Pathanamthitta District (), is one of the 14 districts in the
Indian state
India is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 union territories, with a total of 36 entities. The states and union territories are further subdivided into districts and smaller administrative divisions.
History
Pre-indepen ...
of
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South Ca ...
. The district headquarters is in the town of
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta (), is a municipality situated in the Central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The town has a population of 3 ...
. There are four municipalities in Pathanamthitta:
Adoor
Adoor (sometimes spelled ''Adur'') is a Municipality in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala State, India. It is the headquarters of Adoor Taluk and Adoor Revenue Division.
Etymology
Adoor (Ad-oor) in Malayalam translates as "Ad" means "sep ...
,
Pandalam
Pandalam is a municipal town in Pathanamthitta district Kerala, India. Pandalam is considered a holy town due to its connection with Lord Ayyappa and Sabarimala. Rightly recognised to be the ''educational and cultural capital of Central Trava ...
,
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta (), is a municipality situated in the Central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The town has a population of 3 ...
and
Thiruvalla
Thiruvalla, alternately spelled Tiruvalla, is a town in Kerala and the Headquarters of the Taluk of the same name located in Pathanamthitta district in the State of Kerala, India. The town is spread over an area of . It lies on the banks of ...
.
According to the 2011
Census of India
The decennial Census of India has been conducted 16 times, as of 2021. While it has been undertaken every 10 years, beginning in 1872 under British Viceroy Lord Mayo, the first complete census was taken in 1881. Post 1949, it has been conducted by ...
, the population was 1,197,412, making it the third least populous district in Kerala (out of 14), after
Wayanad
Wayanad () is a district in the north-east of Indian state Kerala with administrative headquarters at the municipality of Kalpetta. It is the only plateau in Kerala. The Wayanad Plateau forms a continuation of the Mysore Plateau, the southern ...
and Idukki. Pathanamthitta has been declared the first polio-free district in
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...
. The district is 10.03% urbanised. Pathanamthitta is one of the richest districts in India with just 1.17% poverty as of 2013, which places the district among top 5 districts in India with least poverty.
Etymology
The district's name is a combination of two
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry ( Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam wa ...
words, and , which together mean 'array of houses on the river side'. The district capital is located on the banks of the river Achankovil.
History
It is presumed that the regions that form the district were formerly under the rule of
Pandalam
Pandalam is a municipal town in Pathanamthitta district Kerala, India. Pandalam is considered a holy town due to its connection with Lord Ayyappa and Sabarimala. Rightly recognised to be the ''educational and cultural capital of Central Trava ...
, which had connections with the Pandya kingdom. When
Pandalam
Pandalam is a municipal town in Pathanamthitta district Kerala, India. Pandalam is considered a holy town due to its connection with Lord Ayyappa and Sabarimala. Rightly recognised to be the ''educational and cultural capital of Central Trava ...
was added to the
princely state
A princely state (also called native state or Indian state) was a nominally sovereign entity of the British Indian Empire that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule, subject to ...
of
Travancore
The Kingdom of Travancore ( /ˈtrævənkɔːr/), also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor, was an Indian kingdom from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. A ...
in 1820, the region came under
Travancore
The Kingdom of Travancore ( /ˈtrævənkɔːr/), also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor, was an Indian kingdom from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. A ...
administration. The
Nedumpuram Palace
{{Use Indian English, date=October 2018
Nedumpuram Palace is situated in Tiruvalla (9°23′06″N 76°34′30″E / 9.385, 76.575), Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India. The palace belongs to a branch of the Kulasekhara dynasty that ruled th ...
near
Thiruvalla
Thiruvalla, alternately spelled Tiruvalla, is a town in Kerala and the Headquarters of the Taluk of the same name located in Pathanamthitta district in the State of Kerala, India. The town is spread over an area of . It lies on the banks of ...
Angadippuram
Angadipuram is a major suburb of Perinthalmanna town, in Malappuram District of Kerala, southern India. It was the capital of the powerful medieval kingdom of Valluvanad. Angadipuram is also known for Angadipuram Laterite, a notified go- ...
in present-day
Malappuram district
Malappuram (), is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala, with a coastline of . It is the most populous district of Kerala, which is home to around 13% of the total population of the state. The district was formed on 16 June 196 ...
.
The district was formed on 1 November 1982 as a reward to
K. K. Nair
Kulappurakkal Karunakaran Nair (2 February 1931 – 7 February 2013) alias K.K. Nair was an Indian politician who was a member of the legislative assembly of Kerala state, India, representing Pathanamthitta for 34 years, from 1972 until 200 ...
