The Sariska Retreat (Thana Gazi) (Alwar)

The Sariska Retreat sits on 10 acres at the foothills of the Aravalli Hills in Thana Gazi, Alwar district, Rajasthan , close enough to Sariska Tiger Reserve that the landscape still feels genuinely wild. The property offers deluxe cottages with Aravalli hill views and luxury tents with garden views, making it one of the more spacious and nature-immersed stays available in this pocket of Rajasthan. Dogs and cats are welcome here, confirmed directly by the property team, and pets are allowed inside your room as long as they do not disturb other guests.

The Setting: Aravalli Foothills and 10 Open Acres

The Sariska Retreat is located in Duharmala Village, New Bypass, Thana Gazi, Rajasthan 301022 , a rural stretch that sits approximately 6.1 to 7.2 kilometres from the boundary of Sariska Tiger Reserve. If you are travelling from Delhi or Jaipur, the drive takes you through the Aravalli range, and by the time you turn off the bypass, the air already smells different from the city.

Spread over 10 acres, the property gives dogs something that most hotel stays simply cannot: room to breathe and move without bumping into walls. The grounds include the area surrounding the cottages and luxury tents, which means there is actual walking space on-site rather than just a garden strip outside a lobby. For pet parents who dread the logistics of keeping an energetic dog calm in a compact hotel room, the space here works in your favour.

The cottages face the Aravalli hills, and that view , rocky, dry, textured , is one of the distinguishing features of this stay. The luxury tents look over a garden setting. Neither accommodation type is the sort of anonymous box you find on a highway. The landscape around Thana Gazi has a particular quality that is hard to describe to someone who has not driven through this belt of Rajasthan: the hills are older than most things in the country, and the property sits right at their base.

Pet Policy: What Is Actually Confirmed

The property permits both dogs and cats. This was confirmed by our team in direct contact with the property. Here is what the policy covers, based on what was verified:

Prior notice required: You must inform the property at the time of booking that you are bringing a pet. Do not assume you can walk in with your dog and sort it out at check-in. Call +91 96102 96666 when you book and confirm your pet's details.

Pets in room: Dogs and cats are allowed in the guest room, whether you are staying in a deluxe cottage or a luxury tent. The condition is that pets should not disturb other guests or damage the property. This is a reasonable ask, and for well-socialised pets it should not present any difficulty.

Supervised in public areas: Pet owners are expected to keep their animals supervised in common areas and to clean up after them. The property has a restaurant, a pool area, a playground, and recreational facilities , shared spaces where other guests without pets are also present. A leash in common areas is the sensible approach.

Pet charges: The property did not confirm a specific pet fee at the time of verification. Confirm this directly when you call to notify them of your pet. Room rates seen on OTA platforms ranged from approximately Rs 3,730 to Rs 11,799 depending on the platform and date , the spread is wide, so checking directly with the property or comparing OTAs before booking is worth doing.

Species confirmed: Dogs and cats. Other animals were not addressed in the verified policy.

Accommodation: Cottages and Luxury Tents

The property offers two accommodation types. The deluxe cottages overlook the Aravalli hills and come with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, private balconies, flat-screen TVs, and private bathrooms. The private balcony is a practical feature for pet owners , it gives your dog a place to sit outside without you having to walk them to a common area every time they need fresh air.

The luxury tents are positioned with garden views. Tent-style accommodation in this region typically means canvas or semi-permanent structures with proper beds and attached bathrooms rather than the camping-style tents people imagine. Given that pets are confirmed inside rooms, both accommodation types apply to pet-travelling guests.

Check-in is at 2:00 PM and check-out is at 11:00 AM or 12:00 PM depending on the booking platform. Standard times , nothing unusual here , but worth knowing for trip planning if you are driving from Delhi or Jaipur and calculating arrival with a dog in the car.

Facilities and Activities on the Property

The Sariska Retreat is a full-service property with a range of facilities that make it more than a place to sleep. The in-house restaurant serves Indian cuisine and traditional Rajasthani dishes, with barbeque options also available. For guests staying multiple nights, having a kitchen or restaurant on-site removes the stress of finding dog-friendly dining nearby , you can eat at the property while your pet settles in the room.

