About:

27 km from Kollam formed by the backwaters of Ashtamudi Lake and Kallada River, this island is named after Colonel Munroe, the British Resident of erstwhile Travancore State. He is credited with having integrated several backwater regions by digging canals. The discovery of stone age tools and megaliths stand testimony to the antiquity of this islet which shelters a quaint little village.Monroe Island is a private island owned by a local family. It is not open to the public. It has been open to MITA members for many years. If you are a MITA member visiting the island be sure to read up on where to camp and pull up boats. There are absolutely no open fires on the island.

Munroe Island is found at the confluence of Ashtamudi Kayal and the Kallada River, in India one of the most picuresque village of Kerala.This island is surrounded by Kallada River and Ashtamudi Lake. It is also known as Munroothuruthu, Manrothuruthu and Munroethuruth.It is 71 km by road from Thiruvananthapuram(Trivandrum) air port. The place is surrounded by Kallada River & Lake Ashtamudi and is accessible by road, rail and Inland water navigation. The Island village is a tourism friendly village where you can watch Coir retting process, Coir Weaving, Fishing, Prawns Feeding, Migratory Bird Watch, Narrow canals and Water ways, Coconut farms on the lake shore, Lagoons, Kandal plants and the beautiful Tiny Islands of PATHUPARA. In this group of islands PATHUPARA is a tiny island of 2 acres (8,100 m2) of land surrounded by Kallada river connected to Ashtamudi lake. On this Island there is a village house with all facilities for stay for family or groups, but prefer families. You can stay there for number of days you like and can Enjoy village life. This is a serene place for artists and writers, they can refresh their mind and make classics.



This Island plays a host to so many migratory birds from various countries around the world, You can watch birds such as King fisher, Woodpecker, Egret, Bee-eater, Crow pheasant, and Paddy Birds.This beautiful small village is surrounded by Ashtamudi Lake and Kallada River. Blessed with a number of criss-cross canals and zigzag water channels, this Island plays a host to so many migratory birds from various countries around the world. Coir making is a home industry to almost all the village living people. It is very interesting to watch the coir making by the village ladies with the help of weaving Wheels. They make the coir ropes by hand. In addition to this, on the way, you can see the process of extracting coconut oil from the "copra" [dried coconut]. Among the routine traditional engagements, duck, poultry farm and prawn breeding are common in all houses.

Location info:

Address:Munroe Island is 25 km from Kollam
District: Kollam
Nearest City: Kollam
Best time to visit:

Climate/Weather:

History:

In 1795 the British established their supremacy in South India and Kerala came under their governance.From 1800 onwards, inorder to maintain British Supremacy in Kerala, a Resident was appointed by the British Administrative head. The First Resident was Colonel Collin Macaulay followed by Colonel John Munro. During Munro's time a senior priest of the Malankara Sabha, Pulikottil Joseph Kathanar expressed his desire to establish seminary for training priests and a place to settle the newly converted Christians. The piece of land thus provided by the Mercy of Colonel Munro was named after him by the locals and is still known as Munro Thuru

Interesting things to do:

Interesting things to Visit:

Thirumullavaram Beach
The secluded Thirumullavaram beach, situated 6km north of Kollam town, is a shady paradise filled with coconut palms. This picturesque picnic spot is a favourite haunt of locals and tourists alike. Regarded as one of the most charming beaches in South India, it is an ideal place for morning walk, swimming or bathing in the sun. Thirumullavaram beach is very well connected by road and offers good facilities for the tourists.

Mahatma Gandhi Beach
Located 2km away from Kollam at Kochupilamoodu, Mahatma Gandhi beach sometimes referred as Kochupilamoodu beach is a ideal place for walks. The park located beside the sea, is the major attraction.

Thangasseri Beach
Three kilometer long Thangasseri beach, famed for its lighthouse, is located 5 km away from Kollam. The lighthouse is open on all days from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Another attraction here are the ruins of the Thangasseri fort and churches built in the 18th century.

Mobile range info:

How to reach?

Nearest Railway Station:Kollam is an important railhead of the Southern Railways. (Railway enquiry Ph: 131)
Nearest Airport:Thiruvananthapuram (71 km)
Road Transport:An excellent road network links Kollam to all major towns and cities in Kerala.

Nearest Visiting places:

Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary
Formed around the Kallada Irrigation Project, the Shenduruny valley is one of the richest floral areas of Kerala. Elephant, tiger, leopard, bear and the lion-tailed macaque can be found here. Closeby is Tenmalai, the headquarters of this forest division. A large number of tea and rubber estates can be found here.

Palaruvi Waterfalls
Palaruvi which means "milky stream" makes its "milky way" down the rocks, falling from a height of 300 feet. The Palaruvi woods is a beautiful picnic spot. There are frequent buses to Ariankavu from Kollam. The PWD Inspection Bungalow and the KTDC Motel offer comfortable accommodation.