, who was the then Pathanamthitta MLA, by
K. Karunakaran
Kannoth Karunakaran (5 July 1918 – 23 December 2010) was an Indian politician and member of the Indian National Congress (INC). He served as the Chief Minister of Kerala four times during the late 1970s through the mid 1990s. He is the ...
. The formation was done by incorporating various portions of the erstwhile
Kollam
Kollam (), also known by its former name Quilon , is an ancient seaport and city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The city ...
,
Alappuzha
Alappuzha or Alleppey () is the administrative headquarters of Alappuzha district in state of Kerala, India. The Backwaters of Alappuzha are one of the most popular tourist attractions in India which attracts millions of domestic and interna ...
taluk
A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluka, or taluk) is a local unit of administrative division in some countries of South Asia. It is a subdistrict of the area within a district including the designated populated place that serves as its administr ...
s
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta (), is a municipality situated in the Central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The town has a population of 3 ...
,
Adoor
Adoor (sometimes spelled ''Adur'') is a Municipality in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala State, India. It is the headquarters of Adoor Taluk and Adoor Revenue Division.
Etymology
Adoor (Ad-oor) in Malayalam translates as "Ad" means "sep ...
, were taken from
Kollam district
Kollam district (), (formerly Quilon district) is one of 14 districts of the state of Kerala, India. The district has a cross-section of Kerala's natural attributes; it is endowed with a long coastline, a major Laccadive Sea seaport and an i ...
Kozhencherry
Kozhencherry ( ml, കോഴഞ്ചേരി) is a census town in Pathanamthitta district of Central Travancore region (South Central Kerala) in Kerala state, India. census, the population was 433,357 people in 92,825 households.
History
Ko ...
Pandalam
Pandalam is a municipal town in Pathanamthitta district Kerala, India. Pandalam is considered a holy town due to its connection with Lord Ayyappa and Sabarimala. Rightly recognised to be the ''educational and cultural capital of Central Trava ...
and
Thiruvalla
Thiruvalla, alternately spelled Tiruvalla, is a town in Kerala and the Headquarters of the Taluk of the same name located in Pathanamthitta district in the State of Kerala, India. The town is spread over an area of . It lies on the banks of ...
Pathanamthitta being also a land of culture and learning could bring forth the literary talents of two centuries together in single volume named ''Desathuti: Pathanamthitta Kavithakal''. Unnikrishnan Poozhikkad collected 184 poems of different poets of Pathanamthitta starting from 18th century..
Geography
Pathanamthitta is a
landlocked
A landlocked country is a country that does not have territory connected to an ocean or whose coastlines lie on endorheic basins. There are currently 44 landlocked countries and 4 landlocked de facto states. Kazakhstan is the world's largest ...
district, located at , spanning over an area of . The district is bordered by the districts
Kottayam
Kottayam () is a municipal town in the Indian state of Kerala. Flanked by the Western Ghats on the east and the Vembanad Lake and paddy fields of Kuttanad on the west. It is the district headquarters of Kottayam district, located in south ...
Kollam district
Kollam district (), (formerly Quilon district) is one of 14 districts of the state of Kerala, India. The district has a cross-section of Kerala's natural attributes; it is endowed with a long coastline, a major Laccadive Sea seaport and an i ...
in the south. To the east it borders the Tenkasi district of the
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...
state. Devar Mala is the highest point in Pathnamthitta District.
The district can be divided into three natural geographical regions: the highland, the midland and the lowland. 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. (western part of Tiruvalla Taluk)
Forest
Pathanamthitta district has a reserve forest area of . This is approximately 50% of the total district area. The forest area can broadly be classified as evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous. The forest is the main source of raw materials for wood based industrial units.
Timber
Lumber is wood that has been processed into dimensional lumber, including beams and planks or boards, a stage in the process of wood production. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, w ...
is the most important produce.
Rivers
Three important rivers flow through the district. These rivers originate from various mountains of the Western Ghats mountain range. The Pamba (), which is the third longest river in Kerala, has its origin in Pulachimala. The Achankovil river () originates from Pasukida Mettu, and
Manimala river
Manimala River or Manimalayar is a 92km long river which flows through South and Central Kerala. The river used to be wrongly considered as a tributary of Pamba River before satellite maps became popular, but this was proved incorrect. Manimala d ...
