alongside her husband and co-founder Devendra Parulekar, she launched SaffronStays—a hospitality collective that turned carefully chosen homes into soulful, design-aware destinations. Today, it’s a network of over 250 homes across India, and each one doesn’t just welcome you in— it stays with you. We sat down with Tejas to talk about what makes a house “stay-worthy,” how design meets memory, and why the most powerful kind of hospitality often comes wrapped in small, soulful gestures.

What did luxury look like when you started—and what does it look like now?

“When we began, luxury was defined by extravagance— grand properties, uniform service, and excessive amenities. Today, it’s a quieter, more meaningful concept. True luxury lies in authenticity, privacy, and emotional connection. It’s the luxury of time—to slow down, to immerse, to feel. At SaffronStays, we’ve reimagined this through curated homestays that offer soulful experiences, personal touches, and the feeling of being cared for—without ever compromising on comfort.”

What makes a home “stay-worthy” in your view?

“A stay-worthy home must stir something within you. Beyond architectural beauty or modern amenities, it must have soul. We seek homes that tell a story, that hold a sense of place—be it a colonial bungalow steeped in history or a serene cliffside cottage. The true test? Whether it evokes warmth, invites connection, and feels like it was waiting just for you.”

How do you curate properties without losing their unique character?