Skylounge | Pet-friendly Traditional 4-Bedroom Retreat With Sauna & Garden Near Haku Temple

Tucked near Haku Temple in Narkanda, Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh, Skylounge is a traditional stone-and-wood retreat that openly welcomes dogs and other pets — and backs it up with a detailed, transparent pet policy. The property features two heritage-style cottages built in a distinctive triangular Himachali architecture, with deodar forest views, a charming garden, and a common sauna with open shower and steam bath. If you are looking for a pet friendly stay in the Shimla hills that can accommodate a large group along with your dog, this one is worth a close look.

The Setting: Himachali Heritage in the Deodar Hills

Skylounge sits near Haku Temple in the Narkanda belt — a quieter, less commercialised stretch of the Shimla hills that rewards travellers willing to go a little further. The property's triangular stone-and-wood construction is rooted in traditional Himachali building craft: thick walls, wooden beams, and an architecture that stays warm even when temperatures outside drop sharply. Each of the two cottages includes bedrooms that open onto a private patio, and a cosy living room with expansive windows that frame the deodar forest and mountain peaks. For dogs who love to sit and watch the world, those windows will get a lot of use.

The garden is one of the more functional outdoor spaces at the property — a charming, relatively flat area with hill views that gives dogs room to move, sniff, and decompress after a long drive up from the plains. The outdoor sitting area, with its fire pit setup, makes evenings genuinely comfortable even in cooler months. The common sauna with open shower and steam bath is a proper amenity, not just a listing feature — useful after a day of cold-weather hiking with your dog. The property accommodates up to 19 guests at standard occupancy (22 at max), which makes it a practical choice for large families or multi-dog group trips.

Pet Policy: What the Numbers Actually Mean

Elivaas operates a clearly structured pet policy across its properties, and Skylounge follows it. Here is what is confirmed: a refundable pet security deposit of ₹10,000 for one pet, or ₹15,000 for two pets, is collected in addition to the standard villa security deposit of ₹15,000. Both deposits are refundable after check-out, provided there are no damages. A one-time pet sanitation fee is also collected at check-in — for larger villas in the 4/5 BHK category, the sanitation fee is listed as ₹3,000 based on source data (confirm this at the time of booking as tiers can vary). Pets are not allowed in the pool — a care charge of ₹10,000 applies if this rule is not followed. Clean-up is the guest's responsibility, and any damages caused by pets are charged at actuals. These are firm but fair rules that reflect a property that genuinely wants to host pets rather than merely tolerate them.

The property is booked through Elivaas's platform and is accessible via approximately 150 stairs from the road — something worth factoring in if you have a senior dog, a dog with mobility issues, or a very small breed. The check-in time is 2:00 PM and check-out is by 11:00 AM, with late check-out available on request subject to availability.

Food, Services, and What to Add On

Elivaas offers add-on services that can be selected at the time of booking. Available options include a snack package (2 veg + 2 non-veg, no BBQ), a Family Friendly Pack with bonfire, breakfast and high tea, and a chef service for one meal (groceries charged at actuals). None of these are mandatory — the base booking is property-only. For a mountain stay with a large group and dogs, the bonfire and high tea package is a genuinely enjoyable option: sitting around a fire in the Himachali hills at dusk with your dog by your side is exactly the kind of evening this property is built for.

The property follows a strict no-smoking policy indoors, with designated outdoor areas for smokers. Noise must be kept reasonable between 10 PM and 7 AM — relevant if your dog is a vocal one. Daily housekeeping is compulsory and guests are asked to cooperate with the housekeeping team, so plan accordingly if your dog is wary of strangers entering the room.

What We Haven't Confirmed Yet

A few details were not available in the source material and are worth confirming directly with Elivaas before your booking: the exact pet sanitation fee applicable to this 4 BHK configuration, whether pets are allowed inside the guest bedrooms and living areas (the policy states pets are allowed on the property but does not specify room access explicitly), proximity to the nearest veterinary clinic from Narkanda, and whether the sauna and outdoor garden areas are accessible to both cottages or assigned separately. Travelling to a mountain property with a dog always rewards a quick call ahead — these are the specific questions worth asking.