() originates from the Thattamalai hills. A small portion of
Kallada river
Kallada River/Kulathupuzha " Puzha "means River.Its's the longest river in Kollam District, Kerala, India.The river originates in Kulathupuzha,a part of Western Ghats and flows west reaching Arabian Sea after travelling a distance of 120km.
...
also falls in the southern border of the district. Pamba, Achankovil and Manimala rivers together drain more than 70% of the total area of Pathanamthitta.
Administration
The district headquarters is at
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta (), is a municipality situated in the Central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The town has a population of 3 ...
town. The district administration is headed by the District Collector. She is assisted by five Deputy Collectors holding charges of general matters, revenue recovery, land acquisition, land reforms and election.
Under the three tier system of
panchayat
The Panchayat raj is a political system, originating from the Indian subcontinent, found mainly in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. It is the oldest system of local government in the Indian subcontinent, and historical men ...
in rural areas, Pathanamthitta has one district panchayat, 9 block panchayat and 57 grama panchayats.
Under the single tier system in urban areas, there are 4 municipalities in the district.
As per the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008, Pathanamthitta has five Assembly constituencies, down from eight. However, the district was unified into a single Parliamentary constituency, thus contributing a seat to the
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha, constitutionally the House of the People, is the lower house of India's bicameral Parliament, with the upper house being the Rajya Sabha. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by an adult universal suffrage and a first-p ...
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta (), is a municipality situated in the Central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The town has a population of 3 ...
town is the administrative headquarters of the Pathanamthitta district. The district is divided into two revenue divisions- Thiruvalla and Adoor.
Municipal towns
There are 4 municipal towns in the district. They are:
Legislative representation
There is a
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha, constitutionally the House of the People, is the lower house of India's bicameral Parliament, with the upper house being the Rajya Sabha. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by an adult universal suffrage and a first-p ...
constituency in Pathanamthitta:
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta (), is a municipality situated in the Central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The town has a population of 3 ...
.
There are five
Kerala Legislative Assembly
The Kerala Legislative Assembly, popularly known as the Kerala Niyamasabha, is the State Assembly of Kerala, one of the 28 states in India. The Assembly is formed by 140 elected representatives. Each elected member represents one of the 140 c ...
seats in Pathanamthitta district.
Taluks
The district is divided into two revenue divisions which together incorporate six
Taluks
A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluka, or taluk) is a local unit of administrative division in some countries of South Asia. It is a subdistrict of the area within a district including the designated populated place that serves as its administr ...
within them.
*Taluks in the Thiruvalla Revenue Division are:
*Taluks in the Adoor Revenue Division are:
Revenue villages
Pathanamthitta district is divided into 70 revenue villages for the ease and decentralisation of its revenue administration. They are further incorporated into 6
taluks
A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluka, or taluk) is a local unit of administrative division in some countries of South Asia. It is a subdistrict of the area within a district including the designated populated place that serves as its administr ...
as eludicated below.
Thiruvalla Taluk
*
Eraviperoor
Eraviperoor is a village in Thiruvalla Taluk,Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala . Eraviperoor is the part of Thiruvalla Taluk in east location and is part of the Aranmula legislative assembly constituency.It Comes Under Thiruvalla ...
*
Kadapra
Kadapra is one of the developing Area in Thiruvalla Taluk, Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala, India. It lies near to Parumala and Niranam. Much development is occurring.It Is Part Of Thiruvalla Sub-District.It Also Comes Under Thir ...
*
Kaviyoor
Kaviyoor is a village located in Thiruvalla Taluk In Pathanamthitta district of Kerala India, situated on the western bank of the Manimala River.It Comes Under Thiruvalla Sub-District & Thiruvalla Constituency.
Demographics
*Area: 12.67 k ...
*
Kavumbhagom
Kavumbhagom or Kavumbhagam is a place in Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India. Kavumbhagom is an important junction and part of the Thiruvalla Municipality.
*
Koipuram
Koipuram is a large census village in Tiruvalla, Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala, India. Kumbanad, Muttumon, Pullad, Poovathoor, are the nodal points.
Demographics
Koipuram is a large census village located in Tiruvalla, with ...
*
Kuttappuzha
Kuttappuzha is a revenue village and postal code in Thiruvalla, Kerala, located approximately 1.3 kilometres north of the town centre. The revenue village was formed by bifurcating the Thiruvalla revenue village in 1985. The name Kuttapuzha is ...
