Munroe Island, an ideal spot for a canoe cruise

A leisurely trip on a canoe at Munroe Island offers an enchanting experience as visitors can travel between eight small picturesque islands and along numerous charming canals. Situated at the confluence of the Kallada River and Ashtamudi Lake in Kerala’s Kollam district, Monroe Island is blessed with greenery.

Rich past

Even though it is an isolated group of islands, the area has witnessed many historic events in the social and political spheres. In the 1800s, when British ruled India, the erstwhile princely state of Travancore had a Diwan named Colonel John Munro. Munro allotted an island under his control to the Malankara Missionary Church Society to set up a religious study centre and the church society expressed its gratitude by naming the island after him. Thus, the nameless island came to be known as ‘Munrothuruthu’ or Munroe Island.

The ideal way to experience the place is by canoe. However, tourists have to watch out for the low bridges over the narrow canals. During the trip, they can observe prawn farms and mangrove forests. Till a few years ago, Munroe Island was also a major producer of coir and coir products. At present, the scenic island not only lures tourists but also is a popular location for wedding photography and movie shooting.