[6] The district's name is a combination of two Malayalam words, pathanam and thitta, which together mean 'array of houses on the river side'.

It is presumed that the regions that form the district were formerly under the rule of Pandalam, which had connections with the Pandya kingdom.

[10][page needed] Pathanamthitta is a landlocked district, located at 9°16′N 76°47′E / 9.27°N 76.78°E / 9.27; 76.78, spanning over an area of 2,637 square kilometres (1,018.15 sq mi).

The highland stretches through the Western Ghats, where the hills are tall and covered with thick forests.

Western Ghats maintains an average altitude of around 800 m. It descends to the smaller hills of midland in the centre and finally to the lowland.

The lowland with its abundance of coconut trees, lies along the eastern borders of Alappuzha district.

[13] (western part of Tiruvalla Taluk) Pathanamthitta district has a reserve forest area of 1,385.27 square kilometres (534.86 sq mi).

The forest is the main source of raw materials for wood based industrial units.

However, the district was unified into a single Parliamentary constituency, thus contributing a seat to the Lok Sabha.

[19] According to the 2011 census Pathanamthitta district has a population of 1,197,412,[3] roughly equal to the nation of Timor-Leste[22] or the US state of Rhode Island.

Christians (Malankara Orthodox, Marthoma Church and Pentecostal) (38%) form significant minority.

"[29] The district receives an estimated 3 to 4 million pilgrims during the festival season of Sabarimala temple.

It is organized by the Ayroor-Cherukolpuzha Hindumatha Maha Mandalam at Vidyadhiraja Nagar at Ayroor village.

[34][35] The Muslim colourful Chandanakkudam festival of the Jama — Al Mosque at Pathanamthitta town attracts many visitors.

The Maramon Convention, one of the largest Christian convention in Asia, is held at Maramon, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India annually during the month of February on the vast sand-bed of the Pampa River next to the Kozhencherry Bridge.

The Church of God (Full Gospel) in India, Kerala State, holds its annual convention in Tiruvalla town center.

Aranmula is a major attraction for its famous metal mirrors and snake boat race.

Perunthenaruvi water falls, Kakki reservoir surrounded by forest and wild animals, dam sites at Moozhyar and Maniyar, elephant training centre at Konni, Charalkunnu hill station are ideal locations for nature enthusiasts.

Trekking to the Sabari Hills during January to March is also organized by Pathanamthitta District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC).

Tigers, elephants, gaur, deer, monkeys and other wild animals are found in the forest.

Giant squirrel, lion-tailed macaques, barking deer and bear can also be spotted in the reserve.

Issues connected to Sabarimala pilgrimage such as clearing of forest land and large amount of waste discharged also threatens the habitat.

This is held as part of the largest annual cattle fair of Central Travancore region.