Nedumpuram
Nedumpuram is a village in Tiruvalla, Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala, India.It Comes Under Thiruvalla Sub-District & Thiruvalla Constituency.
Nedumpuram is the birthplace of Federal Bank. The Federal Bank Limited (the erstwh ...
Thiruvalla
Thiruvalla, alternately spelled Tiruvalla, is a town in Kerala and the Headquarters of the Taluk of the same name located in Pathanamthitta district in the State of Kerala, India. The town is spread over an area of . It lies on the banks of ...
Kallooppara
Kallooppara is a village Near Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala, India.It Is Part Of Thiruvalla Constituency.
History of Kallooppara
The land of Kallooppara was previously known by the name of "Perum Para Nadu" ...
*
Kottangal
Kottangal is a small village in Mallappally Taluk of Pathanamthitta District in India. River Manimala flows through the boundary of Kottangal Panchayath which separates it from Kottayam District. Kottangal Devi Temple is situated in near Mall ...
*
Kunnamthanam
Kunnamthanam is a village in Pathanamthitta district in Thiruvalla Revenue Division & Thiruvalla Constituency In the state of Kerala, India.
Kunnamthanam organized mass yoga practise with 5,000 people.
It is one of the nine villages that form ...
Puramattam
Puramattom is a village near Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district, in the state of Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, ...
*
Thelliyoor
Thelliyoor is a village Near Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district
Pathanamthitta District (), is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala. The district headquarters is in the town of Pathanamthitta. There are four municip ...
Ranni Taluk
*
Athikkayam
Athikkayam is a village located in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala State, India. It is a small village that is situated on the bank of the Pamba River It's one of the 11 villages in Ranni taluk.
Demographics
India census
A census i ...
Perunad
Perunad (''Ranni-Perunad'') is a scenic hilly village in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala state, India.Nearest Railway Station Is Thiruvalla Located At A Distance Of 62 km. It's located on the banks of Pamba River and Kakkadu River.
Perunad ...
Angadi
Angadi is a village in Ranni Taluk, Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala, India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most popul ...
Aranmula
Aranmula is a temple town in the state of Kerala, India. It is known as the cultural capital of Pathanamthitta district, located at a distance of around 116 km from Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala, it is situated on the banks of the ...
Elanthoor
Elanthoor is a village in Pathanamthitta district of the Southern State of Kerala, India. Situated halfway between Kozhencherry and Pathnamthitta, the area was part of the Kingdom of Travancore presumably since 1820. This peaceful rural belt h ...
Kozhencherry
Kozhencherry ( ml, കോഴഞ്ചേരി) is a census town in Pathanamthitta district of Central Travancore region (South Central Kerala) in Kerala state, India. census, the population was 433,357 people in 92,825 households.
History
Ko ...
*
Kulanada
Kulanada is a village in Pandalam, that is located in the district of Pathanamthitta bordering with Alappuzha district in Kerala state within India. Kulanada assumed its name from the combination of words "Kulam" and "Nada". Kulam meaning pond ...
*
Mezhuveli
Mezhuveli is a village in Kerala, India, situated between the holy rivers of Pamba and Achankovil. It is located 16 kilometers south-west of Pathanamthitta and 12 kilometers east of Chengannur. The Ananda Bhoodeswaram temple in Mezh ...
*
Naranganam
Naranganam is a village in Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Mal ...
*
Omallur
Omalloor is a small town, about 3.5 km south of Pathanamthitta District headquarters, in Kerala. Omalloor is famous for '' Vayal Vanibham'' which is an annual farming fair held in the month of Meenam (October). People from both within and ou ...
*
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta (), is a municipality situated in the Central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The town has a population of 3 ...
Adoor Taluk
*
Adoor
Adoor (sometimes spelled ''Adur'') is a Municipality in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala State, India. It is the headquarters of Adoor Taluk and Adoor Revenue Division.
Etymology
Adoor (Ad-oor) in Malayalam translates as "Ad" means "sep ...
Enadimangalam
Enadimangalam is a village in the Pathanamthitta district of the state of Kerala, India. Enadimagalam includes mainly Elamanoor and Maroor. Enadimagalam is often recognised as a Panchayat. Enadimangalam had a population of around 30,000.
Demo ...
*
Enathu
Enathu is a village in Adoor Thaluk of Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala, India.
Location
It is located 8 km away from the central Adoor Municipality. In the center lies Adoor to the east lies Kottarakkara.
Etymology
I ...
Kadampanad
Kadampanad grama panchayath is the southernmost part of Pathanamthitta district. It comes under Parakkode block of Adoor taluk. The panchayath shared boundaries with Erathu panchayath in the north, Ezhamkulam panchayath in the east, Kunnathur p ...
*
Kodumon
Kodumon (pronounced ko-du-mann) is a village in Adoor Taluk of Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala, India.
Temples
Chilanthi Temple - Kodumon is famous for the Chilanthi temple situated 1.5 km east of Kodumon junction. The te ...
Pandalam
Pandalam is a municipal town in Pathanamthitta district Kerala, India. Pandalam is considered a holy town due to its connection with Lord Ayyappa and Sabarimala. Rightly recognised to be the ''educational and cultural capital of Central Trava ...
Thumpamon
Thumpamon is a village in Pandalam (5 km Approx), a part of Adoor thaluk in Kerala, India. One of the greatest attractions of this village is the Achenkovil River, which is known for its natural sceneries along the riverbank. The village ...
Kalanjoor
Kalanjoor is a village located in Pathanamthitta district
Pathanamthitta District (), is one of the List of districts of Kerala, 14 districts in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kerala. The district headquarter ...
Malayalappuzha
Malayalapuzha is a village outside the city suburbs of Pathanamthitta in Kerala. It is seven kilometers away from Pathanamthitta central junction and five kilometers from Kumbazha junction. Malayalapuzha is famous its ancient Bhadrakali temple. ...
Pramadom
Pramadom is a village in Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala, India.
Demographics
India census, Pramadom had a population of 16908 with 7996 males and 8912 females. The only indoor stadium in Pathanamthitta district is in Pramado ...
*
Seethathodu
Seethathodu is a village in the Pathanamthitta district, state of Kerala, India, near Chittar Town. Predominantly it is a rural region where agriculture being the most important sector. Both state-run and privately operated buses connect Seeth ...
*
Thannithode
Thannithode is a village in Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Mala ...
*
Vallicode
Vallicode (pronounced valli-koad) is a village in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala, India. It is situated at about 7 km from the district headquarters of Pathanamthitta at south-east direction.
Geography
The northern and southern sid ...
According to the 2011 census Pathanamthitta district has a
population
Population typically refers to the number of people in a single area, whether it be a city or town, region, country, continent, or the world. Governments typically quantify the size of the resident population within their jurisdiction usi ...
of 1,197,412, roughly equal to the nation of Timor-Leste or the US state of
Rhode Island
Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the List of U.S. states by area, smallest U.S. state by area and the List of states and territories of the United States ...
. This gives it a ranking of 399th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was −3.12%. Pathanamthitta has a
sex ratio
The sex ratio (or gender ratio) is usually defined as the ratio of males to females in a population. As explained by Fisher's principle, for evolutionary reasons this is typically about 1:1 in species which reproduce sexually. Many species dev ...
of 1129
females
Female (symbol: ♀) is the sex of an organism that produces the large non-motile ova (egg cells), the type of gamete (sex cell) that fuses with the male gamete during sexual reproduction.
A female has larger gametes than a male. Females ...
for every 1000 males, and a
literacy rate
Literacy in its broadest sense describes "particular ways of thinking about and doing reading and writing" with the purpose of understanding or expressing thoughts or ideas in written form in some specific context of use. In other words, huma ...
of 96.93%. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 13.74% and 0.68% of the population respectively.
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry ( Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam wa ...
is the predominant language, spoken by 99.13% of the population. Small minorities of
Tamil
Tamil may refer to:
* Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia
** Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils
**Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia
* Tamil language, na ...
speakers live in urban areas.
According to the
Census of India
The decennial Census of India has been conducted 16 times, as of 2021. While it has been undertaken every 10 years, beginning in 1872 under British Viceroy Lord Mayo, the first complete census was taken in 1881. Post 1949, it has been conducted by ...
2001, the district had a population of 1,234,016 with a density of 467 persons per square kilometre. This is the lowest density in the State after Idukki and
Wayanad
Wayanad () is a district in the north-east of Indian state Kerala with administrative headquarters at the municipality of Kalpetta. It is the only plateau in Kerala. The Wayanad Plateau forms a continuation of the Mysore Plateau, the southern ...
. Schedule tribes and castes comprise 13% of the total population. The female to male ratio is 1094:1000, which is the highest among the districts in the State.
Religion
Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
(57%) is followed by the majority of population of Pathanamthitta.
