A business day in Sitamarhi
WhatsApp Business API for Sitamarhi's pilgrim lodges, sikki makers and litchi trade
Sitamarhi is named for Sita, and Punaura Dham marks where, the district says, King Janak found her while ploughing. Its lodges count the year in festivals; its craft workshops count it in orders.
- 06:00
A family on the morning train asks a lodge near Punaura Dham whether a room is free for Ram Navami.
- 09:30
A sikki-craft maker sends photos of new grass baskets to a buyer who asked for them last night.
- 13:00
A litchi trader confirms tomorrow's crates and loading time to a buyer who ordered.
- 19:00
The lodge sends the next day's booking confirmation, as an approved Hindi template.
For the lodges and cabs that serve pilgrims to Punaura Dham and the Janaki Mandir, the district's sikki-grass and applique makers, its litchi traders and the shops of Dumra: what each sends on WhatsApp, in which language, and what each message costs in rupees.
See it work
A pilgrims' lodge and a sikki workshop, side by side
Two Sitamarhi businesses use the same WhatsApp rules for very different customers. Compare them row by row: who writes first, what goes back, and what needs a template or a yes.
Most of what either business sends is an answer to someone who asked, charged at ₹0.145 per reply. The templates are the few messages they start themselves, and the marketing ones go only to customers who said yes.
Lodge near Punaura Dham vs sikki-craft workshop
Compared on
Lodge near Punaura Dham
Pilgrim families at Ram Navami and Sita Navami
Sikki-craft workshop
Buyers of grass baskets and boxes far from Bihar
- Lodge near Punaura DhamA family asking whether rooms are free in festival weekSikki-craft workshopA boutique buyer who saw a photo and asks the price
- Lodge near Punaura DhamRoom photos, the rate and the way from the station, as repliesSikki-craft workshopPhotos of designs in stock, sizes and rates, as replies
- Lodge near Punaura DhamBooking confirmation the day before arrival: utilitySikki-craft workshopDispatch note with the parcel number: utility
- Lodge near Punaura DhamHindi; replies in Maithili or Bajjika if the family writes themSikki-craft workshopHindi or English, as the buyer prefers
- Lodge near Punaura DhamA note about next year's festival datesSikki-craft workshopPhotos of a new season's designs
- Lodge near Punaura DhamA family that writes from the train opens a 24-hour windowSikki-craft workshopA buyer's questions about sizes keep the window open
Verdict
The lodge's year is shaped by festivals and the workshop's by orders, but both mostly reply, and each sends a customer only one or two templates.
Verdict: The lodge's year is shaped by festivals and the workshop's by orders, but both mostly reply, and each sends a customer only one or two templates.
Market brief
Sitamarhi in nine lines
From the Sitamarhi district administration's pages and Invest India's ODOP list; the railway, the languages and the Ram Navami festivities at Dumra are general background from Wikipedia.
- 01
The district of Sitamarhi was carved out of Muzaffarpur district on 11 December 1972; it has 17 blocks, 845 revenue villages and 5 municipalities over 2,294 sq km.[1],[2]
- 02
Its headquarters is at Dumra, about five kilometres south of Sitamarhi, moved there after the town was badly damaged by the earthquake of January 1934.[1],[2]
- 03
By the district's account, Raja Janak was ploughing near Sitamarhi when Sita was found in a pot; the spot at Punaura is known as Sita Kund, and the ascetic Birbal Das is said to have located it and begun worship there.[2],[4]
- 04
Thousands of devotees come to Punaura Dham every year at Ram Navami, Sita Navami and other occasions; it is about 5 km from Sitamarhi railway station, and Darbhanga Airport, the nearest, is about 90 km away.[4]
- 05
The Janaki Mandir in the town is about 1.5 km from the railway station and the bus stand, with the Janaki Kund just south of it; Haleshwar Sthan lies 3 km to the north-west.[3]
- 06
Sitamarhi lies in northern Bihar near the India–Nepal border; Sitamarhi Junction is on the Darbhanga–Raxaul–Narkatiaganj line, and another broad-gauge line runs to Muzaffarpur.[5]
- 07
Dumra hosts festivities for Ram Navami each spring, and a ceremony marking the marriage of Ram and Sita is held every year at Janaki Sthan.[5]
- 08
Hindi is the official language and Urdu an additional official language; Maithili and Bajjika are spoken in the region.[5]
- 09
Invest India's ODOP list names sikki art, applique work and litchi for Sitamarhi district.[6]
Industries
Who in Sitamarhi starts on WhatsApp
Five businesses that follow from the pilgrimages, the district's three ODOP products and the headquarters at Dumra.
