Pathanamthitta is a municipal town and the administrative capital of the Pathanamthitta district in southern Kerala, India. The town covers an area of 23.5 km² (9.1 sq mi) and has a population of 37,538. It serves as the headquarters for the district, which was established as the thirteenth revenue district of the state on November 1, 1982.
The town is widely recognized as the "Pilgrim Capital of Kerala" because it serves as the primary transport hub for Sabarimala, a prominent Hindu pilgrim center located within the district. The surrounding Pathanamthitta District ranks seventh in area within the state and is characterized by extensive forest cover, which accounts for more than half of its total landmass.
Geographically, the district shares borders with the Kerala districts of Allepey, Kottayam, Kollam, and Idukki, as well as the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu. The nearest town to Pathanamthitta is Thiruvalla, situated approximately 30 km away via the Thiruvalla-Kumbazha highway.