Coorg
About 250 km, 5–6 hours
Coffee-estate homestays with space to roam, cool weather most of the year, and plenty of hosts used to dogs.
Leeches and ticks in the monsoon; Nagarhole National Park is off limits.
Read the Coorg guideTravelling with pets
Pet-friendly getaways in India
With a dog, the easiest trips in India are road trips: most trains and flights make pets hard work. These are drives from four big cities that work well with a pet, with what to watch out for at each. Reviewed October 2026.
Pet-friendly trips from Bengaluru
Chikkamagaluru
About 245 km, 5 hours
Quiet coffee country with estate stays and easy walks among the plantations.
Bhadra Tiger Reserve and other protected forests are off limits; roads to the viewpoints are narrow.
Ooty
About 270 km, 6–7 hours
A cool hill station dogs enjoy, with lakeside walks and open meadows around town.
The Bandipur and Mudumalai forest roads close to traffic from 9 pm to 6 am, and you can't stop inside the reserves.
Read the Ooty guidePuducherry
About 310 km, 6–7 hours
Laid-back seaside town with leafy streets for walks and many relaxed guesthouses.
Hot and humid from April to June; walk dogs early and late.
Read the Puducherry guideGokarna
About 480 km, 8–9 hours
Long beaches and a slow pace, best for a longer trip.
Many free-roaming dogs on the beaches; keep yours leashed and vaccinated.
Read the Gokarna guidePet-friendly trips from Mumbai
Lonavala and Khandala
About 85 km, 2 hours
The quickest hill escape from Mumbai, with villas that often allow dogs and green walks in the monsoon.
Very crowded on weekends and long weekends; book early and avoid the busiest viewpoints.
Alibaug
About 95 km, 3 hours by road
Beach villas with gardens and quieter beaches like Kihim and Awas.
Check whether your ferry or catamaran carries pets before planning to skip the drive.
Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani
About 260 km, 5–6 hours
Cool plateaus and forest walks, a good break from Mumbai's summer heat.
Some of the heaviest monsoon rain in India; many viewpoints close from July to September.
Goa
About 590 km, 10–12 hours
One of India's easiest places to travel with a dog, with many pet-friendly villas.
Split the drive with a night on the Konkan coast, and avoid midday sand in summer.
Read the Goa guidePet-friendly trips from Delhi
Rishikesh
About 240 km, 6 hours
Riverside stays and cafés, with quieter walks on the outskirts.
The ghats and bridges are very crowded; Rajaji National Park is off limits.
Read the Rishikesh guideKasauli
About 300 km, 6 hours
A small, quiet hill town with pine walks and cool summers.
The last stretch is winding; plan a break for dogs prone to car sickness.
Mussoorie and Landour
About 290 km, 7 hours
Landour's quiet lanes and forest walks are calmer than Mussoorie's Mall Road.
Weekend traffic jams on the climb from Dehradun; go midweek if you can.
Jaipur
About 280 km, 5 hours
An easy expressway drive with plenty of hotels on the city's edge.
Forts and palaces don't allow pets, and summer heat is dangerous; go in winter.
Read the Jaipur guidePet-friendly trips from Chennai
Puducherry
About 150 km, 3–4 hours along the coast
The classic pet road trip from Chennai, with relaxed guesthouses and leafy streets.
Hot and humid from April to June; walk dogs early and late.
Read the Puducherry guideMahabalipuram
About 60 km, 1.5 hours
A short beach break with resorts along the coast road.
The Shore Temple and other monuments don't admit pets.
Yelagiri
About 230 km, 4–5 hours
A small, quiet hill station with a lake and easy walks.
Few vets on the hill; Jolarpettai and Vaniyambadi are the nearest towns.
Before you go
Tips for travelling with a pet in India
- Confirm the stay in writing
- Ask whether dogs are allowed in the room, about size limits and extra fees, and whether your dog can be left alone. Policies change, so check close to the date.
- Pack the paperwork
- Carry vaccination records, including rabies, and start tick and flea protection before you go. Note a vet in or near your destination.
- Plan the drive
- Stop every 2–3 hours for water and a walk, and never leave a pet in a parked car; it heats up within minutes.
- Skip parks and monuments
- National parks, tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries don't allow pets, and most ticketed monuments don't either. Plan who stays with the dog.
- Trains and flights
- Indian Railways carries dogs in a First AC coupe you book in full, or in a dog box in the luggage van. Airline pet rules differ and change; some carry small pets in the cabin, some only in the hold, and some not at all. Check before booking.
- Mind the heat
- Avoid the plains and deserts from April to June. Sand and paved roads burn paws by late morning.
Questions
Pet travel FAQs
Can I take my dog on a train in India?
Yes, in two ways: in a First AC coupe (two or four berths) that you book entirely for your group, or in a dog box in the luggage van, booked at the station's parcel office. Rules and fees change, so check with Indian Railways before you travel.
Are dogs allowed in national parks and tiger reserves?
No. Pets aren't allowed in India's national parks, tiger reserves or wildlife sanctuaries, including safaris. On roads that pass through reserves, like Bandipur and Mudumalai, you can drive through with your dog but can't stop.
What's the best weekend trip with a dog from Bangalore?
Coorg and Chikkamagaluru are the most popular: about 5 hours away, cool, with estate homestays where dogs have room to run. For a beach, Puducherry is about 6–7 hours.
When is the best time to travel with a pet in India?
October to March for the plains, deserts and beaches. In summer, head to the hills instead. In the monsoon, hill stations in the Western Ghats get leeches and very heavy rain.
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