District Area | 2,642 Sq.Km. |
Population | 12,31,577 |
Sex Ratio | 1094 |
Growth Rate | 3.72 |
Density per km2 | 574 |
Literacy | 95.09 % |
Rainfall | 315 cm (Annual) |
Pathanamthitta is a combination of two words Pathanam and Thitta which mean an array of houses on the river side. Nestling its head on the slopes of Western Ghats and stretching over the low-lying rice fields bordering Alappuzha district, Pathanamthitta is the youngest district in the state of Kerala. This district was formed on Ist November 1982 in the interest of the hastening process of development.
It is presumed that the regions presently under the district were formerly under the Pandalam reign which had connections with the Pandya Kingdom. Pathanamthitta now includes portions of the erstwhile Kollam Alappuzha and Idukki districts. Pathanamthitta, Adoor, Ranni, Konni and Kozhencherry are some of the important places taken from Kollam district, whereas Thiruvalla and Mallappally are the major places taken from Alappuzha district.
The district consists of three natural divisions, the Lowland, the Midland and the Highland. The highland stretches through the Western Ghats and descends to midland in the centre, down to the lowland and cocunut 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. Pathanamthitta engrossed on the hilly terrain of Kerala is the headquarters of pilgrimage tourism in the state. The famous Sabarimala is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre of the district.
History
The district has played an important role in the struggle for freedom. When Mahatma Gandhi visited the erstwhile Travancore in 1937, he asked his follower Khadar Das T.P. Gopala Pillai to spread the message of Khadi and Charka. He started the Khadi Movement in the district. The contributions of lanthoor K.Kumar, Thadiyal Raghavan Pillai, Pandalam KP and N.G. Chacko to the National Movement have much significance in the history of freedom struggle.
Places of Interest
Sabarimala, Aranmula, Cherukolpuzha, Kadamanitta, Kodumon Chilanthiyambalam, Konni, Kozhencherry, Maramon, Manjanikara, Mannadi, Muloor Smarakam, Pamba, Parumala, Pandalam, Perunthenaruvi Water falls, Thiruvalla, Niranam, Kaviyoor
