Pasanauri is located in the historical region of Mtiuleti, which is considered the birthplace of khinkali.
On the map created by geographer and historian Vakhushti Bagrationi (1697–1757), the settlement is marked as Kisturi.
In the early XIX century there was a customs collection point here. Around the same time, a two-story customs house was built on the outskirts of Pasanauri, which still stands today.
In 1829, Alexandr Pushkin passed through Pasanauri. The group he was traveling with was delayed during a document check, so he left his companions behind and continued on foot to the south, toward Ananuri.
At the end of the XIX century, Alexei Gorkiy also visited Pasanauri. In memory of his visit, a bronze statue of the writer stands at the entrance to the village from the direction of Tbilisi.
Near Pasanauri, the Black and White Aragvi Rivers converge.