I know that AirBnB can provide you with a unique, and cheap, place to stay! I found myself a traditional Indian hut in the rural parts - something I never would of found without it.
However, you need to be careful. As with any website, there are scams that can ruin your holiday, which appear to be more and more common by the day. India is one of the locations most at risk of this. However, you can take precautions. When you see an image of an appealing abode for a night or two, drop the image into the Google search bar. If you see more than one result, this is most likely a scam.
However, that method isn't full proof. Remember to do your research about an area before booking.