Two Chimneys (Gethiya)

Two Chimneys sits in Gethia, a quiet ridge village in the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand, about 16 kilometres from Nainital and 30 minutes from Kainchi Dham. The property comprises two heritage bungalows built in wood and stone , a century-old heritage house and a newer ridge bungalow overlooking both valleys , holding twelve rooms in total, no two of which share the same layout, proportion, or view. Dogs are welcome here with no breed restrictions and no size restrictions, making it one of the more genuinely open stays in the Kumaon hills for pet parents travelling with large or mixed-breed dogs.

The Setting: Gethia, Kumaon

Gethia belongs to a quieter register of Kumaon travel. The village and its neighbour Bhowali share a sanatorium-era history , this part of the hills was historically used for rest and recovery, and that slower rhythm still defines the area. Two Chimneys leans into that: the property describes itself as "observant, restorative, and quietly alive to the weather, the light, and the forest." For pet parents, this translates practically into a setting that is neither crowded nor loud, which matters a great deal if you are travelling with a dog who finds busy hill-town streets stressful.

The estate sits at a ridge elevation with views across two valleys. The two bungalows , built in wood and stone , have fireplaces, wraparound verandas, and lofted suites. The property's own description emphasises settling in rather than checking in, and the surroundings reflect that. Forest roads, birding trails, and open mountain terrain are accessible from the estate, making it a realistic base for long morning walks with your dog through the Kumaon forest rather than a property where you simply have a room that tolerates pets.

The location also positions you well for day trips. Guests routinely travel to Kainchi Dham (30 minutes), Nainital (16 km), Bhimtal, Sattal, Mukteshwar, and Ramgarh , the classic Kumaon circuit. The railway at Kathgodam is 45 minutes away, and Pantnagar Airport is 90 minutes. If you are driving up from Delhi, the route via Moradabad and Kathgodam is well-established, and the road to Gethia from Bhowali is manageable in a standard car.

Pet Policy: What Is Confirmed

The pet charge is ₹500 per night. No size restrictions and no breed restrictions are in place , confirmed through the listing. This is a meaningful detail in Kumaon, where many heritage properties quietly turn away large dogs or certain breeds at check-in regardless of what their booking page says. Two Chimneys does not operate that way based on the available information.

What is not yet confirmed: whether pets are allowed inside guest rooms, which specific rooms or bungalows accommodate pets, and whether there are limits on the number of dogs per booking. The property has twelve rooms split across two bungalows of different character , the older heritage house and the newer ridge bungalow. It is reasonable to call ahead and ask which unit is better suited if you are travelling with a larger or more active dog. The wraparound verandas described across multiple rooms suggest outdoor access directly from the accommodation, which would be useful for dog owners, but this is an observation from the property's own description and has not been independently verified.

Given the forest surroundings and the proximity to birding trails and wooded roads, dogs who pull on leash or are reactive to wildlife will need careful management on the property grounds. Kumaon forests host leopards in some areas. No specific wildlife advisory has been confirmed for Gethia specifically, but this is standard hill-travel awareness, not a property-specific hazard.

The Rooms and Grounds

Two Chimneys holds twelve rooms across two bungalows, and the property is explicit that no two rooms are identical , each carries its own mood, proportion, and view. The older bungalow is described as a heritage house over a century old; the newer structure is a ridge bungalow with views across both valleys. Both are built in wood and stone. Rooms are described as having fireplaces, wraparound verandas, lofted suites, and sunlit corners , the language consistently emphasises space and light rather than standardised hotel amenities.

For guests travelling with dogs, the veranda access is the most relevant architectural detail. A room with a private wraparound veranda allows your dog to spend time outside without you having to manage a lobby or corridor, which reduces friction at both ends of the day. Whether all rooms have this, or whether it is specific to certain suites, is not confirmed , call ahead if this matters to your travel setup.

The property's description of guest experiences includes returning from day trips to "firelight and dinner," which is the kind of end-of-day routine that works well with dogs in tow. The grounds appear to have outdoor dining and sitting areas based on the property imagery, though specific outdoor space dimensions are not confirmed.

Day Trips and Exploration from Gethia

The Kumaon circuit accessible from Gethia covers some of the most varied terrain in the Uttarakhand hills. Kainchi Dham, 30 minutes from the property, is a riverside temple complex in a narrow valley , scenic for a drive and walkable in parts, though specific dog access at the temple itself is not something we can confirm. Nainital (16 km) is the nearest major hill town, with the lake, Mall Road, and markets , manageable for a dog accustomed to crowds, though the town can get congested during peak season.

Bhimtal, Sattal, and Mukteshwar are each worth a day. Sattal is a cluster of seven lakes in a forested valley and is one of the better birding destinations in the Kumaon hills; the forest roads around it are quiet enough for a dog walk. Mukteshwar sits at a higher elevation with open apple orchard country and ridge-line views. Ramgarh, the "fruit bowl of Kumaon," is similarly quiet and forested. None of these day-trip destinations have been independently verified for dog access on this listing, but the driving distances are short enough that you can use Two Chimneys as a base and make selective choices depending on your dog's temperament and the crowd levels on a given day.

The birding trails mentioned by the property itself are an underrated resource for dog parents. Early morning trail walks in the Kumaon forest are best done with dogs on leash , the birdlife is remarkable and the terrain is manageable , and returning to the estate after a forest walk with your dog is exactly the kind of unhurried pace this property is built for.

Getting There

Two Chimneys is located at House No. 1, Chinkuwa, Gethia, Nainital, Uttarakhand 263127. The nearest railway station is Kathgodam, 45 minutes away. Pantnagar Airport is 90 minutes from the property. From Delhi by road, the standard route runs via Moradabad and Rampur to Kathgodam, then uphill through Bhowali to Gethia , approximately 300 kilometres, which is a comfortable day's drive for most families travelling with dogs. The property is 16 km from Nainital town.

If you are coming by train, Kathgodam has connections from Delhi (Kathgodam Express and Ranikhet Express among others). Cab transfers from Kathgodam to Gethia take around 45 minutes on hill roads. Pantnagar Airport has limited commercial connectivity , most guests arriving by air will come via Delhi and onward by cab or train.