Patan district is a district of Gujarat state with its administrative headquarters located at Patan city. The district got its name from the Patan city. In the novels of K.M. Munshi, it is clearly mentioned that once upon a time in the ancient and early medieval period, Patan district was the capital of Gujarat. It was Vanraj Chavda of the Chavda dynasty who founded the fortified Patan city in 745 A.D. It is also believe that he named the city as Anhilpur Patan or "Anhilwad Patan" and these names are derived from the name of his close friend, Anahilla, a common shepherd. During different periods of time the district was ruled by a number of rulers like Bhimdev, Kumarpal, Siddharaj and Karndev. Today’s Patan district was created near the ruins of ancient Anhilwara. Since the mid 18th century till India got its independence in 1947, Patan was a part of the Baroda state. Patan district was emerged as a separate district in the year 2000. The present district was formed by merging the 5 talukas of the earlier Mehsana district namely Sami, Harij, Chanasma, Sidhpur and Patan with 2 talukas of the earlier Banaskantha district namely Radhanpur and Santalpur. The district is famous for its ancient Hindu temples and Jain Temple.

Geographically, the district lies at 23°85'N latitude, 72°11'E longitude and 76 m Altitude. In the year 2021, there was a total 1.70% forest area of total geographical area. The district encompasses a geographical area of 5,792 sq km. and in terms of geographical area it occupies the ranks of 13th in the state and 179th in India. It is bounded by Banaskantha district on the north and northeast, Mehsana district on the east and southeast, Surendranagar district on the south and Kutch district and the Little Rann of Kutch on the west. The climate of the district remains extremely hot during the summer. Most of its rainfall occurs in the monsoon season. The actual rainfall in the district was 532.3 mm in the year of 2021-22.

Administration wise, the district is divided into 2 sub-divisions namely Patan province and Radhanpur province. The district has also 9 talukas include Patan, Sarswati, Santalpur, Radhanpur, Siddhpur, Harij, Sami, shankheswar and Chanasma. Moreover, the district comprises 6 towns and 517 villages. The administrative language in the district is Gujarati.

According to 2011 census the district has a population of 13,43,734 out of which 6,94,397 are males and 6,49,337 are females. The district has a sex ratio of 935 females for every 1000 males. During the year 2001-2011 the population growth rate in the district was 13.61% including 13.45% were males and 13.8% were females. The population density in the district is 232 persons per sq. km. In the year 2020 the number of live births in the district was 30,693 out of which 16,032 were males and 14,661 were females. In the same year the number of deaths in the district was 11,660 out of which 7,078 were males and 4,582 were females. As per 2011 census the major religion in the district is Hindu with 88.91% of the total population. According to 2011 census the principal language in the district is Gujarati with 98.36%.

Agriculture and agro based industries are the backbone of the economy of the district. Most of the lands in the district are used for agricultural purposes. The fertile soil and advance irrigation facility of the district helps to increase the production level of its agricultural products. Some of its chief agricultural products are wheat, castor, cereals, pulses, cotton, mustard, citrus fruits, pomegranate, guava, papaya, potato, cabbage, tomato, cauliflower, etc. The district has some small scale industries which contribute in its economy to a great extent. Some of its core small scale industries like food processing, cotton based textiles, paper and pulp industry and vegetable oils mills are stands as the supporting pillars of the district economy. Patan is rich in oil and gas sector so today it is an attractive spot for numerous investors. Patola saree of the Patan district is world famous.

The district is an abode of some reputed technical and law colleges. It also provides platform for distance learning programmes and correspondence courses which are offered by various Study Centres under Open University Scheme of Indian universities. Some of its recognised educational institutions are Government Engineering College, K.D. Polytechnic, Sevantilal Kantilal School of Business Management, etc. As per 2011 census the literacy rate in the district is 72.3% including 82.9% are males and 61.05% are females.

Shankarbhai Lagdhirbhai Chaudhary,  a distinguished Member of  from Vav constituency in Gujarat and the present Minister of Health and Urban Development Authority under the Government of Gujarat was born on 1st June, 1970 at Arbudanagar village in the Patan district. He is a member of Bharatiya Janata Party.

The district has numerous centres of attraction with religious and historical significance which allures many travellers from different parts of the country as well as world. Most of the visitors come to this place to offer prayers in the ancient Jain temples and to praise 'Rani ki Vav', a stepwell was constructed by Udaymati of Solanki dynasty in the memory of her husband, Bhimdev I. There are approximately 150 Jain temples in the Patan district including Shamla Parshwanath, Panchasara Parshwanath and several others. Panchasara Parshwanath Jain Temple is the largest Jain temple among all the Jain temples situated in the district. The white marble floors and elaborate stone carvings of the temple made it more beautiful which as well depicts a proper architectural feature of Jains. The Sahastralinga Talav or 'Lake of a Thousand Lingas' is another pious place, located in the district which has 1000 shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva. Some other notable places of interest in the district are Trikam Barot Ni Vav, Anand Sarovar, Sheikh Farid No Rojo, Panchmukhi Hanuman, Old Kalka Mandir, Hingaraj Mandir, Panchasar Derasar, Jasma Odan Ni Deri, Old Mahalaxmi Mandir, Methrana Teerth, Shri Gambhu Teerth, Shri Shankheshwar Teerth, etc.