There is an outdoor swimming pool with an Aravalli view. Note: pet access to the pool is not confirmed. The pool is listed as a general guest facility and our verification did not extend to pool policy for pets. Do not assume your dog can swim in the pool; check with the property directly if this matters to your trip.

The property also has a badminton court, a children's playground, and a games and lounge room. For guests with dogs, the outdoor pool area and the surrounding grounds are the more relevant spaces , the property's 10-acre spread means there is walking territory beyond the structured recreation zones.

Experiences available through the property include guided morning yoga and meditation, local Rajasthani cooking classes, mountain trekking, rock climbing, and stargazing. Stargazing at the base of the Aravallis with no city light pollution is the kind of thing you do not forget. The trekking and rock climbing activities are in the Aravalli terrain, which is dramatic and photogenic but also uneven and dry , suitable for fit dogs with good paw conditioning, but worth assessing based on your specific dog's fitness level.

What to Know Before You Visit With a Pet

A few practical notes from the verification process and what we know about this location:

Drive and car comfort: Thana Gazi is approximately 150 to 160 kilometres from Delhi via NH-48 and the Alwar route. The final stretch through Alwar district is a two-lane state highway with moderate traffic. For dogs that travel well in cars, this is a manageable drive. For anxious dogs, the winding Aravalli section can be unsettling , factor in a stop or two.

Temperature: Rajasthan's climate means summers (April to June) at Thana Gazi can be intensely hot, with daytime temperatures pushing well above 40 degrees Celsius. For brachycephalic breeds or dogs with low heat tolerance, summer visits are not recommended. The best windows for pet travel here are October through February, when the Aravalli air is cool and evenings are genuinely pleasant.

Wildlife proximity: Sariska Tiger Reserve is not just a tourist attraction , it is a functioning wildlife zone. Leopards, hyenas, and other large predators are present in and around the reserve boundary. The property is located about 6 to 7 kilometres from that boundary. At night, keeping pets inside or in a secure outdoor area of the property is important. This is not fearmongering; it is standard awareness for anyone staying in wildlife-adjacent Rajasthan.

Free parking: Confirmed via Google hotel details. If you are driving from Delhi or Jaipur with a dog, the parking situation at a property always matters , here, free parking is available on-site.

Nearest vet: A veterinary clinic in Thana Gazi or Alwar town would be the closest option, but the specific nearest vet with confirmed hours and services has not been verified for this listing. If you are travelling with a pet that requires medication or has a health condition, confirm the nearest vet before you leave home.

Food for pets: The property restaurant serves Indian and Rajasthani cuisine. Pet food is not listed as an available item. Bring your own dog or cat food, water bowl, and any medication. There is no confirmed pet supply store in Thana Gazi village, so stock up before you leave the city.

Guest Reviews: What Staying Here Is Like

Google reviews for The Sariska Retreat are mixed. One reviewer described it as an "awesome peaceful place, good food, nice location, good staff" and rated it four stars. Another noted a two-night stay and called the rooms, staff, and food quality good. A third review flagged poor service and bad behaviour from a hotel employee, rated at two stars.

The pattern here , positive location and food reviews, with at least one service complaint , is worth noting. A peaceful natural setting and a good kitchen are not things that depend on a single staff member's mood, so the location and food positives are likely to be consistent. Service quality at smaller properties in this belt of Rajasthan can vary by visit and by the team on duty. Going in with that expectation, and with your prior notice confirmed for your pet, is the sensible approach.

The food reviews are specifically relevant for pet-travelling guests because dining at the property removes the need to leave your pet alone in the room to find a restaurant. Eating Rajasthani food with an Aravalli hill view while your dog rests inside is exactly the kind of low-friction evening that makes a trip with a pet work well.

Getting There

The Sariska Retreat is located at Duharmala Village, New Bypass, Thana Gazi, Rajasthan 301022. The property is accessible from the New Bypass road in Thana Gazi. The nearest major town is Alwar, approximately 35 kilometres away. From Delhi, the drive is roughly 3 to 3.5 hours depending on traffic on the Delhi-Jaipur highway and the Alwar turnoff. From Jaipur, Alwar is approximately 150 kilometres via the Shahpura and Viratnagar route.

Contact the property at +91 96102 96666 to confirm your booking, notify them of your pet, and get directions to the specific property entrance on the bypass road.