Munroe Island

Munroe Island in Kollam (celebrated worldwide as Mundrothuruth and one of the most idyllic backwater destinations in southern India, comprising a cluster of 8 tranquil estuarine islets situated at the confluence of the sacred Kallada River and the palm fringed Ashtamudi Lake, named in honor of Colonel John Munro the British Resident of the Kingdom of Travancore who spearheaded the land reclamation and canal engineering in the early 19th century, world famous for its sunrise and sunset narrow canal country canoe rides, low hanging mangrove canopies, traditional coir retting villages, prawn filtration farms, and migratory waterbirds), located in Kollam in Kerala, stands as the cashew capital's premier eco tourism haven.

Dating back over two centuries to 1818 AD when Queen Regent Gowri Parvati Bayi of Travancore gifted these marshy delta islands to the Church Missionary Society (CMS) for theological education, Colonel Munro transformed the archipelago into a prosperous agricultural delta by digging an intricate network of freshwater and brackish canals connecting coconut groves with Ashtamudi's backwater channels.

It's the home of the famous hand paddled wooden country canoe safaris where local boatmen steer travelers through ultra narrow zigzagging waterways under low arched concrete bridges where touching mangrove roots and overhanging coconut palms is an everyday joy, the traditional village cottage industries where women spin golden coconut coir by hand and weave thatch mats, the ancient 1878 AD Dutch Church standing quietly on the banks of Lake Ashtamudi, the shallow aquaculture lagoons where tiger prawns and pearl spots (Karimeen) are caught using traditional Chinese fishing nets, and an intensely peaceful, slow paced village ambiance where kingfishers, brahminy kites, and cormorants dive into glassy emerald waters.

It represents a rich Travancore delta history, sustainable backwater village tourism, and fragile estuarine ecology where canal canoe trails, mangrove tunnels, Kallada boat races, and Kollam island life unite in Munroe Island.

Located in the Ashtamudi backwaters, it sits just 25 km northeast of Kollam city center, 27 km from Kollam Junction Railway Station (QLN), 85 km from Trivandrum International Airport (TRV), and 3 km from Munroturuttu Railway Station (MQO), easily accessible by passenger train, road via Perinad, or backwater ferry from Kollam DTPC jetty.

Narrow Canal Country Canoe Cruises & Mangrove Tunnels

Unlike large motorized houseboats that cannot handle shallow creeks, Munroe Island's lightweight wooden canoes glide smoothly through hidden village waterways.

Paddled silently by local villagers using bamboo poles, these two hour canoe trips take visitors through natural mangrove archways, under tiny footbridges, and past village backyards.

Truth is, gliding under a natural canopy of green mangroves at golden sunrise while kingfishers dart across the water is pure magic.

Traditional Coir Making, Pearl Spot & Dutch Church

Coir Village Craft: Visitors witness traditional coir retting in saline waters, fiber extraction, and hand spinning on wooden spinning wheels (Ratt).

Historic 1878 Dutch Church: A red brick colonial church built by the CMS along the lake shoreline showcasing Dutch and Portuguese architectural elements.

Kollam Backwater & Heritage Circuit

Island Estuary Loop: Sits just 15 km from Sasthamkotta Freshwater Lake, 25 km from Kollam Beach & Lighthouse, and 28 km from Tangasseri Fort.

District Day Tour: Connects smoothly with Jatayu Earth's Center (45 km), Shenduruny Sanctuary & Thenmala (60 km), and Varkala Cliff Beach (55 km).

After canoeing the narrow canals of Munroe Island, savor a fresh Karimeen Pollichathu, explore Ashtamudi Lake, or tour Kollam.