1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Ladakh Tourism Portal ("Portal") operated by the Directorate of Tourism, Union Territory of Ladakh Administration ("the Department"). By accessing, registering on, or using the Portal, you agree to be bound by these Terms, the Privacy Policy, and the Refund and Cancellation Policy published on the Portal. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use the Portal.

2. Eligibility

The Portal is available to individuals and entities who are legally eligible to enter into binding contracts under the Indian Contract Act, 1872. By registering on the Portal, you represent and warrant that:

• You are at least 18 years of age
• You have the legal authority to register the establishment for certification
• All information provided during registration is true, accurate, complete, and current
• You are the owner, lessee, or authorised representative of the tourism service establishment being registered

3. Registration and Certification Process

3.1 The Portal provides an online platform for tourism service providers in Ladakh — including but not limited to hotels, guest houses, homestays, lodges, camps, and tour operators — to apply for registration, certification, and renewal as required under applicable tourism regulations of the UT of Ladakh.

3.2 Registration on the Portal requires you to create an account by providing accurate personal and business information as specified in the registration form.

3.3 Submission of an application and payment of fees does not guarantee automatic approval of certification. All applications are subject to verification, inspection, and approval by the competent authority as per applicable rules and guidelines.

3.4 The Department reserves the right to reject, suspend, or revoke any certification if the information provided is found to be false, misleading, or if the establishment fails to meet the prescribed standards.

3.5 Certified establishments shall be listed on the Portal for public information. The Department may display the establishment name, category, location, contact details, photographs, and certification status.

4. Fees and Payment Terms

4.1 Registration, certification, and renewal of tourism service establishments are subject to payment of prescribed fees as notified by the Department from time to time.

4.2 All fees are payable online through the Portal using the authorised payment gateway. Accepted modes of payment include credit cards, debit cards, net banking, and UPI.

4.3 All fees are quoted in Indian Rupees (INR) and are inclusive of applicable taxes, unless stated otherwise.

4.4 Payment is required at the time of submission of application. Incomplete payments will result in the application being treated as pending.

4.5 The Department shall issue an electronic receipt/acknowledgement for every successful payment. Users are advised to retain the transaction reference number for their records.

4.6 The Department shall not be liable for any payment failures arising from issues with your bank, card issuer, internet connectivity, or the payment gateway. Users must contact their respective bank/payment provider for resolution of such issues.

5. Refund and Cancellation Policy

5.1 Once a certification/registration fee has been successfully paid and the application has been submitted, the fee is generally non-refundable.

5.2 A refund may be considered in the following circumstances:

• Duplicate payment: If the same fee is charged more than once due to a technical error, the duplicate amount shall be refunded
• Payment deducted but transaction failed: If the amount is debited from your account but the transaction is not recorded as successful on the Portal, a refund shall be initiated after verification
• Service not provided: If the Department is unable to process your application due to reasons solely attributable to the Department, a refund may be considered at the discretion of the competent authority

5.3 Refund requests must be submitted in writing to the Department within 30 days of the payment date, along with the transaction reference number, payment receipt, and details of the issue.

5.4 Approved refunds, wherever applicable, may be processed subject to verification and approval by the competent authority in accordance with applicable government procedures and financial rules. Refund/payment processing timelines are indicative and shall remain subject to banking systems, inter-bank settlement processes, payment gateway reconciliation, technical issues and applicable directions or regulatory requirements issued by the Reserve Bank of India or other competent authorities.

5.5 No refund shall be issued for applications that are rejected on account of failure to meet eligibility criteria, submission of false information, or non-compliance with prescribed standards.

6. User Obligations

By using the Portal, you agree to:

• Provide true, accurate, and complete information during registration and in all application forms
• Maintain the confidentiality of your login credentials and notify the Department immediately of any unauthorised use of your account
• Keep your registration information updated and current
• Use the Portal only for lawful purposes and in compliance with all applicable laws
• Not attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the Portal, its servers, or connected systems
• Not upload any malicious code, virus, or harmful content to the Portal
• Not misrepresent your identity, establishment details, or certification status
• Comply with all applicable tourism regulations, safety standards, and guidelines issued by the UT Ladakh Administration

7. Intellectual Property

All content on the Portal, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, images, videos, maps, software, and design elements, is the property of the Directorate of Tourism, UT Ladakh Administration, or its licensors, and is protected under applicable copyright and intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from any content on the Portal without prior written permission from the Department.

8. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

8.1 The Portal is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. The Department makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or availability of the Portal.

8.2 The Department shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of your use of, or inability to use, the Portal, including but not limited to damages arising from payment processing failures, data loss, or service interruptions.

8.3 The Department does not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free access to the Portal. Scheduled and unscheduled maintenance may cause temporary unavailability.

8.4 Listing of an establishment on the Portal does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or guarantee of quality by the Department. Tourists and visitors are advised to exercise their own judgment.

9. Third-Party Links and Services

The Portal may contain links to third-party websites, including the payment gateway, government portals, and external services. The Department is not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or services of any third-party websites. Your use of such websites is governed by their respective terms and policies.

10. Account Suspension and Termination

10.1 The Department reserves the right to suspend or terminate your account and access to the Portal at any time, with or without notice, for any violation of these Terms or applicable laws.

10.2 Upon termination, your right to use the Portal ceases immediately. Any fees already paid shall not be refundable upon termination for cause.

10.3 Data associated with terminated accounts may be retained as required under applicable data retention laws and government record-keeping policies.

11. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. Any disputes arising out of or in connection with these Terms or the use of the Portal shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts at Leh, Ladakh, India.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Department, its officers, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including legal fees) arising out of or related to your use of the Portal, violation of these Terms, or infringement of any rights of a third party.

13. Force Majeure

The Department shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance of its obligations under these Terms due to events beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, war, terrorism, riots, government actions, internet failures, power outages, or failure of third-party services.

14. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

15. Amendments

The Department reserves the right to amend these Terms at any time. Amendments will be posted on the Portal with a revised "Last Updated" date. Continued use of the Portal after such amendments constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

16. Contact Information

For any queries or concerns regarding these Terms of Service, please contact: