Cancellation & Refund Policy
Scope of this Policy
This policy applies to all bookings made through the Uttar Pradesh Ecotourism Portal, operated by the Forest Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh — including entry tickets, safari, accommodation, boating, trekking and event bookings.
Cancellation and refund terms are not uniform across the State. Each destination and each service has its own approved rules, which are applied automatically by the Portal at the time you request a cancellation.
How to Cancel a Booking
- Go to Cancel Booking on the Portal.
- Enter the Booking Number printed on your ticket (for example, VD-LKO_ZOO-20260908-96745).
- Verify the One Time Password (OTP) sent to the mobile number used at the time of booking.
- The refund amount applicable to your booking is shown to you before you confirm the cancellation.
A booking can be cancelled only in full. Partial cancellation of individual visitors or individual tickets within a booking is not supported.
How the Refund Amount is Decided
The refund payable depends on the cancellation policy approved for that destination and service, and on how early the cancellation is made. Depending on the applicable rule, a cancellation may qualify for:
- Full refund — when cancelled within the early-cancellation window notified for that destination and service.
- Partial refund — a fixed percentage of the booking amount, or the booking amount less a specified deduction, when cancelled after that window.
- No refund — when cancelled after the cut-off time, or where the applicable policy does not permit a refund.
Whether the GST component is refundable also depends on the applicable policy. The exact amount payable to you is calculated and displayed on screen before you confirm the cancellation, and is also stated in your cancellation acknowledgement.
Non-Refundable Charges
- Convenience or transaction fees charged on a booking are borne by the visitor and are not refunded or reversed under any circumstances, including on cancellation, reversal or chargeback.
- Donations and animal adoption contributions are voluntary and are not refundable once the payment is successful.
Mode and Timeline of Refund
- Refunds are credited only to the original payment instrument used for the booking. Refunds are not paid in cash or to any other account.
- Approved refunds are normally credited within 5–7 working days of the cancellation being confirmed.
- The actual date of credit depends on your bank or card issuer and is beyond the control of the Forest Department.
Failed or Incomplete Payments
If an amount is debited from your account but the booking is not confirmed, no ticket is issued and the transaction is treated as failed. Such amounts are reconciled with the payment gateway and refunded automatically, normally within 5–7 working days. You do not need to raise a separate cancellation request for a failed payment.
Where No Refund is Payable
- Visitors denied entry by authorised staff on account of prohibited items or activities (for example, carrying liquor, plastic, pets, or any item or activity not permitted at the destination) are not entitled to a refund.
- No refund is payable where entry is refused, or a booking is cancelled by the Forest Department, on account of violation of rules or misconduct at the destination.
- Unused tickets, late arrival, or failure to visit on the booked date do not qualify for a refund.
- Where a visit is disrupted after entry due to weather, wildlife movement or safety considerations, no refund or part refund is payable.
Closure by the Department
If a destination is closed, or a booked activity is cancelled, by order of the Forest Department on the booked date, the booking is cancelled and the amount paid is refunded in full to the original payment instrument. No separate request is required from the visitor in such cases.
Discrepancy in Fee Collection
In case of any discrepancy in the online fee collection, a refund not received within the stated timeline, or an amount debited without a ticket being issued, please reach out to us using the contact details below with your Booking Number and transaction reference. We will look into the matter promptly.