Hotel Merwara Estate (Ajmer)

Hotel Merwara Estate , also known historically as Bhagchand ki Kothi , is one of Ajmer's most recognisable heritage properties, housed in a 19th-century British-era palace on Daulat Bagh Road in Ganj, Rajasthan. The property sits a 10-minute walk from Anasagar Lake and just 2 km from Ajmer Junction railway station, making it a genuinely central base for exploring the city. For pet parents, the headline detail is straightforward: pets are allowed in private rooms at no extra charge, which is a meaningful policy in a heritage hotel category where pet access is often restricted or comes with fees. If you are planning a road trip through Rajasthan with your dog, Ajmer is a natural stop, and a pet-friendly heritage property in the heart of the city is not something you come across easily.

The Setting

The property is a white colonial-era palace , the kind of building that photographs dramatically at any hour, as Google reviewers with night-time shots will confirm. The architecture features arched windows, a pillared portico entrance, and the kind of elevated position that gives upper-floor rooms views toward the Aravalli hills. Reviewer Dev Kumar Malik describes it as "one of Ajmer's prominent heritage properties, reflecting the city's rich colonial past," originally built during the British era. That history is visible in the proportions of the building , the high ceilings, the wide corridors, the sense of space that a purpose-built colonial residence carries, and which most modern hotels cannot replicate regardless of budget.

The frontage has a motor court with space for vehicles, and photos confirm cars parked directly in front of the main entrance. For road-trippers arriving by car with dogs, the practical question of where to pull in, park, and unload without stress appears to have a workable answer here. There is no narrow street parking scramble; you arrive, pull in, and deal with your dog and your bags in a relatively calm setting , which matters more than it sounds after a long drive.

Anasagar Lake , a large, scenic lake on the western edge of Ajmer city , is within walking distance of the hotel. Walking distance access to open lakefront space is a genuine plus when you are travelling with a dog that needs a morning stretch. The lake area is a public space and a popular one; leash your dog and read the pedestrian flow before assuming you can move freely. Early mornings tend to be calmer on Indian lakefronts, and that is likely your best window for a relaxed walk with your pet before the day picks up.

Pet Policy in Practice

The confirmed policy is pets allowed in private rooms only, with no pet charges. This is the detail that matters most: your dog stays in the room with you, not in a kennel, not in a separate area, and you are not paying a nightly surcharge stacked on top of your room rate. For a multi-night stay, a no-pet-fee policy at a heritage hotel represents a real saving. Room rates visible on booking platforms start from approximately ₹1,936 per night for a standard room, though this figure is subject to date and availability.

The policy applying to private rooms only is worth understanding clearly. If you are booking for a group where some guests are in shared accommodation, the pet allowance does not carry across. Your dog is welcome in your private room , that is the boundary of the confirmed policy. Everything beyond that: the corridors, the common areas, the dining space, the pool area , treat as unconfirmed until you speak to the hotel directly.

What the policy does not clarify , and what you should confirm before arrival , is whether there are weight or breed restrictions, how many pets are permitted per room, and whether the hotel has any designated outdoor area or green space on the grounds where dogs can be taken for a short walk without going out onto the main road. Call ahead and be specific about your dog's size and breed so there are no surprises at check-in. Heritage hotels that allow pets are often doing so on a case-by-case basis managed at the front desk level, and the more information you give them upfront, the smoother the arrival tends to be.

What Reviewers Say

Hotel Merwara Estate holds a 4.2 rating across 1,234 Google reviews, with the majority of feedback praising the heritage atmosphere, the lake views, and the spacious rooms. Reviewer Arun Chauhan describes "spacious and comfortable" rooms and a "peaceful atmosphere" during a 3-day stay. The heritage building and the overall setting are consistently the strongest points across the review corpus , guests come for the colonial character of the property and, broadly, that is what they find.

A smaller number of reviews , including a 1-star Trip.com review and a 1-star Google review , raise concerns about cleanliness standards, the condition of the swimming pool, and a gap between advertised and actual dining options. These are worth flagging honestly: heritage buildings can be inconsistent across room types, and what one guest experiences in a well-maintained lake-view room may differ considerably from a room in an older or less-serviced wing of the same building. If you are booking for a pet-travel stay, ask specifically about room condition and confirm which room category you are being assigned. A room with a balcony or external access will make a meaningful difference when you have a dog who needs to go out at odd hours.

The swimming pool mentioned in reviews appears to be a facility on the property. No source confirms whether guests currently have access to it, nor whether pets are permitted near it. Do not assume pool access for dogs or for guests until you have confirmed this directly with the hotel at the time of booking.

Ajmer as a Dog-Travel Destination

Ajmer sits approximately 135 km from Jaipur , roughly 2.5 hours by road , and is a realistic and often-overlooked stop on a Rajasthan road trip with dogs. Most pet parents driving through Rajasthan default to Jaipur, Udaipur, or Jodhpur, and Ajmer gets skipped. That works in your favour: the city is quieter, the lakefront is less crowded, and the heritage properties here are competitively priced compared to their equivalents in the more-touristed cities. A night or two in Ajmer with a base at a pet-friendly hotel in the centre breaks up a longer Rajasthan circuit nicely and gives your dog a day of lower-intensity walking rather than navigating a busy medina on a tight leash.

The Daulat Bagh Gardens , also called the Company Gardens , are close to the hotel and worth noting as a green space option in the city. These are public gardens, so standard leash rules apply and access for dogs may vary depending on time of day and local enforcement. Verify before you plan a morning there with your dog.

What We Haven't Confirmed Yet

The following details are not confirmed in any source available to us and are worth verifying directly with the hotel before booking:

• Weight or breed restrictions on pets in rooms
• Maximum number of pets per booking
• Whether there is a garden, lawn, or designated outdoor area for dogs on the property grounds
• Whether pet amenities (bowls, mat, waste bags) are provided or should be brought
• Whether the pool is currently operational and accessible to guests
• Resident dogs or cats on the property

Getting there: Hotel Merwara Estate is located on Daulat Bagh Road, Ganj, Ajmer, Rajasthan 305001. Ajmer Junction railway station is approximately 2 km away. Ajmer is well connected by road from Jaipur (approximately 135 km, roughly 2.5 hours) and is a realistic overnight stop on a Rajasthan road trip with dogs. Check-in is at 2:00 pm; check-out at 11:00 am. Phone: 091662 32231. Website: hotelmerwaraestate.in.