Christians
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρ� ...
Marthoma Church
The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, often shortened to Mar Thoma Church, and known also as the Reformed Syrian ChurchS. N. Sadasivan. A Social History of India'. APH Publishing; 2000. . p. 442. and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar ...
and
Pentecostal
Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestantism, Protestant Charismatic Christianity, Charismatic Christian movementTrivandrum International Airport
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport , is an international airport which serves Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, India. Established in 1932, it is the first airport in the state of Kerala and fifth international airport of In ...
(TRV) at
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram (; ), also known by its former name Trivandrum (), is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala. It is the most populous city in Kerala with a population of 957,730 as of 2011. The encompassing urban agglomeration populati ...
() and
Cochin International Airport
Cochin International Airport is an International airport serving the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. Located at Nedumbassery, about northeast of the city centre, Cochin International Airport is first of its kind which is develo ...
at
Kochi
Kochi (), also known as Cochin ( ) ( the official name until 1996) is a major port city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of ...
Aranmula
Aranmula is a temple town in the state of Kerala, India. It is known as the cultural capital of Pathanamthitta district, located at a distance of around 116 km from Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala, it is situated on the banks of the ...
, 18 km from Pathanamthitta town but was cancelled in 2018. The Pathanamthitta Sabarimala airport is being planned in Konni.
Education
Tourism
With a number of fairs and festivals, Pathanamthitta district is known as the "headquarters of pilgrimage tourism." The district receives an estimated 3 to 4 million pilgrims during the festival season of
Sabarimala
The Sabarimala Temple (; ml, ശബരിമല ക്ഷേത്രം) is a temple complex located at Sabarimala hill inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Perinad Village, Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, India. It is one of the largest ...
temple. The temple is dedicated to the
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
deity,
Ayyappan
Ayyappan an incarnation of dharma sastha, also called Manikandan, is a Hindu deity popular in Southern India, He is considered to be the epitome of dharma, truth, and righteousness and is often called upon to obliterate evil.
Although devotion ...
. The district is a host to Asia's biggest and the world's second largest Christian convention, the Maramon Convention
It is an eight-day Christian gathering in the month of February, conducted by the
Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church
The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, often shortened to Mar Thoma Church, and known also as the Reformed Syrian ChurchS. N. Sadasivan. A Social History of India'. APH Publishing; 2000. . p. 442. and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar ...
and dedicated to gospel preaching by renowned Christian missionaries from all over the world, and held at
Maramon
Maramon is a small town on the Pampa River, in Thiruvalla Sub-District & Taluk opposite to Kozhencherry in the state of Kerala, India. It is 16 km from the Thiruvalla Town headquarters, the town of Thiruvalla.
Maramon Convention
M ...
on the sand-bed of
Pamba River
The Pamba River (also called Pampa River) is the longest river in the Indian state of Kerala after Periyar and Bharathappuzha, and the longest river in the erstwhile former princely state of Travancore. Sabarimala temple dedicated to Lord Ayy ...
. The three-day Christian gathering is held at Makkamkunnu, Pathanamthitta known as Makkamkunnu Convention by
Malankara Orthodox Church
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC) also known as the Indian Orthodox Church (IOC) or simply as the Malankara Church, is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church headquartered in Devalokam, near Kottayam, India. The church serves ...
. The Cherukolpuzha Hindu convention,
Kadammanitta
Kadammanitta is a village in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India which is famous for Padayani.
See also
* Padayani
* Vazhamuttom
* Thazhoor Bhagavathy Kshetram
Thazhoor Bhagavathy Kshetram, ( ml, താഴൂര് ഭഗവതി ക� ...
Aranmula
Aranmula is a temple town in the state of Kerala, India. It is known as the cultural capital of Pathanamthitta district, located at a distance of around 116 km from Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala, it is situated on the banks of the ...
and
anikkattilammakshethram
Anikkattilammakshethram is a Hindu Temple situated in Anicadu Village, 3.5 km from Mallappally in Pathanamthitta district in the southern part of Kerala, India. Here, Adiparasakthi Sivan and benign Parvathi are worshiped with equal significa ...
are some of the Hindu religious places of interest.
The most important and famous Christian center is Parumala St Peters, St Paul's and St Gregorios Orthodox Church (http://parumalachurch.org) famous for the tomb of Saint Gregorios (Parumala Thirumeni). Millions of Pilgrims visit this church annually.
