Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Vardaan Travels ("Vardaan Travels", "we", "us" or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information entrusted to us by our customers, users and visitors.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, receive, use, disclose, store, retain and protect personal information when you visit our website, contact us, visit our offices, make a booking, use our travel services, or use our money transfer and related services.

This Privacy Policy is intended to be read together with applicable Indian laws and regulations relating to privacy, information technology, data protection, consumer protection, taxation, travel services, foreign exchange, money transfer, KYC, anti-money laundering and regulatory reporting.

By using our website or services, you acknowledge that you have read this Privacy Policy. Where processing is based on consent, we will seek consent in accordance with applicable law and will provide appropriate information regarding the purpose of such processing.

2. Our Services

This Privacy Policy applies to information processed in connection with services offered by Vardaan Travels, including:

• Domestic and international flight bookings.
• Railway ticket bookings.
• Bus ticket bookings.
• Hotel reservations.
• Domestic tour packages.
• International tour packages.
• Visa assistance services.
• Travel insurance assistance.
• Passport assistance.
• Nepal remittance services.
• Foreign exchange assistance, where permitted by applicable law.
• Travel-related consultation and customer support.

Certain services may be provided through or in association with airlines, railways, hotels, banks, payment processors, money transfer networks, insurance companies, visa agencies, technology providers and other third-party service providers.

3. Information We Collect

We collect only such personal information as may reasonably be required for providing our services, fulfilling contractual or legal obligations, preventing fraud, complying with regulatory requirements, or for other specified purposes communicated to you.

A. Personal Information

• Full name.
• Date of birth.
• Gender, where required.
• Nationality.
• Mobile number.
• Email address.
• Residential or correspondence address.
• Emergency contact information.

B. Identity and Travel Documents

Depending on the service and applicable legal or contractual requirements, we may collect and process:

• Passport details.
• Visa information.
• Aadhaar information, where lawfully required and permitted.
• PAN information.
• Voter identification information.
• Driving licence information.
• Other government-issued identification.
• Photographs and other documents required for a particular service.

C. Booking and Travel Information

• Flight details.
• Train bookings.
• Hotel reservations.
• Tour package details.
• Travel itineraries.
• Frequent flyer information.
• Seat and meal preferences.
• Special assistance requests.
• Travel insurance information.

D. Money Transfer Information

For Nepal remittance, Ria Money Transfer and related services, we may collect information required to process and monitor transactions, including:

• Sender information.
• Beneficiary information.
• Bank account information.
• Mobile wallet information, where applicable.
• Transaction amount and currency.
• Purpose of transfer.
• KYC documentation.
• Source-of-funds information where legally required.
• Transaction and reference information.

E. Payment Information

• Billing information.
• UPI ID.
• Bank account details where required.
• Transaction reference numbers.
• Payment status and transaction information.

Debit and credit card transactions may be processed by secure payment gateways or banking partners. Unless specifically required for a lawful business purpose, we do not intend to retain complete card numbers or card security codes on our own systems.

F. Technical Information

When you use our website, we may automatically receive certain technical and usage information, such as:

• IP address.
• Browser type and version.
• Device information.
• Operating system.
• Website usage information.
• Cookies and similar technologies.
• Log and diagnostic information.

4. How We Use Your Information

Depending on the service and applicable law, we may use personal information for the following purposes:

• Processing travel and service bookings.
• Confirming reservations.
• Arranging flights, trains, buses, hotels and tour packages.
• Processing money transfer transactions.
• Performing KYC and identity verification.
• Complying with applicable RBI, FEMA, AML, KYC, tax and other regulatory requirements.
• Preventing, detecting and investigating fraud or unauthorised transactions.
• Providing customer support.
• Responding to enquiries and requests.
• Sending booking confirmations and service communications.
• Notifying you of itinerary or service changes.
• Processing refunds, cancellations and adjustments.
• Maintaining transaction and accounting records.
• Improving our products, services and customer experience.
• Managing website security and technical operations.
• Sending promotional communications where legally permitted and, where required, with your consent.

5. Legal Basis for Processing

Depending on the circumstances, Vardaan Travels may process personal data on one or more of the following grounds:

• Consent: where you have provided valid consent for a specified purpose.
• Provision of services: where processing is necessary to provide the service, booking, transaction or assistance requested by you.
• Compliance with law: where processing is necessary to comply with a legal or regulatory obligation applicable to Vardaan Travels.
• Regulatory and fraud-prevention requirements: including KYC, AML, financial monitoring, transaction verification, tax requirements and prevention of unauthorised activity.
• Other lawful purposes: where processing is permitted or required under applicable law.

Where consent is the applicable basis for processing, you may withdraw consent in accordance with applicable law. Withdrawal of consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal.

Withdrawal of consent may affect our ability to provide certain services where the requested processing is necessary for that service or where continued processing is otherwise required or permitted by law.

6. Money Transfer & Regulatory Compliance

Certain money transfer and foreign exchange-related activities are subject to financial-sector laws, regulations and controls. Where applicable, we may be required to collect, verify, record and report customer and transaction information.