Thirumullavaram Beach
This secluded beach is beautiful picnic centre and has frequent bus connections to the town.

Ochira
The unique feature of this famous pilgrim centre is that there is no deity or idol at the famous Para Brahma temple dedicated to universal consciousness. Ochira Kali in mid June and the twelve day 'Panthrandu Vilakku' in November/December are the two main annual festivals. Ochira Kali is a mock fight enacted between groups of men dressed as warriors an the padanilam (fighting spot). They perform a martial dance standing in knee-deep water, brandishing swords and shields, and splashing water every direction. There are frequent buses from Kollam and Alappuzha.

Thenmala
The area is covered by dense forest, rubber and tea plantations. An Eco Tourism Development Project is under implementation here. Thenmala is also a dam site.

Jatayupara
A huge rock at Chadayamangalam takes its name from the mythical bird 'Jatayu' in the epic Ramayana, who is believed to have collapsed on the rock after failing in his attempts to thwart Ravana's kidnapping of Sita.

Mayyanad
Is noted for its shrines and temples. The most important of the nine temples here is the Subramanya Temple at Umayanallor. This shrine is said to have been consecrated by the great Hindu Philosopher Sree Sankaracharaya. There are frequent buses from Kollam to mayyanad.

Kolattupuzha
This picturesque evergreen valley is an important forest range famous for its elephants. There is also an ancient Sastha Temple on the right bank of the Kolattupuzha river.

Sasthamkotta
This vast fresh water lake surrounded by hills on three sides, is the largest of its kind in Kerala. The ancient Sastha Temple which lends its name to the town, is an important pilgrim centre. There are frequent bus services from Kollam. Accommodation is available at the PWD Rest House.

Kulathupuzha
Situated on a forest range on the Thiruvananthapuram-Shenkottai road, Kulathupuzha is known for Sastha temple. The Vishu Mahotsavam in April/May is the most important festival. There are frequent buses from Kollam to Kulathupuzha. The Thenmala railway station is just 10 Km from here.

Thangasseriss
This seaside village of historic importance has the ruins of an old Portuguese fort and churches built in the 18th century. The Thangasseri lighthouse which is 144 feet high, is open to visitors from 15:30 - 17:30 hrs. There are buses at 15 minutes intervals from Kollam town.

Matha Amrithanandamayi Ashram, Vallikavu
The residence and headquarters of Matha Amrithanandamayi Devi, is situated at Amrithapuri near Vallikavu. The Ashram is accessible both by road and boat.

Thirumullavaram Beach
This beautiful beach, filled with coconut palms is ideal for an early morning walk as one can see fishermen gliding into the sea for the day's catch. The beach is also has good bathing facilities.

Nearest Petrol Pump:

Pattom Petrol Bunkunstarred
NH 47, Kerala Public Service Commission, Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695004, India

HP petrol bunkunstarred
Trivandrum, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:

Cambay Palm Lagoon
Ashramom,Kollam

The Beach Orchid
kollam

Hotel Sudarsan
Parameswar Nagar,Kollam

Yatri Nivas
Ashramom,Kollam

Aadithya resorts Lake side
Ashtamudi,Kollam

Railview Hotel
Cantonment Kollam, - 691001

Sea Bee Hotel,
Nr Ksrtc Bus Stn,
Jetty Road Kollam, - 691001

Aquaserene
South Paravoor P.O. Kollam

Ashtamudi Backwater Retreat,Club Mahindra
Kollam

Beach Orchid Hotel
No.326, Beach Kollam,
Beach Road Kollam, - 691001

Karthika Hotel
Nr Kollam Beach, Chinakkada Town, - 691001

Ktdc Yatri Nivas Hotel
Guest House Compound,
Asramam Road Kollam, - 691001

Nani Hotels,
Opp To Clock Tower, Chinnakada Kollam, - 691501

Nila Palace Hotel
Cheerankavu, Ezhukone Kollam, - 691505

Fragrant Nature Resort
Nedungolam, Paravur,Kollam

Aquaserene Hotel
Shaju Jose (Gm)
No.V/88, Kurumandal,
South Paravoor, - 691001

Things to carry:

Tips & Suggestions:

Help Line/Phone Number:

Police Station:

Kollam East Police Station
Kollam, Kollam, Kerala, India 0474 2742072

valathungal police station
Kollam, Kollam, Kerala, India

Paravur Police station
Kerala, India

Varkala Police Station
Kerala, India 0470 2602333

Police Station Chavara
NH47,Kerala, India

Old Police Station Building
NH47, Kerala, India

Police Station
Pallikkal Velinalloor Road, Kerala, India

Police Station
Karunagappally, Kollam, Kerala, India

Police Station
Kottarakara, Kollam, Kerala, India

Kallambalam Police Station
NH 47, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