St. George Orthodox Church, Chandanapally or Chandanapally Valiyapalli is one of the biggest churches in South India, located at a village named Chandanapally, Pathanamthitta District.
St. George Orthodox Church, Mylapra
Mylapra Valiyapalli or St. George Orthodox Church, Mylapra, referred to as ''Chakkittayil palli'' (ചക്കിട്ടേൽ പള്ളി) is a pilgrim center located in the village of Mylapra, in the India state of Kerala
Keral ...
or Mylapra Valiyapalli or Chakkittayil palli (ചക്കിട്ടേൽ പള്ളി) is one of the famous Georgian pilgrim centre which is very close to Pathanamthitta District headquarters.
Some of the other Christian places of interest are St. Mary's Orthodox church at Niranam, St. Thomas Ecumenical Church at
Nilackal
Nilakkal St.Thomas Ecumenical Church is one of the earliest Christian church in Kerala, India. This church is one among the '' Ezharappallikal'' (seven and a half churches) believed to be established in 54 AD by St. Thomas, one of the twelve ap ...
Thumpamon
Thumpamon is a village in Pandalam (5 km Approx), a part of Adoor thaluk in Kerala, India. One of the greatest attractions of this village is the Achenkovil River, which is known for its natural sceneries along the riverbank. The village ...
also known as
Thumpamon Valiya Pally
St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Cathedral (Thumpamon Valiya Pally or തുമ്പമണ് വലിയ പള്ളി or Marthamariyam Badrasana Devalayam) is an Orthodox ancient church located in Thumpamon near Pandalam, Kerala state of In ...
, headquarters of Thumapmon Diocese of
Malankara Orthodox Church
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC) also known as the Indian Orthodox Church (IOC) or simply as the Malankara Church, is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church headquartered in Devalokam, near Kottayam, India. The church serves ...
Muslim
Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
colourful Chandanakkudam festival of the Jama — Al Mosque at
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta (), is a municipality situated in the Central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The town has a population of 3 ...
town attracts many visitors. Although these places are religious in nature, they attract people from all faiths.
The district is known for its reserve forest and wild life. 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).
Pathanamthitta district has places known for its historical importance. Among them are, ancient Valiyakoickal Temple and Palace at
Pandalam
Pandalam is a municipal town in Pathanamthitta district Kerala, India. Pandalam is considered a holy town due to its connection with Lord Ayyappa and Sabarimala. Rightly recognised to be the ''educational and cultural capital of Central Trava ...
Mannadi
Mannadi is a village in Kadampanad grama panchayat at Adoor Taluk, Pathanamthitta District of Kerala, India.
Location
Mannadi is from Kollam and from Adoor. It is equi-distance from Kadampanad and Enath. The nearest airport is Trivandrum ...
and the Muloor Smarakom (Muloor memorial). Pandalam was the capital of the ancient
Travancore
The Kingdom of Travancore ( /ˈtrævənkɔːr/), also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor, was an Indian kingdom from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. A ...
kingdom.
The district has other tourist attractions.
Aranmula
Aranmula is a temple town in the state of Kerala, India. It is known as the cultural capital of Pathanamthitta district, located at a distance of around 116 km from Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala, it is situated on the banks of the ...
is a major attraction for its famous metal mirrors and snake boat race. The school of traditional arts attracts foreign visitors. Founded by French artist Louba Schild, the school teaches
kathakali
Kathakali ( ml, കഥകളി) is a major form of classical Indian dance. It is a "story play" genre of art, but one distinguished by the elaborately colourful make-up and costumes of the traditional male actor-dancers. It is native to the M ...
, classical dance, classical music as well as
kalarippayattu
Kalaripayattu (; also known simply as Kalari) is an Indian martial art that originated in modern-day Kerala, a state on the southwestern coast of India. Kalaripayattu is known for its long-standing history within Indian martial arts, and is ...
. The palace at Aranmula Aranmula kottaram has a history of 200 years.
The Cherukolpuzha Convention, in Pathanamthitta is an important religious convention of the Hindus. It is held at Cherukole on the sand banks of
Pamba River
The Pamba River (also called Pampa River) is the longest river in the Indian state of Kerala after Periyar and Bharathappuzha, and the longest river in the erstwhile former princely state of Travancore. Sabarimala temple dedicated to Lord Ayy ...
, usually in February every year. It is organized by the Ayroor-Cherukolpuzha Hindumatha Maha Mandalam at Vidyadhiraja Nagar at Ayroor village.
