International Travellers' Hostel by ITH Stays (Varanasi)

International Travellers' Hostel by ITH Stays is one of the very few pet-friendly stays in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh , and it comes with a clear, no-fuss policy: pets are welcome in private rooms, with no extra charges. Located on Vidyapeeth Road in the Shivpurwa neighbourhood, the hostel sits just minutes from Varanasi Junction Railway Station, making it a genuinely practical base for anyone arriving by train with a dog in tow. The property has a peaceful garden and a quiet, residential feel that sets it apart from the chaos of the ghat-facing lanes closer to the city centre.

The Setting

ITH Varanasi sits in a quieter residential pocket of the city , accessible yet not bustling, as one guest put it. The property has a visible garden with greenery, bamboo, and open outdoor space, which shows up clearly in guest photos. For a dog-owning traveller, this matters: there's somewhere to take a breath and let your pet settle before heading into the sensory intensity of Varanasi's ghats and markets. The building itself has a character-filled interior , exposed brick archways, a numbered locker system, and bunk-bed dorms alongside private rooms , but it's the garden and the calmer street-side location that make it workable for pets.

Transport to the ghats and city centre is described by multiple guests as easy and affordable, which is relevant if you're leaving your dog behind in the room while you explore the Ganges aarti or the old city lanes. The hostel is also close enough to Varanasi Junction that arriving or departing by train with a pet , always an exercise in logistics , is significantly less stressful than if you were staying deep inside the old city.

Pet Policy in Practice

The confirmed policy is straightforward: pets allowed in private rooms, no extra charges. This is unusually transparent for a hostel-category property in India, where pet policies are often either absent or buried in fine print. What this means practically: you cannot check your dog into a dorm bed , you'll need to book one of the private room options. The hostel has not published a weight limit or a breed restriction list, but as with any accommodation, it's worth a quick call or message to confirm before you arrive, especially if you're travelling with a large breed.

The property's kitchen and restaurant have been noted by guests as a genuine asset , one reviewer mentioned being offered a complimentary meal when food delivery wasn't available, and another noted the restaurant stayed open late for arriving guests. Whether the kitchen can accommodate any specific dietary needs for your pet is not confirmed; plan to carry your dog's regular food.

What Guests Say

Google reviews for ITH Varanasi are consistently strong across multiple traveller types , solo, couple, and family stays all rating at 5/5. Guests single out the manager (referred to as Bikas bhai or Vikas across different reviews) and staff member Ranjit by name, noting they go out of their way to make the stay smooth. The property hosted a New Year's Eve celebration that guests were invited to join , a detail that suggests an active, community-style hostel culture rather than a purely transactional stay. For a pet parent travelling solo to Varanasi, the social atmosphere and hands-on management style is a genuine plus , you're likely to get honest, specific local advice rather than a shrug.

The property is highlighted as great value across reviews, with hotel highlights tagged as "Quiet," "Great view," and "Great value" on Google. The quiet tag is particularly relevant for dogs , a calmer environment reduces the chance of a stressed or reactive animal disturbing other guests.

What to Confirm Before You Visit

The following details were not available in the sources reviewed and are worth confirming directly with the property before booking:

• Whether large or giant breeds are accommodated in the private rooms
• Specific private room types available (size, ground-floor access)
• Whether the garden is accessible to guests with dogs
• Checkout time and any flexibility if you need time to walk your dog before leaving

Call the property on 0542 222 0058 or visit ithstays.com to confirm these details before your trip.