Because they, like us, deserve some downtime and a vacation. Here are some tips, ideas, and places to visit in India with your furry friends. Traveling with pets is exciting—my pet has forced me to chase him up a high hill, agitated an elephant enough to pursue us through a forest, and provided me with some truly memorable dinnertime stories. Traveling with your furry babies is also important for pet parents who don’t like leaving their children behind when they go travelling. To be honest, planning a trip with animals can be a time-consuming process. You must look for pet-friendly establishments. Then there are the modes of transportation to consider. If this is your first time travelling with your pet, conduct a trial run at a nearby hotel or resort before you leave to see how your furry baby reacts to being away from home in a strange, new place. Flying or taking the train with your pet can also be difficult. You’ll be exhausted by complicated processes, excessive paperwork, and wary authorities, not to mention a lack of pet-friendly lodging options. That’s why we’ve done some research and found some really cool pet-friendly hotels and resorts from all over the country, whether it’s a farm in the hills of Tamil Nadu or a beachside resort in sunny Goa…. Because they, like us, deserve some downtime and a vacation.
Here are some tips, ideas, and places to visit in India with your furry friends.
Emerald Trail, Uttarakhand’s pet-friendly hotel
This eco-friendly Bhimtal homestay comes highly recommended by pet-parenting friends. Emerald Trail is an off-leash property that allows your furry babies to run free on its three-acre spread. It is one of the few places that understands and addresses the limitations that pet families face when travelling. If you need some alone time or want to go sightseeing, they have trained and friendly staff who can babysit them. Guests who bring their pets are given spacious cottages with private gardens. Emerald Trail is located in a sleepy village called Jungaliagaon, away from the hustle and bustle of Bhimtal and Naukuchiatal lake, and focuses on sustainable travel. The resort serves food grown primarily on its farm and is powered entirely by solar energy.
Cavala Resort is a Goa pet-friendly hotel
We decided to celebrate my birthday in Goa. Because I wanted Kratos, my dog, to enjoy the sun, sand, and sea as much as everyone else, we chose Baga’s iconic Cavala, which is distinguished by its ivy-clad, red laterite façade built in Portuguese-Goan style. They allow pets in certain rooms and are mostly full all year. So make sure you call ahead of time to reserve a spot. We were given a room with a balcony so Kratos could relax and talk to the birds. He was also permitted to enter public places, such as the restaurant, during the day when it was not crowded and the music was not upsetting.
Dalhousie Retreat Cottages, Himachal Pradesh’s pet-friendly hotel
This small cottage property in beautiful Dalhousie is notable for its apple orchards, forest walks, wild daisies, and pet-friendly accommodations. The three-cottage stay can accommodate six people and is entirely made of glass, stone, and wood, taking advantage of the elevation and expansive views of the Dhauladhar-Pir Panjal range. This 1,500-square-yard property is open to pets, but the management advises you to keep them nearby and in sight due to bears in the nearby forests and hills. Bring your walking shoes when you visit Dalhousie Retreat Cottages because the property opens up to an easy four-kilometer trek that skirts the nearby Bakrota Hill. The Khajjiar meadow and the Kalatop forest reserve are great places to go for a walk with your pet. Furthermore, they are close to Dalhousie and make for a fun picnic.
Pet-friendly hotel in Tamil Nadu, Destiny Farmstay
This farmstay is located in the Nilgiris, about 25 kilometres from Ooty and a little after Emerald Isle. It’s a self-sufficient eco-farm that grows its own vegetables and fruits and is home to horses, cows, rabbits, geese, sheep, and dogs. Destiny allows you to learn horseback riding from trained stable hands, as well as enjoy rappelling, golfing, and good old-fashioned camping on the farm grounds. When we were around other guests, we kept our dog on a leash, but otherwise he ran free, sprawling near the lake and loping along beside us when we went riding to the nearby Sunset Point. Destiny Farmstay charges INR 600 in addition to the room tariff for each pet, and you must bring your own pet food.
Hulivana Resort in Karnataka is a pet-friendly hotel
Hulivana, located deep in the hilly rainforest of Sakleshpur in the Western Ghats, is overlooked by Jenkalbetta, the region’s highest peak. The only way to get to this eco-resort is on horseback or in a 4×4 driven by Sunil, the owner, because the drive is as dangerous as it is beautiful. Our pet was off the leash the moment we drove into the safety of the resort (wild animals still lurk around, and dogs happen to be their preferred meal! ), and he remained so for the duration of our stay. Our pet found an inviting playground with rolling hills, a spring-fed pond, waterfalls, small streams, and dense foliage. Electricity is generated by a hydro-turbine and is only available in the evenings. But one can’t complain because the hillside lends itself beautifully to small, unobtrusive campfires, allowing for new friendships and genuine conversations.
