Planning a trip to Kerala and in need for inspiration? Well, I’l give you one: make sure to include Munroe island in your Kerala itinerary plans. This Munroe Island travel guide includes all the essential practical information and tips you need to know for planning your trip along with the best things to do there. Read this now and thank me later!
When I think of Munroe island, only one word comes to my mind: Beauty. This tiny cluster of villages, located amidst the lush green foliage and backwaters is an underrated off beat gem in Kerala, hardly known outside the passionate travel community. Which honestly is both a relief and a pity: relief for the place itself so that that it does not end up suffering from hordes of tourists and their after effects. And pity for everyone who has travelled to Kerala and missed out on this gem.
In recent years however, Munroe island is slowly becoming popular among the younger crowd, thanks to those instagram reels of its beautiful backwaters. These visitors usually tend to arrive on a half day trip from Varkala, eager to tick off insta’s new favourite. I however wanted to experience Munroe in all it’s charm, so I decided to stay overnight in a local home-stay. My conclusion: Munroe island is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in India.
HISTORY OF MUNROE ISLAND
Munroe island is named after Colonel John Munroe, the British Resident of the erstwhile princely state of Travancore who was the administrator of the island. He undertook a lot of reforms and also took steps to prevent flooding of the area by land reclamation efforts at the delta of Ashtamundi lake with Kalladi river. This was done by digging up and integrating a series of inter connected canals and this reclaimed land was named as Munroe island after him.
THE MUNROE ISLAND TRAVEL GUIDE
HOW TO REACH MUNROE ISLAND
Munroe island actually comprises 8 small islets that are located at the confluence of Ashtamundi Lake and Kallada river in the Kollam district of Kerala. The nearest town is Kollam, located around 20 kms away.
Flight: The nearest airport is Trivandrum (80 kms away) you can hire a cab or arrange for a pick up to reach your homestay.
Train: The island has it’s own railway station called Munroturuttu. Trains run from Kollam (20 mins), Trivandrum (2 hrs) and Kochi (3 hrs). You can hire auto rickshaws from the train station to drop you at your home-stay.
Road: If you are coming from Varkala like most other tourists, hire a cab for the 50 kms ride which should cost approx
WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT MUNROE ISLAND
If you want to experience Kerala’s famed backwaters and scenery in a low key and non commercialised manner, Munroe island is your place. While Allepey and Kumarokom are internationally famous, Munroe offers the same beautiful views in a more authentic experience. I visited Allepey too, but preferred Munroe thanks to it’s more natural and low key charm.
WHEN TO VISIT MUNROE ISLAND
The best time to visit is during the dry season from November to March. Summer begins from April and sightseeing in the hot and humid weather becomes very difficult and exhausting. During the monsoon season from July to September prices drop and nature is at its best, but there may be flooding of these canals and low lying areas. If you want to see the Kalladi river race, visit during September-October when it takes place.
HOW MANY DAYS SHOULD YOU SPEND IN MUNROE ISLAND
I would suggest at least 1 night in Munroe island to appreciate the beauty of the place and experience a local home-stay. An additional day will be even better with more time to explore the village, lake and the scenic beauty surrounding it.
WHERE TO STAY IN MUNROE ISLAND
- Green Chromide Homestay
- Munroe Island Backwaters homestay
- Vini’s farm
- Munroe Island Lake resort
- Lake and River resort
OUR STAY: Munroe Island Backwaters Homestay (by Vijeesh)
I highly recommend staying in a homestay here and Vijeesh’s Munroe backwaters homestay is one of the best. I was so happy with the experience, their hospitality, food and the boat tour. The rooms are clean and comfortable; the food is home cooked by his mother with lots of traditional Kerala dishes. The boat tour was super impressive too ! You can book this homestay here.
GETTING AROUND IN MUNROE ISLAND
Its a pretty small village so you can easily walk around and explore. Alternately, rent a bike from your homestay and ride through the entire village.
THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN MUNROE ISLAND
- GO FOR A SUNRISE/SUNSET BOAT RIDE THROUGH THE CANALS
This is the sole reason for Munroes’s rising fame, the reason why travellers are making the effort to come to this tiny Kerala village without much comforts: Boating through the canals. Munroe island has this network of inter connected canals that criss cross through the village before opening into the vast Ashtamundi lake. The boat ride here is manual, without engines to disturb the peace and pollute the water. This makes it even more special. Boating here will give you a peek at local village life, passing by houses with their inhabitants going on with their daily life and activities like coir making, prawn farming and fishing. This is something you won’t really get to experience in the bigger Allepey or Kumarokom boats. The canals are lined up with tall coconut palm trees and an abundance of lush natural greenery. It is honestly one of the most scenic places I have seen during my travels. At times, it feels thrilling, when we have to duck under low lying bridges or arches.
The best time to go for a boat ride is during sunrise or sunset when the sky becomes filled with beautiful colours that make the experience even more special.
We did a 2 hour sunset boat ride with the famous Vijeesh, who deftly manouvered the boat while taking us along for the beautiful journey. Vijeesh made sure to take us through most of the narrow canals passing by the village (which is where most the charm lies) before entering the lake, whereas many others usually do a shortened canal tour to spend more time on the lake.
2. SEE THE FAMOUS MANGROVE ARCH
At the end of the boat ride you will come across thick mangrove plantations in the lake. Along with that you will get to see a famous instagram spot: the naturally formed mangrove arch. If you time it well, you will see the setting sun within this arch like we got to see!
3. EXPLORE THE VILLAGE
Walk or cycle through the narrow alleys of the village to see local village life. You can get to see farms, coir making and can also indulge in a bit of bird watching. End the day by tasting Munroe mocktail at the local shop.
4. VISIT THE DUTCH CHURCH
The church here is one of the oldest in Kerala, built in 1878 by the Dutch. Reaching here is a mini adventure in itself by crossing a railway line and walking across some fields. The church is isolated and not in use. Walk past the church and cross a few coconut tree plantations to reach a shed from where you can see the vast lake. This is another beautiful sunset spot in Munroe island.
5. GO TO THE S CURVE VIEWPOINT
This is a S-shaped path that separates the lake from the backwaters. Several boats can be found here and you can come here to choose boating or canoe services. This spot is also famous for it’s sunrises and sunsets.
6. VISIT THE JOHN MUNROE BUNGALOW
This 200 year old colonial bungalow belonging to the resident Colonel John Munroe and has now been converted into a mini museum. It houses several portraits of Munroe and his family and descendents. The local caretaker here is happy to show people around.
7. EAT A TRADITIONAL KERALA MEAL WITH A LOCAL FAMILY
One of my favourite Kerala experiences was staying in a Munroe homestay and eating local, traditional home cooked food. Vijeesh’s mother cooked all our meals and we were very happy with the food they provided which included fish, prawns, idli, appam, puttu with a number of side dishes, stew, chutneys and pickles. I will always savour the taste of that food.
I hope this Munroe island travel guide has inspired you to plan your own trip. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask in the comments. Happy travelling!
MORE PLACES TO VISIT IN INDIA
MEGHALAYA: Visit this abode of clouds that is filled with beautiful lakes, stunning waterfalls and amazing natural beauty all around. Read my complete Meghalaya travel guide here.
RAJASTHAN: One of India’s most famous destinations that is the land of royals and palaces. A must visit for every history and culture lover. Plan a trip using my Rajasthan travel guide here.
ORCHHA: Visit this small town in central India that abounds with heritage sites, beautiful sunsets and the old world charm. Read my complete Travel Guide Here.
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