Restored walled-city haveli run as a guesthouse

This business takes an old haveli (a traditional courtyard mansion) in Jaipur's walled city on a long lease, repairs it with traditional lime plaster and stone work, and runs it as a guesthouse of six to twelve rooms with home-style Rajasthani meals and a rooftop view.

The walled city is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of India's most visited places, close to the Hawa Mahal, the City Palace and the old bazaars. Some havelis here have been left empty as families moved out, or are used only on the ground floor as shops. Many visitors prefer a small heritage stay to a standard hotel.

You need a clear lease signed by every owner, since havelis are often shared among many heirs and disputes are common. You also need approval for repairs under the walled city's heritage rules, fire safety clearance, registration with the state tourism department, and a system to report every foreign guest's stay to the authorities, as the law requires. The hard part is the building itself: old walls, roofs and pipes hide costly surprises, and narrow lanes make parking and deliveries hard. Summer brings fewer tourists, so plan for slow months.

Fill rooms through booking websites, your own website, tour operators and word of mouth. Good reviews matter most for a small stay.