A journey through Munroe Thuruth (Munroe Island), Kerala

One fine Sunday, before the crack of dawn, I boarded a train from Ernakulam Station, bound for Munroe. I reached Munroe around 8 in the morning.

Munroe railway station is a relatively quiet one, with only a few trains—mostly passenger and MEMU trains—stopping here. Since our meeting point was at the station premises at around 9 a.m., I had an hour to spare. There were very few people around, and with nothing much to do, I wandered around the station for a while. Eventually, I met one of my fellow travelers at a small coffee shop.

A Little About Munroe

Munroe Thuruthu, popularly known as Munroe Island, is a cluster of eight small islands situated at the confluence of the Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada River in Kerala.

The island community is named after Colonel John Munro, a British officer who took the initiative to construct canals and connect the backwaters in the region. Today, the network of canals, waterways, coconut groves and small settlements gives Munroe a character that is distinctly different from the more commercialised tourist destinations of Kerala.

And the best way to experience Munroe is undoubtedly from the water.

Waiting by the Riverside

From the railway station, we took an auto-rickshaw to a homestay where our boat was waiting.

I sat on a chair near the riverside while waiting for the others. The water was crystal clear, and the morning air was cool, crisp and refreshing. A Shikara boat was quietly resting on the water nearby.

I simply sat there and took in the surroundings.

The scene was almost picture-perfect—a calm river sheltered by trees whose branches dipped gently into the murmuring water, with a boat floating quietly nearby. There was something incredibly peaceful about the place.

It was an absolute treat for the eyes.

Exploring Munroe by Boat

Soon, we divided ourselves into three groups and began our boat ride.

There are a few roads and bridges connecting some of the villages, but much of Munroe is still best explored by boat. The waterways form a natural network through the islands, taking you past homes, fish farms, coconut plantations and small village roads.

As our boat moved slowly through the narrow canals, life seemed to move at an equally unhurried pace.

Small rowing boats and country boats were a common sight. Ducks paddled along the waterways, while different species of birds could occasionally be spotted along the banks.

Then came a series of narrow canals connected by small bridges. At some places, the bridges were so low that we had to bend our heads as the boat passed underneath them.

It was both amusing and exciting.

The journey was not about reaching somewhere quickly. The journey itself was the experience.

Life Along the Backwaters

Fisheries are an important source of livelihood for many people living here. Along the waterways, we could see several Karimeen kettu—fish farms where pearl spot fish are cultivated.

Small roads running through the island were another interesting sight. In between the waterways and houses, coconut palms seemed to be everywhere, rising above the landscape and completing the quintessential Kerala village scenery.

The further we travelled, the more I felt that Munroe was a place where nature and everyday life existed side by side without much separation.

There were no grand tourist attractions to look forward to at every turn. Instead, there were simple things—a fisherman, a small house, a canoe, birds flying over the water, coconut trees swaying in the breeze.

And somehow, that was enough.

Entering the Ashtamudi Lake

After travelling through the narrow canals for some time, we reached a point where the waterways opened up and our boat entered the vast expanse of Ashtamudi Lake.

The landscape changed dramatically.

The narrow canals gave way to the open lake, and ahead of us was one of the most fascinating sights of the journey—a naturally formed mangrove forest in the middle of the lake.

I had seen photographs of this place on social media before, but seeing it in person was an entirely different experience.

The mangroves formed a beautiful natural structure surrounded by water. We stopped our boat right in the middle of it and spent a long time there.

There was nothing much to do.

And that was precisely what made it wonderful.

We simply relaxed, looked around and breathed in the fresh, fragrant air. The stillness of the surroundings made it feel as though time had slowed down.

We took photographs, admired the scenery and enjoyed the peacefulness of the place before eventually turning back.

A Traditional Kerala Lunch

By the time we finished boating, it was around 2 p.m.

Lunch was ready for us at the homestay and was served traditionally on a plantain leaf.

Everything was hot, fresh and flavourful. Being a seafood lover, I particularly enjoyed the variety of fish dishes.

After spending several hours on the water, a hearty Kerala-style meal was exactly what we needed.

It was simple, delicious and deeply satisfying.

Saying Goodbye to Munroe

Soon, it was time to bid farewell to our fellow travellers and begin our return journey.

We took an auto-rickshaw to the ferry point to catch the Jankar. Ferries connecting the islands can normally be quite crowded, but the short journey across the river gave us one last opportunity to take in the surrounding landscape.

After crossing the river, we boarded a bus towards Kollam.

An Island Facing an Uncertain Future

There is, however, a sobering side to the beauty of Munroe.

The eight islands are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including rising water levels, coastal erosion and changes in the region's delicate backwater ecosystem. Concerns have been raised about parts of the island becoming increasingly difficult to inhabit.

The future of Munroe remains uncertain, which makes preserving its unique environment all the more important.

A place that seems so timeless today may not remain unchanged forever.

Until Next Time, Munroe

My weekend at Munroe was not an extravagant trip. It was a simple journey filled with village life, boating, good food and beautiful scenery.

But perhaps that is what made it memorable.