House Of Hive, Gethiya (Gethiya)

House Of Hive sits in Gethiya on the Naina Range in Uttarakhand, about 10 kilometres from Nainital town, and it is one of the rare colonial-style bungalow stays in this part of Kumaon that openly welcomes dogs. The property is described by guests as a quaint, colonial-style bungalow surrounded by lush green forest, set right on the main road yet sheltered by dense tree cover. With a Google rating of 4.6 from 55 reviews and a 4.9 on TripAdvisor from 21 reviews, the feedback is consistently strong across platforms. Pets are allowed with an additional charge of ₹1,000 per pet per night, confirmed directly by Lokesh, one of the property owners, and there are no breed restrictions in place.

The Setting: Naina Range Forest, Stone Walls, and Wooden Ceilings

House Of Hive occupies a heritage-style stone structure in Gethiya, a small village on the Naina Range, the ridge that runs above Nainital lake in Uttarakhand. The property photographs show thick stone walls, wooden beam ceilings with a warm timber finish, and rooms that open toward tree cover on multiple sides. The gardens visible in the property images are laid out with manicured green lawns against a backdrop of dense forest, giving dogs room to move around outdoors without being entirely in the wild.

The location on the main road means the property is accessible without navigating steep forest tracks, which is a practical point for anyone driving up from the plains with pets in the car. Gethiya itself is a quiet village area, very different in character from the tourist density of Nainital's Mall Road. Guests who have reviewed the property mention the lush green surroundings consistently, and the owner's response to one review references it as a "colonial-style retreat" in a lush setting. The stone construction keeps interiors cool in summer and the forest canopy keeps ambient temperatures lower than Nainital town even in warmer months.

The Naina Range elevation means this stay is genuinely in the hills rather than at the base. Dogs that do well in cooler, forested environments will be in their element here. The surrounding area includes forest paths and hillside terrain, though specific trail details were not confirmed in the sources available for this listing.

Pet Policy: What Is Confirmed and What to Check

The pet policy at House Of Hive was confirmed by Lokesh, who is identified in the owner's response to a Google review as a member of the core team at the property. Pets are allowed. The charge is ₹1,000 per pet per night. There are no breed restrictions, which means large breeds are not excluded by policy. This is confirmed information and not inferred from the category or setting.

What is not yet confirmed for this listing: whether pets are permitted inside guest rooms, whether there is a limit on the number of pets per booking, and whether any specific areas of the property are off-limits to pets. These are questions worth asking directly before you book, particularly if you are travelling with multiple dogs or a dog that does not do well when left outside a room. The contact number on record is 078328 86001, and the property website is houseofhive.in.

The ₹1,000 per pet per night charge is a transparent, flat rate. For a one-night weekend getaway with one dog, you are looking at that amount on top of the room rate, which starts from approximately ₹4,204 per night based on the rates shown on Goibibo for the property. That is a reasonable cost structure for a hills stay of this character, and it avoids the ambiguity of "pet charge on request" policies that some properties in this region use.

No pet amenities such as bowls, pet beds, or dedicated outdoor tethering areas were mentioned in the available sources. If these matter for your trip, confirm with the property ahead of time. Guests travelling with dogs that need to be kept leashed or contained in a defined outdoor area should ask specifically about the garden setup and whether it is fenced.

What Guests Say: Atmosphere, Food, and Hospitality

The Google review profile breaks down into five categories: Breakfast (7 mentions), Room (7), Atmosphere (9), Property (19), and Dining (12). The heavy concentration in Property and Atmosphere categories tells you something useful: guests are talking about the physical experience of being at House Of Hive more than they are talking about any individual service. For a pet parent, that is relevant because it suggests the property itself, the grounds, the structure, the setting, is what makes this stay distinctive.