Nearest Hospital:

Sree Uthradom Thirunal Hospital Varkala
Stavyah Lifecare Services Pvt. Ltd., Near Varkala Court, Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695141, India - 0470 2607766

AM Hospital
NH 47, Karunagapalli, Kollam, Kerala 690518, India - 0476 3290262

Divya Prabha Eye Hospital
Kumarapuram, Trivandrum, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695011, India - 0471 2442050

Susrusha Nursing Home
Hospital Road, Hospital Road, Ernakulam, Kerala 680011, India - 0484 2351371
Category: Hospitals

AJU'S DENTAL CARE CENTRE
Trivandrum Bypass Rd, Trivandrum, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695024, India - 0471 2476304

General Hospital
Hospital Road, Hospital Road, Ernakulam, Kerala 680011, India - 0484 2381768

AncySibi Pandisserry House
Ramankary, Alappuzha, Kerala 689595, India - 09780892400

PRDental speciality centre
Opp:Rajan Textiles, Thirumala, Trivandrum, Kerala 695006, India - 09249434490

Central Research Institute For Homeopathy
Chethipuzha Kurichy Road, Kottayam, Kerala, India

Society/Community Phone Number

Photo Gallery

Video Gallery

Thangasseri Beach
This beach is situated at a distance of about 5 kms from Kollam town. There are many historical sites that you can explore while at the Thangasseri Beach. You can see the ruins of an Old Portuguese fort and churches built in the 18th century. One of the major attractions is the Thangasseri Lighthouse, open to all visitors. The Thangasseri Light house was first used in 1902 and is 144 ft tall which used to warn the seafarers about the dangerous reefs in the Thangasseri coastline. It is open to the public from 1530 to 1730. Thangasseri, once favoured by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British has its place in history due to the ruins of their old forts. Other places of interest are the churches built in the 18th century. The Thangasseri beach stands as a silent spectator of the golden past and the glorious present. This beach envisions the glory of life and ages.....more
Thirumullavaram Beach
The Thirumullavaram Beach in Kerala is situated at a distance of around 6 kilometers to north of Kollam town, Kollam District. Unexplored and untouched by time, the beach offers unadulterated tranquility and peace of mind. In case you are looking for an ideal way to spend a peaceful and quiet day, far away from the bustling life, in Kollam, Thirumullavaram beach is the place for you. Just lie down on the soft sands while soaking up the sun and relaxing quietly in the lap of nature.The quiet and isolated beach provides plenty of opportunities for not just relaxing, but also other activities like swimming and sun bathing. The waves over here are pretty calm so you can venture out in the sea without much of hindrance. The beach is a favorite haunt among tourists and locals and is easily accessible from anywhere in Kerala. The beach has golden sands and the turquoise blue sea makes it picture perfect.....more
Alumkadavu Backwaters
The Alumkadavu is in little place in the town of Karunagapally just 23 km from Kollam. Hub of the Kettuvallam building industry, Karunagapally has hundreds of artisans who can be seen busy at work putting together a traditional houseboat like it has been done for hundreds of years.At Alumkadavu,you might get a chance to see a floating conference hall, perhaps the only one of its kind in the world. Designed for 35 persons, it has a dais and a sophisticated public address system. these days working at full capacity to churn out as many houseboats as they can to meet the ever growing demands of the kerala's tourism industry. The boats which were earlier called kettuvallom's were originally intended to carry cargo. but as more and more places gained road and rail access the faster transport through road and rail took over the job from the traditional water transport.....more
Kollam City
Kollam, located 71 km to the north of Thiruvananthapuram, is the center of the country's cashew trading and processing industry. One of the oldest ports on the Malabar Coast, Kollam was once the port of international spice trade. It is interesting to note that about thirty per cent of this historic town is covered by the renowned Ashtamudi Lake, making it the gateway to the magnificent backwaters of Kerala. The boat trip between Kollam and Alappuzha is the longest and most captivating experience on the backwaters of Kerala. The district also has some interesting historic remnants and a number of temples built in the traditional ornate architectural style.....more
Fort at Thangassery
Thangassery Old Fort is just 5 km from Kollam, Thangassery or Dutch Quilon as it was called was once a British enclave. Meaning is gold village in local parlance, this was the hub of a flourishing trade that used gold as currency. This seaside village of historic importance shelters the ruins of an old Portuguese fort and churches built during the 18th century. The famed lighthouse of Thangasseri which is 144 ft high, constructed in 1519 by the British Thangasseri, a silent sentinal warning seamen of the treacherous reefs of the Thangasseri, since 1902.Thangasseri was once a favourite settlement of the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English in succession, as Kollam was one of the oldest and most important port for international cashew trade on the Malabar coast.....more
