Geography and Climate

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Pathanamthitta is a town situated in the very heart of the Central Travancore region of Kerala State, India.It is the administrative capital of The Pathanamthitta District. The town has a population of 38,000. It is known as the 'Pilgrim Capital of Kerala'. Pathanamthitta is a fast-developing town and business center. It is the main transport hub to the famous Hindu pilgrim center of Sabarimala. The main trunk road to Sabarimala is from Pathanamthitta. The Main Eastern Highway (Punalur-Pathanamthitta-Muvattupuzha Road/SH-08) and T.K.Road (Thiruvalla-Pathanamthitta-Kumbazha Road/SH-07) pass through Pathanamthitta. Pathanamthitta is a cosmopolitan town, with people of different faiths like Hindus, Christians, and Muslims live in harmony. Pathanamthitta District has a communal break up of Hindus 55.58%, Christians 40.35%, Muslims 4.03%.

The name Pathanamthitta is derived from two Malayalam words Pathanam and thitta, which together mean "houses by the riverside".Lord Ayyappa - Pathanamthitta is the gateway to the The World renowned Ayyappa pilgrim centre Sabarimala Temple

Pathanamthitta is located at 9.27° N 76.78° E It has an average elevation of 19 metres (62 feet) above sea level. The Pathanamthitta town is located on the banks of the River Achankovil.The town enjoys a tropical climate, the monsoons start in June. The months of April-May can get pretty humid. The best weather is from October to February.

Pathanamthitta experiences three distinct seasons: summer, monsoon and winter. Typical summer months are from March to May. The warmest month in Pathanamthitta is April. Although summer doesn't end until May, the city often receives locally developed heavy thundershowers in May (although humidity remains high). The monsoon lasts from June to August, with moderate rainfall. Most of the heavy rainfall in the city fall between June and July, and June is the wettest month of the year. Last weeks of June is also days of floods. The three major rivers viz Pampa, Achankovil and Manimala swell with rainwater. Winter begins in December. December and February are the winter months. The lowest temperatures are experienced during January.