Privacy Policy — Teerthayan
Last Updated: April 2026
Introduction
Welcome to Teerthayan ("we," "our," or "us"). At Teerthayan, we are deeply committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of every yatri (traveler) and visitor who trusts us with their spiritual journey. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share, and protect your information when you visit our website (www.teerthayan.com), use our services, or interact with us through any channel — including phone calls, WhatsApp, email, or social media.
By accessing our website or booking any of our pilgrimage services, you agree to the terms outlined in this Privacy Policy. We encourage you to read this document carefully. If you do not agree with any part of this policy, please refrain from using our website or services.
Information We Collect
1. Personal Information You Provide Directly
When you enquire about, book, or avail of our yatra packages, ritual services, or any other offerings, we may collect the following personal information:
• Identity Details: Full name, date of birth, gender, nationality, and photographs (as required for yatra registrations and permits).
• Contact Information: Mobile number, WhatsApp number, email address, and residential/postal address.
• Travel Documents: Government-issued ID proofs such as Aadhaar card, passport, voter ID, or driving license — required for yatra permits, hotel check-ins, and security registrations along pilgrimage routes.
• Medical & Health Information: Pre-existing medical conditions, fitness declarations, blood group, emergency medications, and any health-related details you share with us for safety assessment purposes (especially for high-altitude yatras such as Char Dham, Kailash Mansarovar, and Amarnath).
• Family & Group Details: Names, ages, and relationship details of co-travellers in your booking group.
• Religious & Ritual Preferences: Details regarding specific pooja, karm kaand, asthi visarjan, pind daan, mundan, tarpan, or other ritual requirements you wish to arrange through us.
• Payment Information: Billing name, billing address, UPI ID, bank account details, or credit/debit card information provided during payment processing.
• Communication Records: Messages, queries, feedback, testimonials, and any correspondence exchanged with our team via phone, email, WhatsApp, or social media.
2. Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, certain technical information may be collected automatically through cookies and similar tracking technologies:
• Device & Browser Information: IP address, browser type and version, device type, operating system, and screen resolution.
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on each page, links clicked, referring URL, and navigation patterns on our website.
• Location Data: Approximate geographic location derived from your IP address or device settings (we do not track precise GPS location through our website).
• Cookie Data: Session cookies, preference cookies, and analytics cookies. Please refer to the Cookies section below for more details.
3. Information from Third Parties
We may receive information about you from third-party sources, including:
• Travel partners, hotel providers, or transport operators who assist in fulfilling your booking.
• Payment gateways and financial institutions that process your transactions.
• Government or regulatory authorities in connection with yatra permits and registrations (e.g., Char Dham registration portals).
• Social media platforms, if you interact with our pages or advertisements on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or other platforms.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
Booking & Service Fulfilment: To process your yatra bookings, arrange accommodations, transportation, meals, ritual services, and provide on-ground support throughout your pilgrimage.
Yatra Permits & Registrations: To register you and your group members for mandatory government permits and biometric registrations required for yatras such as Char Dham, Kailash Mansarovar, Amarnath, and Hemkund Sahib.
Health & Safety Compliance: To assess your fitness for high-altitude and physically demanding yatras, arrange medical support where needed, and ensure your safety during the journey.
Communication: To send you booking confirmations, itinerary updates, travel advisories, weather alerts, pre-departure checklists, and important safety information related to your yatra.
Ritual Coordination: To coordinate specific pooja, karm kaand, asthi visarjan, pind daan, mundan, tarpan, or other rituals you have requested, including sharing necessary details with authorised pandits and temple authorities.
Payment Processing: To process payments, issue invoices, manage refunds, and maintain financial records as required by law.
Customer Support: To address your queries, complaints, and feedback, and to improve our service quality based on your input.
Marketing & Promotions: To send you promotional offers, new yatra package announcements, seasonal updates, and spiritual content — only with your prior consent. You may opt out at any time.
Legal & Regulatory Obligations: To comply with applicable Indian laws, tax regulations, and government directives.
Website Improvement: To analyse usage patterns, improve website functionality, personalise your browsing experience, and enhance our digital presence.
How We Share Your Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party for their marketing purposes. However, we may share your information in the following circumstances:
Service Partners: With hotels, transport providers, local guides, pony/palki operators, helicopter service providers, and other ground-level partners solely for fulfilling your booked services.
Pandit & Temple Authorities: With authorised pandits, purohits, and temple committees to coordinate your requested ritual services (pooja, karm kaand, asthi visarjan, pind daan, etc.).
Government & Regulatory Bodies: With state and central government agencies for mandatory yatra registrations, permits, biometric enrolment, and disaster management protocols (e.g., Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board).
Payment Processors: With trusted payment gateway providers to securely process your transactions. We do not store your full credit/debit card details on our servers.
Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or government request, or to protect the rights, safety, and property of Teerthayan, its customers, or the public.
With Your Consent: In any other circumstances where you have explicitly provided your consent.
Data Security
We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect it, including:
• Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption for all data transmitted through our website.
• Restricted access to personal data — only authorised team members who need it to perform their duties can access your information.
• Secure storage of physical documents (ID copies, medical forms) with controlled access at our office in Uttarakhand.
• Regular review of our data handling practices and security protocols.
While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we are committed to taking every reasonable precaution.
Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy, including:
• Booking & Travel Records: Retained for a minimum of 7 years from the date of travel, as required for tax, accounting, and legal compliance under Indian law.
• Government ID Copies: Retained only for the duration required to complete yatra registrations and permit formalities, and securely deleted or destroyed thereafter unless retention is required by law.
• Medical Information: Retained for the duration of your yatra and a reasonable period afterward for safety documentation purposes, then securely deleted.
• Communication Records: Retained for up to 3 years for service quality and dispute resolution purposes.
• Marketing Preferences: Retained until you withdraw your consent or unsubscribe.
Cookies & Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience. The types of cookies we use include:
Essential Cookies: Required for basic website functionality such as page navigation, secure access, and form submissions. These cannot be disabled.
Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting anonymous usage data. We may use services such as Google Analytics for this purpose.
Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements and track the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns on platforms like Facebook and Google.
You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website.
Your Rights
Under applicable data protection laws, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:
Right to Access: You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Right to Correction: You may request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete information.
Right to Deletion: You may request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal and contractual obligations that require us to retain certain records.
Right to Withdraw Consent: You may withdraw your consent for marketing communications at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in our emails or contacting us directly.
Right to Grievance Redressal: If you have concerns about how your data is handled, you may contact our Grievance Officer (details below).
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided in the Contact Us section.
Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including government portals, hotel booking platforms, payment gateways, and social media pages. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party site you visit through our links.
Children's Privacy
Our yatra packages and ritual services may involve families travelling with children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18 years of age without the consent of a parent or legal guardian. All information pertaining to minor travellers is collected from and managed through their accompanying adult guardian.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, services, or applicable laws. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of our website or services after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
Grievance Officer
In accordance with the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the rules made thereunder, the name and contact details of our Grievance Officer are as follows:
Name: [Grievance Officer Name]
Designation: Grievance Officer, Teerthayan
Email: [grievance@teerthayan.com]
Phone: [+91-XXXXXXXXXX]
Address: [Teerthayan Office Address, Uttarakhand, India]
The Grievance Officer shall address your concerns within 30 days of receiving your complaint.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please reach out to us:
Your trust is sacred to us. At Teerthayan, we handle your personal information with the same care and reverence with which we guide your spiritual journeys.
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