Munroe Island
Malayalam: Mundrothuruthu. A cluster of small islands where the Kallada River runs into Ashtamudi Lake. Canals go between them, some barely wider than the boat.
We have not photographed the water yet. Not the canals, not a canoe, not the lake at the end of the day. Rather than show you a picture of somewhere else and let you assume, this page is told in words. The empty frames below are the ones we still owe you.
01 — The headline thing to do
The canoe canal tour
Two to three hours in a country canoe, through canals barely wider than the boat.
Best at sunrise, or late afternoon
It is a guided ride, and it is the reason most people come. Best at sunrise, or late in the afternoon when the light goes long across the water. The boats are small and local — about six people at a time.
It is normally booked through your homestay, which means through us. We don’t sell it and we don’t package it; we know the boatmen, and we’ll arrange it for the morning you want.
Local boating on the island generally starts at around ₹500. Treat that as a rough idea rather than a quote — we’ll confirm the current rate with the boatman before you commit to anything.
A country canoe in a narrow canal at first light, the paddler standing.
Kayaking
Also available, also in small groups, and also something we’ll help you set up. It suits people who would rather work for the quiet than be taken through it.
Facility number twelve on our list is “assistance with local experiences and exploring Munroe Island”. That is exactly what it means: we make the calls, you go.
02 — What you pass
Nothing on the canal is staged for you. It is a working island.
- 01Coir rettingCoconut husk soaked in the backwater until the fibre comes loose, then spun and woven.
- 02FishingTraditional fishing, worked from the bank and from small boats.
- 03Prawn & fish farmingEnclosures let into the shallow water along the channels.
- 04Boat buildingBoats made and repaired at the water’s edge.
- 05Sand miningSand lifted from the riverbed — part of how the island lives.
Birds
Migratory and backwater birds along the channels and the lake edge. Kingfishers, herons. Early is better, as it usually is.
The working canal: coir drying on the bank, a boat under repair, a kingfisher on a stake.
03 — Once a year
The Kallada Boat Race
The snake-boat race is held here, during the ten days of the Onam festival season. It is the one time the water is loud.
If your dates fall anywhere near Onam, tell us early — the island fills up, and so do we.
Find your rhythm, find your OLAM 🌸
From our home to yours
04 — Getting here
Three numbers, all of them checked.
| From | Distance | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Munroe Turuttu railway station | ~3 km | Nearest station; local trains to Kollam Jn and Trivandrum Central |
| Kollam Junction railway station | ~27 km | Main railhead |
| Trivandrum International Airport (TRV) | ~84 km | Nearest airport |
Enquire
Planning a stay with us?
Just share your preferred dates, number of guests and room preference, and we’ll be happy to check availability for you.