Pathanamthitta is a combination of two words Pathanam and Thitta which mean an array of houses on the river side. This district was formed on 1'st November 1982 in the interest of the hastening process of development.Pathanamthitta is a large town and a municipality situated in the central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, south India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2.It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The city has a population of 38,000.The Hindu pilgrim centre of Sabarimala is situated in the Pathanamthitta district; as the main transport hub to Sabarimala, the town is known as the 'Pilgrim Capital of Kerala'. Pathanamthitta is a fast-developing city and business center.