One reviewed guest, Ananya Shukla, specifically describes the property as a "quaint, colonial-style bungalow with lush green forest all around and right on main road" and rates the service as immaculate. The owner's response singles out a team member, Mr. Lokesh Mehra, by name, suggesting a small and personally managed operation rather than a large resort with interchangeable staff. Small, personally managed stays in the hills tend to be more flexible on pet-related requests, though this is an observation and not a confirmed policy.

The TripAdvisor score of 4.9 from 21 reviews is notably higher than the Google average, and the overall pattern across both platforms points to a consistently well-regarded stay with no obvious weak points surfacing in the publicly available review data. Dining gets 12 mentions in the Google review categories, which suggests food is a genuine part of the experience at this property and not an afterthought. Whether meals are served in a common dining room or in-room was not confirmed in the available sources.

Getting Here: Driving Up to Gethiya from the Plains

Gethiya is located on the Naina Range, Uttarakhand, with the property address listed as House of Hive Talli, Gethiya, Naina Range, Uttarakhand 263127. For anyone driving from Delhi NCR, the standard route goes through Moradabad and Haldwani before climbing toward Nainital. Gethiya sits on this upper stretch, after the plains roads give way to the Kumaon hills. The distance from Delhi is approximately 300 to 320 kilometres depending on the route, making it a manageable overnight drive or a long single-day drive.

For dogs, the drive up into the Kumaon hills involves winding mountain roads once you leave Haldwani. If your dog is prone to motion sickness, the stretch from Haldwani onward requires breaks. The property's position on the main road, as mentioned in guest reviews, means you can pull up without navigating a steep access driveway, which is a genuine convenience when you have dogs in the car and luggage to unload.

The nearest railhead is Kathgodam, which is the last broad-gauge station on the Kumaon route. From Kathgodam, Gethiya is a roughly 25 to 30 kilometre drive up into the hills. If you are travelling without a car, you would need to arrange a taxi from Kathgodam or Haldwani. Travelling by train with dogs to Kathgodam and then taking a local taxi to Gethiya is a possible route, though the logistics of local taxis with dogs in Uttarakhand require prior arrangement.

The Naina Range elevation means the property experiences a genuine Himalayan foothills climate. Summers at this altitude are significantly cooler than the plains, and winter months from December through February can be cold with occasional frost at elevation. The shoulder seasons of March to May and September to November are generally the most comfortable for a hills stay with dogs, combining good weather with lower tourist volume compared to the peak summer and Diwali holiday rushes.

Practical Notes for Travelling with Dogs Here

Dogs are allowed at House Of Hive with no breed restrictions confirmed, which means you are not facing the blanket "small dogs only" or "Indian breeds only" policies that some Kumaon homestays operate. Large breeds, retrievers, and Indie dogs are not excluded by the stated policy. The ₹1,000 per pet per night charge is a known cost going in, so there is no ambiguity at checkout.

The forest setting of the Naina Range is beautiful but it does mean the surrounding area has wildlife. Kumaon forests are leopard country. Dogs should be kept on leash outside the property grounds, particularly at dawn, dusk, and after dark. This is a standard precaution for any dog-friendly stay in the Kumaon and Garhwal hills and is not specific to House Of Hive, but it is worth stating clearly for anyone planning their first hills trip with a dog.

The property's stone construction and dense tree surroundings also mean the outdoor areas are likely cooler and shadier than open-ground properties at similar altitudes. For dogs that overheat easily, this is a positive. For older dogs or dogs with joint sensitivity, the cool and potentially damp conditions of a Kumaon winter stay are worth factoring into your planning.

No confirmed information is available in the sources for this listing about nearby veterinary services. If you are travelling with a dog that requires regular medication or has a known health condition, identify the nearest veterinary clinic in Nainital town before you travel. Nainital is approximately 10 kilometres from Gethiya and is the closest urban centre with organised commercial services.

House Of Hive, Gethiya | House of Hive Talli, Gethiya, Naina Range, Uttarakhand 263127 | Phone: 078328 86001 | Website: houseofhive.in