- 01
Lodges and dharamshalas near Punaura Dham
Thousands of devotees come to Punaura Dham at Ram Navami and Sita Navami.[4]
On WhatsApp: Room and rate replies · Booking confirmation the day before · Festival-date notes to families who opted in
- 02
Sikki-craft and applique makers
Sikki art and applique work are two of the district's three ODOP products.[6]
On WhatsApp: Design photos and prices in reply · Dispatch notes with the parcel number · Invoices and payment reminders
- 03
Litchi growers and traders
Litchi is the district's third ODOP product.[6]
On WhatsApp: Crate and rate answers · Loading notes for orders · Season-ready notes to buyers who opted in
- 04
Cabs from Darbhanga Airport and the station
Punaura Dham is about 5 km from Sitamarhi station and about 90 km from Darbhanga Airport.[4]
On WhatsApp: Fare answers · Pickup time, driver and vehicle number · Return-trip reminders
- 05
Hindi and Urdu templates, replies in Maithili or Bajjika
Maithili and Bajjika are not Meta template languages. Hindi, Urdu and English are, and each language version is a separate template that must be approved before it is sent.
Replies inside the 24-hour window are not templates, so staff can answer in Maithili or Bajjika whenever a customer writes in them. InfiQ's own support works in English and Hindi.
| Language | Meta code | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Hindi | hi | Pilgrim families, shop customers and most buyers |
| Urdu | ur | Customers who read Urdu, Bihar's additional official language |
| English (India) | en_IN | Boutique buyers, invoices and orders from other states |
Prices in ₹, with USD and EUR
What a Punaura Dham lodge's festival week costs to message
Lite at ₹999 a month or Growth at ₹2,999, then each delivered message at the India rate: ₹0.145 for a reply to a family or buyer, ₹0.19 for a booking or dispatch note, ₹0.94 for a festival or new-design note to customers who opted in and ₹0.14 for a passcode.
Snapshot rates · as of 20 Oct 2026, 00:02 UTC
Lite
₹999 / month≈ $10.51 USD
₹833 / month, billed yearly≈ $8.76 USD
Growth
₹2,999 / month≈ $31.55 USD
₹2,499 / month, billed yearly≈ $26.29 USD
Enterprise
Custom volume pricing, custom SLA and dedicated infrastructure.
Per message to Sitamarhi · India
| Category | ₹ INR | USD |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | ₹0.9435 | $0.0099 |
| Utility | ₹0.1941 | $0.0020 |
| Authentication | ₹0.1402 | $0.0015 |
| Service | ₹0.1450 | $0.0015 |
Per-message rates for all 47 markets, in ₹ and USD
| Market | Marketing | Utility | Authentication | Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | $0.0572₹5.4352 | $0.0241₹2.2874 | $0.0241₹2.2874 | $0.0241₹2.2874 |
| Bangladesh | $0.0678₹6.4397 | $0.0034₹0.3254 | $0.0034₹0.3254 | $0.0034₹0.3254 |
| Brazil | $0.0578₹5.4970 | $0.0063₹0.5981 | $0.0063₹0.5981 | $0.0063₹0.5981 |
| Chile | $0.0822₹7.8162 | $0.0185₹1.7585 | $0.0185₹1.7585 | $0.0185₹1.7585 |
| Colombia | $0.0116₹1.0993 | $0.0007₹0.0706 | $0.0007₹0.0706 | $0.0007₹0.0706 |
| Egypt | $0.0596₹5.6629 | $0.0033₹0.3167 | $0.0033₹0.3167 | $0.0033₹0.3167 |
| France | $0.0795₹7.5588 | $0.0278₹2.6393 | $0.0278₹2.6393 | $0.0278₹2.6393 |
| Germany | $0.126₹12.0088 | $0.0509₹4.8386 | $0.0509₹4.8386 | $0.0509₹4.8386 |
| Hong Kong | $0.0678₹6.4397 | $0.0241₹2.2867 | $0.0241₹2.2867 | $0.0241₹2.2867 |
| Hungary | $0.0795₹7.5596 | $0.0323₹3.0700 | $0.0323₹3.0700 | $0.0323₹3.0700 |
