Darbar - A Heritage Farmstay by Guldar Hotels

Darbar is an 80-year-old Garhwali haveli, stone-restored and quietly tucked into the deodar forests of Village Sabli on the Ranichauri motor road, just outside Chamba in Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand. It is not a hotel in the conventional sense — it began as a personal project during the pandemic, driven by a belief that the crumbling haveli deserved a second life, and today it runs as a heritage farmstay with its own orchards, kitchen-garden vegetables, and a pace that most guests describe as exactly what they didn't know they needed. For pet parents, the confirmed policy is straightforward: pets are allowed everywhere on the property, and the farmstay is noted to be well-maintained and clean.

The Setting — What Darbar Actually Is

Darbar sits in Village Sabli on the Ranichauri-motor road, positioned between Chamba and New Tehri in the Garhwal hills of Uttarakhand. The property is built around a restored haveli — part heritage structure, part working farm, part family home — surrounded by deodar forest and open Himalayan skies. The owners planted orchards and cultivated vegetables on-site, and meals at Darbar are sourced from what the farm and surrounding region produce. For a dog travelling with you, this setting means space: mountain terrain, forest paths, and the kind of open quiet that makes a Himalayan farmstay worth the drive. Mornings reportedly open with mountain light over distant snow peaks, and evenings gather around bonfires under open stars — both of which are significantly better with a dog beside you.

The farmstay is located near Chamba, which also puts it within reach of the Kanatal and Dhanaulti belt — a region the property lists as offering forest treks, lakeside areas, and adventure activities like zip-lining and mountain biking at Dhanaulti. For dog parents who want to combine a slow farmstay with some outdoor exploration, the location is well-placed. The road in is the Ranichauri motor road, which connects Chamba to this part of Tehri — navigable by car, though mountain road conditions should be checked before travel, especially during monsoon months.

Pet Policy — What's Confirmed and What to Ask

The confirmed position from the property is that pets are allowed everywhere — there are no restricted zones mentioned. The farmstay is described as super clean and well-maintained, which is relevant for dog owners who have had mixed experiences at "pet-friendly" properties that in practice confine dogs to outdoor areas or charge unexpected fees. Whether dogs are permitted inside the rooms themselves has not been separately confirmed in the source material, so it is worth asking directly at booking. Pet charges (if any) are also not confirmed — this is something to clarify before arrival, particularly if you are travelling with a large breed or multiple dogs.

The farmstay ethos is personal and unhurried. The owners describe running it quietly, without theatrics, with a team that has grown with the place — which generally translates to the kind of host who will actually engage with your dog rather than treat them as an inconvenience. That said, confirm your specific dog's needs directly with the property before booking, including any weight or breed considerations, since these are not addressed on the website.

What to Know Before You Visit

Darbar is a working farmstay in the Garhwal hills, not a resort with standardised amenities. Food is farm-to-table, the pace is slow, and the experience is built around the landscape and the heritage structure rather than facilities. For dog parents, this is usually a positive — open land, mountain air, and a property run by people who care about the place tend to make for far better dog trips than a resort with a "pets welcome" sign and no real thought given to it. The nearest major town for supplies or veterinary care would be Chamba or New Tehri; confirm proximity to a vet if you are travelling with a dog that has health considerations.

The farmstay is realistically a weekend escape from Delhi or Dehradun — the drive from Delhi is roughly 8–9 hours via Dehradun and Chamba, making it a solid road-trip destination for dogs who travel well in the car. the slow pace of Garhwal village life that the owners describe is exactly what makes this kind of stay meaningful with a dog — no rush, no crowds, and enough open space for a proper walk.

Address: Darbar Farmstay, Village Sabli, Ranichauri-motor road, Near Chamba, New Tehri, Uttarakhand | Phone: 099103 64826 | Website: darbarfarmstay.com