The Maramon Convention, one of the largest Christian convention in Asia, is held at
Maramon
Maramon is a small town on the Pampa River, in Thiruvalla Sub-District & Taluk opposite to Kozhencherry in the state of Kerala, India. It is 16 km from the Thiruvalla Town headquarters, the town of Thiruvalla.
Maramon Convention
M ...
, Pathanamthitta,
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South Ca ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...
annually during the month of February on the vast sand-bed of the Pampa River next to the
Kozhencherry
Kozhencherry ( ml, കോഴഞ്ചേരി) is a census town in Pathanamthitta district of Central Travancore region (South Central Kerala) in Kerala state, India. census, the population was 433,357 people in 92,825 households.
History
Ko ...
Bridge. It is organised by Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association, the missionary wing of the
Mar Thoma Church
The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, often shortened to Mar Thoma Church, and known also as the Reformed Syrian ChurchS. N. Sadasivan. A Social History of India'. APH Publishing; 2000. . p. 442. and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar ...
.
The
Church of God (Full Gospel) in India
{{Infobox Christian denomination
, name = Church Of God (Full Gospel) in India (COG)
, image = Church of God Emblem.svg
, imagewidth = 140px
, caption = Cross with wave of the Holy Spirit
, abbreviation = COG in India
, main_classification = Prote ...
, Kerala State, holds its annual convention in Tiruvalla town center. This is usually held in the month of January and is a large gathering of Pentecostal Christians.
Flora and fauna
The forests of the district have excellent wild life habitats. A variety of animals and birds can be found. Tigers,
elephants
Elephants are the largest existing land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. They are the only surviving members of the family Elephantidae ...
,
gaur
The gaur (''Bos gaurus''; ), also known as the Indian bison, is a bovine native to South Asia and Southeast Asia, and has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986. The global population was estimated at a maximum of 21,000 m ...
,
deer
Deer or true deer are hoofed ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. The two main groups of deer are the Cervinae, including the muntjac, the elk (wapiti), the red deer, and the fallow deer; and the Capreolinae, including the re ...
, monkeys and other wild animals are found in the forest. Giant squirrel,
lion-tailed macaques
The lion-tailed macaque (''Macaca silenus''), also known as the wanderoo, is an Old World monkey endemic to the Western Ghats of South India.
Characteristics
Lion-tailed macaques are covered in black fur, and have a striking gray or silve ...
,
barking deer
Barking may refer to:
Places
* Barking, London, a town in East London, England
** London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, a local government district covering the town of Barking
** Municipal Borough of Barking, a historical local government dist ...
and
bear
Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family Ursidae. They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the No ...
great Indian hornbill
The great hornbill (''Buceros bicornis''), also known as the concave-casqued hornbill, great Indian hornbill or great pied hornbill, is one of the larger members of the hornbill family. It occurs in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It ...
are found. Wide variety of other birds such as sunbirds,
woodpeckers
Woodpeckers are part of the bird family Picidae, which also includes the piculets, wrynecks, and sapsuckers. Members of this family are found worldwide, except for Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Madagascar, and the extreme polar regions ...
and kingfishers can also be seen.
The existence of the wildlife habitat is under threat from various areas.
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Pollutants, th ...
from
fertilizer
A fertilizer (American English) or fertiliser (British English; see spelling differences) is any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soil or to plant tissues to supply plant nutrients. Fertilizers may be distinct from ...
and industries and illegal sand mining are the major threats. Issues connected to
Sabarimala
The Sabarimala Temple (; ml, ശബരിമല ക്ഷേത്രം) is a temple complex located at Sabarimala hill inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Perinad Village, Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, India. It is one of the largest ...
pilgrimage such as clearing of forest land and large amount of waste discharged also threatens the habitat.
Sports
The Aranmula Boat Race is part of a festival celebrated during the month of September. Though the snake boat race is also performed at nearby places, the race held at
Aranmula
Aranmula is a temple town in the state of Kerala, India. It is known as the cultural capital of Pathanamthitta district, located at a distance of around 116 km from Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala, it is situated on the banks of the ...
is unique because of the boats' shape and design. Maramadimatsaram (Ox Race) is another such seasonal sport. This is held as part of the largest annual cattle fair of Central Travancore region. The race is held in three categories.
Kollam district
Kollam district (), (formerly Quilon district) is one of 14 districts of the state of Kerala, India. The district has a cross-section of Kerala's natural attributes; it is endowed with a long coastline, a major Laccadive Sea seaport and an i ...