| India | $0.0099₹0.9435 | $0.0020₹0.1941 | $0.0015₹0.1402 | $0.0015₹0.1450 |
| Indonesia | $0.0380₹3.6133 | $0.0231₹2.1979 | $0.0231₹2.1979 | $0.0231₹2.1979 |
| Iraq | $0.0316₹2.9992 | $0.0073₹0.6943 | $0.0073₹0.6943 | $0.0073₹0.6943 |
| Israel | $0.0327₹3.1045 | $0.0049₹0.4662 | $0.0049₹0.4662 | $0.0049₹0.4662 |
| Italy | $0.0735₹6.9847 | $0.0277₹2.6369 | $0.0277₹2.6369 | $0.0277₹2.6369 |
| Kazakhstan | $0.0559₹5.3098 | $0.0166₹1.5824 | $0.0166₹1.5824 | $0.0166₹1.5824 |
| Kuwait | $0.0733₹6.9671 | $0.0407₹3.8671 | $0.0407₹3.8671 | $0.0407₹3.8671 |
| Malaysia | $0.0796₹7.5644 | $0.0130₹1.2314 | $0.0130₹1.2314 | $0.0130₹1.2314 |
| Mexico | $0.0367₹3.4877 | $0.0079₹0.7471 | $0.0079₹0.7471 | $0.0079₹0.7471 |
| Morocco | $0.0383₹3.6425 | $0.0213₹2.0218 | $0.0213₹2.0218 | $0.0213₹2.0218 |
| Netherlands | $0.148₹14.0494 | $0.0463₹4.3987 | $0.0463₹4.3987 | $0.0463₹4.3987 |
| Nepal | $0.0678₹6.4397 | $0.0031₹0.2990 | $0.0031₹0.2990 | $0.0031₹0.2990 |
| Nigeria | $0.0478₹4.5421 | $0.0062₹0.5898 | $0.0062₹0.5898 | $0.0062₹0.5898 |
| Oman | $0.0316₹2.9992 | $0.0228₹2.1709 | $0.0228₹2.1709 | $0.0228₹2.1709 |
| Pakistan | $0.0438₹4.1620 | $0.0139₹1.3200 | $0.0139₹1.3200 | $0.0139₹1.3200 |
| Peru | $0.0651₹6.1843 | $0.0278₹2.6392 | $0.0278₹2.6392 | $0.0278₹2.6392 |
| Poland | $0.0338₹3.2105 | $0.0113₹1.0702 | $0.0113₹1.0702 | $0.0113₹1.0702 |
| Qatar | $0.0316₹2.9992 | $0.0111₹1.0547 | $0.0111₹1.0547 | $0.0111₹1.0547 |
| Romania | $0.0795₹7.5596 | $0.0268₹2.5436 | $0.0268₹2.5436 | $0.0268₹2.5436 |
| Russia | $0.0742₹7.0520 | $0.0370₹3.5173 | $0.0370₹3.5173 | $0.0370₹3.5173 |
| Saudi Arabia | $0.0532₹5.0537 | $0.0099₹0.9401 | $0.0099₹0.9401 | $0.0099₹0.9401 |
| Singapore | $0.0678₹6.4397 | $0.0148₹1.4072 | $0.0148₹1.4072 | $0.0148₹1.4072 |
| South Africa | $0.0351₹3.3385 | $0.0088₹0.8369 | $0.0088₹0.8369 | $0.0088₹0.8369 |
| Spain | $0.0654₹6.2161 | $0.0185₹1.7578 | $0.0185₹1.7578 | $0.0185₹1.7578 |
| Sri Lanka | $0.0678₹6.4397 | $0.0019₹0.1759 | $0.0019₹0.1759 | $0.0019₹0.1759 |
| Turkey | $0.0101₹0.9587 | $0.0008₹0.0792 | $0.0008₹0.0792 | $0.0008₹0.0792 |
| Ukraine | $0.0795₹7.5596 | $0.0275₹2.6138 | $0.0275₹2.6138 | $0.0275₹2.6138 |
| United Arab Emirates | $0.0532₹5.0537 | $0.0145₹1.3811 | $0.0145₹1.3811 | $0.0145₹1.3811 |
| United Kingdom | $0.0587₹5.5795 | $0.0204₹1.9346 | $0.0204₹1.9346 | $0.0204₹1.9346 |
| North America | $0.0231₹2.1976 | $0.0031₹0.2989 | $0.0031₹0.2989 | $0.0031₹0.2989 |
| Rest of Africa | $0.0208₹1.9796 | $0.0037₹0.3516 | $0.0037₹0.3516 | $0.0037₹0.3516 |
| Rest of Asia Pacific | $0.0779₹7.4057 | $0.0105₹0.9938 | $0.0105₹0.9938 | $0.0105₹0.9938 |
| Rest of Central & Eastern Europe | $0.0795₹7.5596 | $0.0196₹1.8595 | $0.0196₹1.8595 | $0.0196₹1.8595 |
| Rest of Latin America | $0.0684₹6.5048 | $0.0105₹0.9934 | $0.0105₹0.9934 | $0.0105₹0.9934 |
| Rest of Middle East | $0.0363₹3.4490 | $0.0084₹0.7998 | $0.0084₹0.7998 | $0.0084₹0.7998 |
| Rest of Western Europe | $0.0548₹5.2054 | $0.0158₹1.5019 | $0.0158₹1.5019 | $0.0158₹1.5019 |
| Other | $0.0559₹5.3098 | $0.0071₹0.6769 | $0.0071₹0.6769 | $0.0071₹0.6769 |
Plan prices are monthly, in rupees, excluding GST; yearly billing is two months free. Messages are charged per delivered message on top of the plan, at the rate for the recipient’s country. Full details: InfiQ pricing. A pilgrim family from Kolkata or a buyer in Delhi on an Indian number costs the same India rate as a customer in Dumra. Invoices are in rupees and carry your Bihar GSTIN.
