Garhwal Cottage (Kanatal, Mussoorie) (Mussoorie)

The Garhwal Cottage sits inside the Kaudia Range at 7,200 feet - a century-old stone house refurbished by Hushstays into a 2-bedroom retreat that keeps the bones of the original building and adds only what's necessary. The stone walls, large French windows framing panoramic Himalayan views, terraced fields on three sides, and a gazebo on the lower level for open-air breakfasts are what the property leads with. Getting there involves a 5-minute uphill walk from the parking area - a common arrangement for cottages in this part of the Kaudia range where vehicle access ends at the road.

Kanatal sits between Mussoorie and Chamba on the Tehri road - 40 km from Mussoorie, 25 km from Tehri Dam, 65 km from Rishikesh. Less visited than either Mussoorie or Dhanaulti, the Kaudia forest range here retains wildlife that more-crowded hill areas have lost. The Kaudia forest trail from the property passes through leopard country, with barking deer, Himalayan bears, and the cats themselves having been encountered near the cottage - the kind of wildlife adjacency that Mussoorie and Dhanaulti properties can no longer offer. For a dog visit, leash discipline on forest trails matters here more than at lower-altitude, more-domesticated properties.

Practical notes

Breakfast included; other meals cooked by the in-house caretaker from local Pahadi cuisine on order. BBQ on prior request. WiFi available; Jio 4G good in clear weather. No AC - designed for mountain ventilation; nights drop sharply at 7,200 ft. Snowfall December–February. Cash only at property; ₹500 damage deposit on arrival. Road to parking is steep - 4x4 or SUV strongly recommended for the final approach.