Ashtamudi Lake
Ashtamudi Lake is located in Kollam district, Kerala, South India.The Ashtamudi is one of the largest wetland ecosystems in Kerala State. It is a palm-shaped extensive water body with eight prominent arms, adjoining the Kollam town. The arms converge into a single outlet at Neendakara near Kollam, to flow into the Arabian sea.The river feeds on the Kallada River, which is formed when the Kulathupuzha, the Chedurni and the Kalthuruthy merge together.t is a palm-shaped extensive water body with eight prominent arms, adjoining the Kollam town. The arms converge into a single outlet at Neendakara near Kollam, to enter the Lakshadweep sea. This estuary is the deepest among all the estuaries of Kerala with a maximum depth of 6.4 m at the confluence zone.The backdrop of Chinese fishing nets lends an oriental ambience.....more
Paravur Kayal
Paravur Kayal is located in Paravur , Kollam district, Kerala. Paravoor is located along the Malabar Coast in the district of Kollam.Paravur is stated to have the largest natural backwater lakes (the Paravur Kayal), This in turn has given rise to a number of tourist resorts, with facilities for boating, swimming and surfing.It is a fishing village with traditional coir making factories and coconut palm weaving centers.Although it is small, with an area of only 6.62 km² , it is the end point of the Ithikkara River and part of the system of lakes and canals that make up the Kerala Backwaters. Paravur Kayal is a lake in Paravur, Kerala, India. It has been connected to Edava Kayal and Ashtamudi Kayal as part of the Trivandrum - Shoranur canal system since the late 19th century.Paravoor has it's share of temples and churches.Paravoor has many temples.One of the famous temples is "PUTTINGAL TEMPLE".....more
Sasthamkotta Lake
Sasthamkotta Lake is located Sasthamcotta, 27 kms. from Kollam Town, Kollam District, Kerala.It is the largest fresh water lake in Kerala, the water in the lake is special in that it does not contain common salt or other minerals and metals. t is a beauty spot, a health resort and a centre of pilgrimage. he place is gifted with natural beauty and is surrounded by hills and vallies. A must visit place in Kollam. The lake and its very setting is an ideal spot to experience some quite moments, occasionally broken by the shrill pitched call of the monkeys in the trees by the lake side.The lake is surrounded by hills on all sides except south where a bund has been constructed separating the lake from the neighbouring rice fields. It is a freshwater lake spread over a huge area of 375 hectares. The highlight of this lake is that it neither gets frozen during the winter season nor does it dries up in the summer.....more
Ithikkara River
Ithikkara River is a 56 km long river in Kerala, India. It originates in Ponmudi in Thiruvananthapuram District and flows through Kollam District, finally emptying into Paravur Kayal.10 acres of land having a fertile soil, suitable for plantation, situated near ithikkara river at kaithakuzhy, aadichanelloor in kollam district along with an old bungalow suitable for resort, ayurveda tourism, amusement park etc is available for sale, No brokers.....more
Kallada River
Kallada River has its origin on the Kulathupuzha hills near Ponmudi in Thiruvananthapuram District. This is 121 km long river traverses the state through Pathanapuram, Kunnathur, Kottarakkara and Kollam before draining into the Ashtamudi Lake at Kollam District. kallada is a river whose serenity lies in its stillness, the pythonic pace with which it embraces the muddy riversides.Emanate from here are the rusticsimplicity and emotionality of a village populace, named east kallada.untouched by the onslaught of administrative modernisation,here is an area called uppoodu.The virtues of the word called "kinship", define itself here better than anywhere else.these words are attempted for nothing,but to eulogise the umblical relation between the river kallada and the unique life of rustic magnanimity.The famous Hanging Bridge is built across this river. Palaruvi Waterfalls is another highlight in this river.....more
Palaruvi Waterfall

Palaruvi waterfalls is 75 Kms away from Kollam on the Kollam-Shenkottai road near Aryankavu. Aryankavu. This waterfall is one of the attractions in Kerala.Palaruvi Waterfalls, Kollam. Palaruvi is one of the most picturesque waterfalls in Kerala that cascade down from the height of 300 feet. Palaruvi is inside thick forests on the high ranges off Thenmala in Kollam district. It is near the Tamil Nadu border, 5 kms from Ariankavu. The waterfalls is from a height of 300 feet. This fall is into a shallow pool and is ideal for swimming. During the rainy season, Palaruvi waterfalls is attarctiveand normally get crowded by thousands of tourists. The water gushing during the monsoon season attracts huge crowds at this waterfalls. The fall gets dry during the summer season and the mansoons bring it to its full glory.....more