Published on Mar 04, 2023
Munroe Island Kerala : Munroe Island is a hidden pearl in the backwaters which is composed of a cluster of 8 islands. Each of them is separated by small water channels and lakes. Munroe Island is located about 27 km from Kollam.
The place is named in honour of Resident Colonel John Munroe, of the former princely state of Travancore. He is said to have integrated several backwater regions by digging canals. Some of this island’s main attractions are the narrow waterways, canal cruise and the famous Kallada Boat Race held here during the 10-day festival of Onam.
• Morning Cruise from 09:00 hrs.
• Afternoon Cruise from 14:00 hrs.
Tariff:- Rs.600/- per person.
DTPC Kollam
Ph.: +91 474 2745625, 2750170
Email : info@dtpckollam.com / contact@dtpckollam.com
In 1795 the British established their supremacy in South India and the princely state of Travancore came under their governance. From 1800 onwards, a Resident was appointed by East India Company as administrative head of Travancore. The first Resident was Colonel Colin Macaulay, followed by Colonel John Munro. During his tenure Munro oversaw the land reclamation efforts in the delta where Kallada River joins Ashtamudi Lake and the reclaimed island was named after him as Munroe Island. The Dutch Church here in Munroe Island is one of the ancient churches in Kerala. It was built by the Dutch in 1878. The red brick church is a blend of Dutch-Kerala architecture on the scenic banks of Lake Ashtamudi.
The villagers depended on coconut coir manufacturing as livelihood, however, post Indian Ocean tsunami, things have changed.
The island village is a tourism destination where one can see the coir retting process, coir weaving, fishing, prawns feeding, migratory bird watch, narrow canals and waterways, coconut farms on the lake shore, lagoons, mangrove plants and the beautiful tiny islands of Pathupara.
Kallada Boat Race, which is one of the famous boat races in Kerala, is at Karuvathrakadavu- Muthiraparambu nettayam in Munroe Island.
Low-lying areas of the Island are now under a threat of Submerging in high tides. This is post tsunami phenomena. An expert team from the Thangal Kunju Musaliar College of Engineering, Kollam has started a study into the phenomena. The team headed by Prof. Gouri Antharjanam, and consisting of Prof. Suniil Kumar, Prof. Sruthi. R. Krishnan, Prof. Amal Azad and Prof. Udayakumar made several visits to the Island.
The death of Lans Naik Sudheesh of this island in the Border area at Siachin has invoked interest of the outer world to the problems of this Place. The island's population has been steadily declining resulting from an exodus of people unable to cope up with the deteriorating conditions
• Nearest railway station : Munroe Island, about 3 km
• Nearest airport : Trivandrum International Airport, about 84 km
