Lansdowne does not get the tourist traffic that Mussoorie or Nainital gets — and that is exactly why it works well for dogs. No mall road chaos, no honking cars at a bottleneck, no weekend crowd surging through a narrow street. A quiet Garhwali army cantonment at 1,706 metres with oak and rhododendron forests, a church from 1896, long walking paths, and almost nobody on them on a weekday. Apple and Kimchi would walk for hours here without encountering a crowd.
We have two verified pet-friendly stays near Lansdowne. One is a luxury resort on a private hill surrounded by a tiger reserve. The other is a budget riverside property that claims to be pet-friendly but needs a direct call to confirm. This guide covers both honestly.
1. LaHermitage Resort — 5 Hours from Delhi · TEAM VERIFIED
✓ Team Verified · 50 acres · Kalagarh Tiger Reserve on 2 sides · Pet bowls and baskets provided · Jeep transfer
LaHermitage is not in Lansdowne town — it is 54 km away on a private hill at Silwar, accessed by a Gypsy jeep transfer from the parking area. The hill is surrounded by Kalagarh Tiger Reserve (the northern section of Jim Corbett National Park) on two sides. On the other sides: Lansdowne Cantonment town in the distance and the Mandaal River below.
The resort actively markets its pet-friendly status. Their own website features a section called "Gypsy" — their resident dog — and states: "The resort encourages and appreciates the pets, tending them with care and shelter." Pet bowls and pet baskets are provided. A traveller posted photos with a German Shepherd at the property with the caption "She Found Her Paradise — Lansdowne Road Trip with My German Shepherd." 40+ bird species on the hill, including the Monal — the state bird of Uttarakhand — and Hornbill.
The jeep safari into Kalagarh Tiger Reserve can be arranged directly from the property. The resort is 5 km from the Vatanvasa Gate of Jim Corbett National Park.
See the LaHermitage Resort listing →
---2. SB Mount Resort — ⚠ Listed · Call Ahead
⚠ Listed — call ahead · Silgarh River · 25 km before Lansdowne · ₹3,200/night
SB Mount Resort is on the banks of the Silgarh River, 25 km before Lansdowne town on the Kotdwar-Lansdowne Road. The property's own website says: "We are proud to be one of the pet friendly hotels in Lansdowne Uttarakhand." TripAdvisor reviews confirm dogs were welcomed. However, Booking.com shows "Pets are not allowed" — which may reflect an outdated or incorrectly set platform default.
See the SB Mount Resort listing →
---About Lansdowne for Dog Parents
Lansdowne is an army cantonment — which means the town itself is well-maintained, quiet, and has long paved walking paths through forests of oak and rhododendron. The Tip-n-Top viewpoint (also called Tiffin Top), the Bhulla Lake area, and the forest walks towards Garhwali Regimental War Memorial are all accessible and low-crowd even in season. Dogs on leash are generally fine here — the absence of commercial tourist infrastructure means fewer overcrowded areas.
The best months are October to March. The monsoon (July-September) brings leeches on forest trails and wet roads — manageable but plan accordingly.
Distance from Delhi NCR: approximately 5.5 hours via NH58 (Meerut-Kotdwar route) or via NH334B. Plan a stop at Kotdwar — the last large town before the hills begins. No dedicated pet-friendly pitstop in Lansdowne town itself — carry your own water and food.
Other Verified Stays in the Region
If Lansdowne is part of a broader Garhwal trip, these verified properties are within 2-3 hours:
- Van Vadi Forest Retreat, near Rishikesh — TEAM_VERIFIED, 3 resident dogs, all meals, 3 hours from Lansdowne
- The Hosteller Dehradun — TEAM_VERIFIED, private rooms only, 1.5 hours from Lansdowne
- Garhwal Cottage, Kanatal — TEAM_VERIFIED, 7,200 ft, 2 hours from Lansdowne via Chamba