Pathanamthitta District was formed on 1st November 1982 vide GO (MS) 1026/82/RD dtd. 29/10/82 in the sole interest of Sri. K. K. Nair MLA, Pathanamthitta with his well cherished ambition for hastening process of development and with a view to reducing stress and strain of inhabitants for remedies to their grievances from the district administration which was out of reach for years.


This district is named after “Pathanamthitta” and it started functioning formally from 1st April 1983 vide GO (MS) 36/98 dtd. 09/03/1983. It reposes calm by resting its head on the slops of the western ghats and stretching to the rice yielding fields bordering Alappuzha district. The high mountains at the eastern side offer security as fortress. Other boarder districts are Kollam, Kottayam and Idukki. This districts abounds with natural splendors – unending stretches of thick and dark mysterious forests, undulating hills, exotic wild life and enchanting streams and valleys. The rural landscape is very famous for its scene beauty, fairs and festivals.

Pathanamthitta town, the district headquarters, is well connected by MC road and other state highways to Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam and Kochi. Of the three state high ways which passes through this district, one enters the district from Enathu and passes through Adoor, Pandalam, Thiruvalla and reaching Kottayam is SH 1 or popularly known as ‘MC’ road. The second road is the bifurcation of the State high way from Punalur, which passes through Konni, Kumbazha, Ranny and reaches Kottayam. The third one is SH 7 starts from Thiruvalla and ends at Kumbazha through Pathanamthitta. Thiruvalla is the one and only railway station in this district and the next railway station, which is near to this district is Chengannoor in Alappuzha district.

This district is nourished by three west flowing rivers – Pampa, Achancovil and Manimala which pass through grabbing either banks of the rivers. The famous Sabarigiri Hydro Electric Project is at Pamba basin.

The formation of this district is with the erstwhile parts of Kollam, Alleppy and Idukki districts. Pathanamthittta, Adoor, Ranny, Kozhenchery were got separated from Kollam district and so also Thiruvalla, Mallappally and Pandalam from Alleppy district. A small area of forest near Sabarimala, Gavi and Pachakkanam were got detached from Idukki district.

The area of this district is 2642 Sq. KMs in which 1390.73 Sq. KMs are forest area. For administrative convenience this district is divided into two revenue Sub divisions – Thiruvalla and Adoor comprising of five taluks – Adoor, Kozhenchery, Ranny, Mallappally and Thiruvalla.

Certain places in this district are famous for traditional festivals or other reasons. Historical importance of these places is a boom to the district Aranmula. The Parthasarathi temple at Aranmula attracts a good number of devotees everyday. This is an important pilgrim centre. There will be weak – long celebrations in connection with Onam festival. A snake boat race is held here as a part of the festival during Onam. Aranmula is situated on the bank of the river Pampa. It is about 18 KMs away from Thiruvalla and 12 KMs from Pathanamthitta. The stretch of river Pampa at Aranmula is the venue of the famous snake boat race. It is most pageantry than a race. The participants row up and down the river to the rhythmical songs known as Vanchipattu. Foreigners are also coming as spectators. Aranmula is also famous for its metal mirror. This is a unique art which is not found anywhere else in the world.

Another important aspect is Vignana Kalavedi at Aranmula. It imparts training in the traditional arts and crafts of Kerala. This center is frequented by a number of foreign tourists and they stay there for acquiring knowledge of traditional culture of Kerala. Kathakali, Classical dance, Classical music, Martial arts are taught there.
 

Physiography

TOPOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
The district consists of three natural divisions, viz., the lowland, the midland and the highland. The highland stretches through the western ghats and descends to the midland in the center, down to these lowland and coconut gardens on the western borders of Alappuzha district. The topography of the district is highly undulating., It starts from the tall hill slopes covered with thick forests on the East along the mountains down to the valleys and small hills to the flat land of coconut trees in the West.

The district has more or less the same climatic conditions as prevalent elsewhere in the state, Viz., dry seasons from December to February and hot seasons from March to May. The south west monsoon from June to September and the north west monsoon from October to November provide fairly good rain. The south west monsoon is usually very heavy and about 75% of the annual rain is received during this season. The climate is generally moderate, the temperature rising from 20'0 to 39'0c.


FOREST
Forest covers an area of 1390.73 sq.kms. in the district. This is more than 50% of the total area of the district, while the optimum area fixed by experts is only 33% . The total cropped area in Pathanamthitta district is 1086.53 sq.kms. The forests in the district can broadly be classified as evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forest.

Timber is the most important forest produce in the district. In fact, forest is the main source of raw materials for wood based industrial units. Teak, rosewood, Jack tree, Manjakadamu, Anjili, Pala etc. are some of the important for rayon, newsprint, plywood etc., these forests are source for a number of useful minor products like bamboo, reeds, honey, medicinal plants and herbs.


RIVERS
Three important rivers flow through this district. They are Pampa, Achankovil and Manimala rivers. The Pampa rivers is formed by the confluence of Pambayar, Arthayar, Kakkadayar, Kakkar and Kallar. It descends from Sabrimala, flows through various parts of Ranny taluk enters Alappuzha district itself into the Vembanad lake. The river Achankovil is formed by the confluence of several small steams originating from Rishimala, Pasukidamettu and Ramakkalteri and joins the Pamba at Veeyapuram in Alappuzha district.

One third of the electricity produced by the State comes from this district. Power is generated from the Sabarigiri Hydro-electric Project situated at the Pamba basin in the district.


The abundant water resource in the district is also utilized for irrigation purpose through the Kallada Irrigation Project and the Pampa Irrigation Project.