Down the forest-lined slope of Shyamala Heritage Homes sits Himachal’s first complete pet-first heritage retreat, created by Smriti Bhargav, who turned personal loss into purpose.
The trail to her café is lined with memorial plaques of pets who have passed on — “a wall of love,” she says.
Here, pets aren’t just welcome.They are celebrated.
Smriti runs Himachal’s first pet café and bakery, serving preservative-free treats, pup-cakes and puppuccinos.
Travelling pets enjoy something still rare in India — private cabins booked exclusively for one family, ensuring comfort without fear, noise or unfamiliar animals.
Outside, dogs sprint through the Unleashed Zone or leap into the open-air splash pool, discovering the kind of holiday freedom most pets never get.
Her British Style old homestay and pet café may have been dwarfed under the towering shadow of the multi-storeyed Elisia Hotel next door, but Smriti has chosen to carry on — creating her own niche, one wagging tail at a time.
Because of its old world charm, homestay stands out in its own quiet way that givex an experience of a lifetime as some pet lovers call it.
Shimlaites may not have fully recognised what she stands for yet. But Smriti isn’t stopping. And her BNI family — she’s an active member — continues to cheer her on, reminding her that every small step matters.
More than a homestay, Shyamala Heritage Homes is becoming a quiet movement — proving that travel can be thoughtful, inclusive and pet-first.
Here, pets lead the holiday. Humans simply follow with joy.
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