DugDug Camps (Jangalia Gaon) (Bhimtal)

DugDug Camps sits above Jangalia Gaon, a small village near Bhimtal in Uttarakhand, and it is one of the most genuinely pet-considered campsites we have come across in the Indian hills. Three named bell tents , Guldaar, Ghurad, and Kakar , perch at the forest's edge, with home-cooked meals, birdsong in the morning, and a founder who answers the phone himself. If you are travelling with a dog or a cat and you want actual seclusion without giving up a real bed, hot water, and a bathroom of your own, this is worth the slow road up.

The Setting: Three Tents, One Hill, Forest on the Edge

DugDug Bhimtal is the first property in the DugDug collection, founded by Anuj Dhankar, a former data scientist who quit his job, rode a motorcycle across India, and kept noticing how many people in beautiful, remote places had to leave for the cities to make a living. The DugDug model is built around changing that: local hands build it, local produce fills the kitchen, and the money stays in the village. That backstory matters for pet parents because it shapes what kind of place this actually is , small, personal, run by people who are genuinely invested in it rather than a hospitality company managing scale.

The camp has three bell tents, each named after a local wild animal: Guldaar (leopard), Ghurad (wild boar), and Kakar (barking deer). The site sits above Jangalia Gaon on the Chota Kailash Road, near Bhimtal and Nainital in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. The founder is explicit about what the last stretch of road is like , slow , and there is no shop, no bar, and not much to do after dark except sit by the fire. For many dog owners, that is precisely the point.

Each tent includes a private bathroom, hot water, Wi-Fi, and a heater. The camp operates at a small scale deliberately: few enough guests that everyone gets quiet and privacy, small enough that the team knows who is staying. The interactive site map shows the kitchen as a separate structure from the tents, sitting at the centre of the hilltop camp. There is also a squash court built by a friend of the team, though pets cannot enter it , there is an outdoor area beside it where your dog can wait.

The Pet Policy in Plain Terms

DugDug's pet policy is unusually considered for a campsite. Here is what was confirmed directly:

Who is welcome: Dogs and cats of any breed and any size. The team's only condition is that the animal is not an endangered species or on any legal ban list, which is a legal requirement rather than a practical restriction for most travellers. No breed bans, no weight limits, no extra nightly fee for the pet.

Where your pet can go: Free to roam the entire campsite , the grounds, the outdoor areas, the common spaces , and inside your own tent. The two exceptions are the kitchen (the team is mindful of pet hair around food preparation) and other guests' tents. Both of those are entirely reasonable in a shared camp setting.

Leash policy: Off-leash is fine around the camp. The team's recommendation is practical rather than a rule: if your dog is the type to bolt, keep them leashed because getting a dog back in the hills is genuinely hard. This is honest advice from people who know the terrain, not a liability clause.

What is provided: Pet beds can be arranged, and the camp has water bowls and feeding bowls available at no charge. Your pet can get on the beds and sofas in the tent , the team keeps separate pet-stay sheets so no future guest is dealing with fur on their bedding. Pet food like cooked chicken is available but charged at cost.

Shared camp consideration: If other guests are staying at the same time, the team asks pet parents to be mindful of their animal's behaviour so it does not cause inconvenience to others. This is standard good-sense at any small shared property, not an unusual restriction. If the other guests are fine with it, there is more flexibility.

What the Reviews and the Founder Tell You

DugDug Bhimtal holds a 4.9 rating from 57 Google reviews at the time of listing. One reviewer, Devansh R., wrote: "Everything was very clean, the food was ah-maze-ing, must have their Maggi, we ordered it so many times, the cook even took our order at 11:30pm even though the kitchen was closed, very sweet people." That detail matters because it speaks to how the camp actually operates , not by the clock, but by the person in front of them. For pet parents travelling with dogs who may need a late-night bowl refill or some extra attention, that kind of flexibility from staff is genuinely valuable.

Anuj Dhankar, the founder, writes on the site: "If any of it sounds like the wrong holiday, tell me and I'll say so rather than take the booking." That is the kind of host who will also tell you honestly if a particular weekend is fully booked with families who might find a large dog stressful, and suggest a quieter date instead. The camp books direct , via WhatsApp or the website , and the founder answers the phone. For pet parents, being able to actually speak to the person running the place before you book is worth more than any amenity list.

The camp also runs a forest bathing programme, described on the site as a curated do-it-yourself experience for nature immersion. This is the kind of slow, unstructured outdoor activity that suits dogs well , moving through forest at a walk, stopping often, no crowds. The programme details are still being developed, so check with the team on the current format when you book.

Booking, Cancellation, and What to Know Before You Drive Up

DugDug does not list on third-party booking platforms. All bookings are direct , via WhatsApp at 089205 15172 or through the website. The booking policy, as stated on the site: 50% advance confirms your booking, with a full refund available up to 7 days before arrival (14 days for a whole-camp booking). Prices include taxes, private bathroom, hot water, Wi-Fi, heater, and no booking fees. There are weeknight deals , stay three weeknights and pay for two, Sunday to Thursday, taken off the quote automatically , and a referral credit of ₹500 for a friend.

The camp is near Bhimtal and Nainital in Uttarakhand. The founder is explicit that the lake at Bhimtal is a drive away from the camp, not a walk, and that the bell tent fits five at a push but four is more comfortable. These are the kind of honest logistics that most listings leave out and that matter when you are loading up a car with a large dog, camping gear, and food for a few days. Plan your drive accordingly: the last stretch of road is slow, so factor that into your arrival time, especially if you are coming from Delhi or the plains after dark.

Every DugDug property is positioned to be within six to eight hours of a major city , that is a stated design principle of the brand. For Delhi-based pet parents, Bhimtal sits comfortably within that window and makes for a viable long weekend without a flight. The road from Haldwani to Bhimtal is well-travelled; the final section up to Jangalia Gaon is where you slow down.

The Honest Assessment for Pet Parents

What makes DugDug Camps stand out for pet travel is not just that pets are allowed , it is the specificity of how they have thought it through. Separate sheets for pet stays so the bedding policy does not create friction with non-pet guests. Bowls and pet beds included so you are not packing your own. A leash recommendation that is practical rather than punitive. A kitchen that is off-limits, explained clearly. A cleaning deposit that is only applied if something genuinely needs it, not automatically tagged onto every pet booking.

The camp is small, intentionally so. That means your dog is not going to be navigating crowds, noisy common areas, or unfamiliar staff every few hours. The people running it know who is on the property. The forest is at the edge of camp. The nights are quiet. If you have a dog who does better with space and calm than with stimulation and other animals, Jangalia Gaon in the Kumaon hills is a solid match.

One thing to be clear about: this is not a resort with a pool, a spa, or a wide range of activities. The camp has a squash court (which your pet cannot enter), a kitchen that runs late, a forest bathing programme still being developed, and three tents. What it has in abundance is seclusion, a view, home-cooked food, and an owner who is genuinely reachable. For the right kind of traveller with the right kind of dog, that is the whole list.

DugDug Camps (Jangalia Gaon)
Chota Kailash Road, Jangalia Gaon, Bhimtal, Uttarakhand 263136
Phone / WhatsApp: 089205 15172
Book direct at dugdug.in , no booking fees, no third-party platforms.