Work out your own monthly cost by message type.
Calculate your exact costOn InfiQ
What a Sitamarhi business runs on InfiQ
Matched to the two columns of the comparison.
- Shared team inbox
One WhatsApp number answered by a team: 10 users on Lite and 25 on Growth, agent and manager roles, transfers, private notes, labels and canned replies.
In festival week the owner and two clerks answer the lodge's one number together, with notes on each family's arrival.
- Consent records and opt-out enforcement
Each contact's opt-in source and time are recorded, STOP replies are enforced at platform level (even against later imports), and the audit trail exports.
Each family's or buyer's yes to festival dates or new designs is stored with its date and source, and STOP is enforced at platform level.
- Broadcast campaigns
Send approved template campaigns to up to 2,00,000 contacts per broadcast, with segments, scheduling and delivery analytics.
A lodge can send next year's Ram Navami dates as one approved campaign, scheduled and sent only to the families who opted in.
Nearby
City pages near Sitamarhi
The nearest markets in north Bihar.
Sitamarhi's pilgrims, buyers and crates move between several of these towns; each page looks at its own trades. The India guide covers DPDP, DLT and the rules for the whole country.
Guides for Sitamarhi teams
Questions Sitamarhi businesses ask
- Q1
Families message our lodge near Punaura Dham in Maithili or Bajjika before Ram Navami. Can our WhatsApp templates be in Maithili?
No. Maithili and Bajjika are not Meta template languages, so the booking confirmation and other templates go in Hindi (hi), Urdu (ur) or English. Replies to a family that writes first are free-form, so staff can answer in Maithili or Bajjika for 24 hours, at ₹0.145 each.
- Q2
A buyer in Delhi asks our Sitamarhi sikki-craft workshop for photos of grass baskets. Do the photos need an approved template?
No. The buyer wrote first, so photos, sizes and prices are replies at ₹0.145 each for 24 hours, sent as media. When the order ships days later, the dispatch note with the parcel number is a utility template at ₹0.19.
- Q3
Litchi is one of Sitamarhi's ODOP products. Can our trade message last season's buyers when this year's fruit is ready to pick?
Only buyers who agreed to hear about the season and offers. A fruit-is-ready note is a marketing template at ₹0.94, and InfiQ records each buyer's yes with its date and source. A loading note for crates a buyer has ordered is utility, at ₹0.19.
- Q4
Pilgrims land at Darbhanga Airport, about 90 km away, and book our Sitamarhi cab to Punaura Dham. What does the pickup message cost?
A pickup message for a ride the pilgrim booked is a utility template at ₹0.19 per delivered message, with the time, the driver's name and the vehicle number as variables. If the pilgrim replies to say the flight is late, your answers are replies at ₹0.145.
- Q5
Our shop in Dumra, near the district headquarters, gets orders from customers in Bairgania and Belsand. Can each one get an order-ready note?
Yes. An order-ready note for something the customer ordered is a utility template at ₹0.19, approved in Hindi. If the customer writes back to arrange pickup or delivery, your answers for the next 24 hours are replies at ₹0.145.
- Q6
Our applique-work unit in Sitamarhi takes orders from boutiques in other states. Can the invoice and the payment reminder go on WhatsApp?
Yes. An invoice or payment reminder for an order a boutique placed is a utility template at ₹0.19, with the invoice PDF in the header and the amount as a variable, in Hindi or English (en_IN). Any Indian number costs the same India rate.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on the dates shown. Page updated 2026-10-20.
- [1]Sitamarhi district: official website · District Administration, Sitamarhi · read 2026-10-21
- [2]History · District Administration, Sitamarhi · read 2026-10-21
- [3]Tourist Places · District Administration, Sitamarhi · read 2026-10-21
- [4]Punaura Dham, Sitamarhi · District Administration, Sitamarhi · read 2026-10-21
- [5]Sitamarhi (general history only) · Wikipedia · read 2026-10-21
- [6]ODOP product list, V33 (31 December 2025) · Invest India · read 2026-10-21
- [7]WhatsApp Business Platform: pricing · Meta for Developers · read 2026-10-21
- [8]Message templates: supported languages · Meta for Developers · read 2026-10-21
Answer Sitamarhi's next pilgrim family before they board
Start a 7-day Lite trial, no card needed, answer the next family or buyer who writes, and submit your Hindi booking and dispatch templates for approval. Once Meta business verification is complete, your number is usually live in about two hours.