For Nepal remittance, Ria Money Transfer and other applicable services, information may be shared with relevant service providers, banks, financial institutions, regulatory bodies and authorities where required or permitted by law.

Such processing may be required for:

• Transaction processing.
• Identity verification.
• KYC compliance.
• Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance.
• Fraud detection and prevention.
• Sanctions and transaction screening.
• Regulatory reporting.
• Record keeping.
• Compliance with lawful directions from authorities.

Depending on the transaction and applicable regulatory framework, relevant information may be provided to banks, authorised money transfer networks, correspondent institutions, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Financial Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-IND), tax authorities, law-enforcement agencies or other competent authorities where required by law.

7. Sharing of Information

We do not sell or rent your personal information.

We may disclose or provide access to personal information where reasonably necessary for providing services, fulfilling a transaction, complying with law, protecting our rights, preventing fraud or otherwise for a lawful and specified purpose.

Recipients may include:

• Airlines and aviation service providers.
• Railway and authorised railway booking systems.
• Hotels and accommodation providers.
• Bus operators.
• Tour operators and destination service providers.
• Visa processing agencies and service providers.
• Travel insurance companies.
• Payment gateway providers.
• Banks and financial institutions.
• Foreign exchange and authorised financial partners.
• Ria Money Transfer and relevant money transfer partners.
• Technology and IT service providers.
• Professional advisers and service providers.
• Government, regulatory and law-enforcement authorities.

We expect service providers processing personal information on our behalf to maintain appropriate safeguards and comply with applicable contractual, legal and regulatory requirements.

8. Data Security

We take reasonable security measures appropriate to the nature of the personal information and the risks associated with its processing.

Security measures may include:

• Secure hosting and server infrastructure.
• Encryption or secure transmission where appropriate.
• Restricted access to personal information.
• Password and authentication controls.
• Role-based employee access.
• Security monitoring and reviews.
• Administrative and organisational safeguards.
• Procedures for responding to security incidents.

No method of transmission or electronic storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure. However, we take reasonable measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, use, alteration, disclosure, loss or destruction.

9. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, to provide services, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, maintain business records, prevent fraud, or comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations.

Certain records may need to be retained for periods prescribed by applicable tax, accounting, KYC, AML, RBI, FEMA, financial-sector or other regulatory requirements.

When personal information is no longer required and there is no legal or regulatory requirement to retain it, we will take reasonable steps to securely delete, destroy or anonymise it, as appropriate.

10. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to operate the website, remember preferences, understand website usage and improve user experience.

Cookies may be used to:

• Maintain website functionality.
• Remember user preferences.
• Improve website performance.
• Understand website traffic and usage.
• Improve customer experience.
• Support security and fraud prevention.

You may manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of some website features.

11. Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to or integrations with third-party websites and services, including airlines, hotels, payment gateways, visa service providers, insurance companies, tourism partners, financial service providers and other service providers.

Third-party websites operate under their own privacy policies and terms. Vardaan Travels is not responsible for the privacy practices, security, content or policies of independent third-party websites.

You should review the privacy policy of any third-party website before providing personal information through that website.

12. Your Privacy Rights

Subject to applicable law and any lawful limitations, you may have rights relating to your personal data, including the right to:

• Request access to personal information held by us.
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Request updating of personal information.
• Request deletion of personal information where legally permissible.
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
• Opt out of promotional communications where applicable.
• Request information about processing of your personal data.
• Raise a grievance concerning the processing of your personal data.

To protect your information, we may need to verify your identity before processing certain requests.

13. Children's Privacy

Our services are generally intended to be used by adults and customers who are legally able to enter into applicable transactions.

Where a travel booking or other service involves a minor, we may collect the minor's personal information where reasonably necessary to provide the requested service or comply with applicable law, booking requirements or safety requirements.

Where applicable law requires consent or verification from a parent or lawful guardian, we will follow the applicable requirements.

14. International Data Transfers

Some travel, visa, hotel, insurance, airline, money transfer or technology services may involve service providers located outside India or require information to be made available across borders.

Where personal information is transferred outside India, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that such processing and transfer is carried out in accordance with applicable Indian law and any applicable contractual, regulatory or security requirements.

International service providers may also have their own privacy policies and legal obligations applicable to the information they process.

15. Grievance & Privacy Requests

If you have a question, concern, request or complaint regarding our processing of personal information, you may contact us using the details provided below.

We will review and respond to requests in accordance with applicable law and within the applicable timelines.

Where a request concerns a service provided by a third-party partner, we may need to coordinate with that partner or direct you to the relevant service provider where appropriate.

16. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our services, business practices, technology or applicable laws and regulations.

The updated Privacy Policy will be published on our website with a revised "Last Updated" date.

Where required by applicable law, we will provide additional notice or obtain consent for material changes to processing practices.

17. Contact Us

If you have questions, requests, complaints or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of your personal information, please contact Vardaan Travels: