Munroe Island
Encyclopedia
Munroe Island is located at the confluence
of Ashtamudi Lake
and the Kallada River
, in Kollam district
, Kerala
, South India
. The island, accessible by road, rail and inland water navigation, is about 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) from Kollam
by road, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) west from Kundara
and about 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) from Karunagapally.
The place is named in honour of Resident
Colonel John Munro
of the former Princely State of Travancore
. The island measures 13.4 square kilometres (5.2 sq mi) in area.
was appointed by the British Administrative head. The First Resident was Colonel Collin Macaulay, followed by Colonel John Munro
. During Munro’s tenure, a senior priest of the Malankara Church
, Pulikottil Joseph Kathanar, expressed his desire to establish a seminary for training priests and a place to settle the newly converted Christians. Thus the place was named after Colonel John Munro by the locals.
The history of Munroe Island is connected with the history of Church Missionary Society (CMS). In 1819, during the reign of Rani Gowri Parvati Bayi of Travancore, Munroe Island was granted to the CMS with a condition that revenue generated from the land should be used for the "KEROSENE EXPENSE" of the Syrian students of old seminary in Kottayam
and should not be diverted for any evangelical purpose.
Kallada Boat Race
, which is one of the famous boat races in Kerala, is at Karuvathrakadavu- Muthiraparambu nettayam in Munroethuruth. The famous Chittumala Theerthatanam starts from here.
Tourism is further promoted by the First Community Tourism Programme that was announced by Minister for Tourism Kodiyeri Balakrishnan during a visit to the islands. In addition to building accommodation facilities, the programme will also utilize vacant houses on the islands to cater to both domestic and foreign tourists.
Confluence (geography)
In geography, a confluence is the meeting of two or more bodies of water. It usually refers to the point where two streams flow together, merging into a single stream...
of Ashtamudi Lake
Ashtamudi Lake
Ashtamudi Lake in the Kollam District of Kerala, India, is the second largest and deepest wetland ecosystem, a palm-shaped large water body, next only to the Vembanad estuary ecosystem of the state. Ashtamudi means 'eight coned' in the local language of Malayalam...
and the Kallada River
Kallada River
The Kallada River is one of two major rivers that flow through the Kollam District of Kerala, India. It originates on the Kulathupuzha hills near Ponmudi and travels for 121 km, flowing through Punalur, Pathanapuram, Kunnathur, Kottarakkara and Kollam before ending at Ashtamudi Lake...
, in Kollam district
Kollam district
-Climate:Kollam's temperature is almost steady throughout the year. The average temperature ranges from 25 to 32 degrees Celsius. Summer usually runs from March until May; the monsoon begins by June and ends by September. Kollam receives an annual average rainfall of around...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
. The island, accessible by road, rail and inland water navigation, is about 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) from Kollam
Kollam
Kollam , often anglicized as ', is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. The city lies on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake on the Arabian sea coast and is situated about north of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram...
by road, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) west from Kundara
Kundara
Kundara a fast re-emerging industrial town is set to become a satellite town of Kollam city Kollam district of Kerala, India. A former industrial center of Kollam district it had major industries as - KEL, Kerala Ceramics, Aluminium Industries Ltd...
and about 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) from Karunagapally.
The place is named in honour of Resident
Resident (title)
A Resident, or in full Resident Minister, is a government official required to take up permanent residence in another country. A representative of his government, he officially has diplomatic functions which are often seen as a form of indirect rule....
Colonel John Munro
John Munro, 9th of Teaninich
General John Munro of the H.E.I.C.S, 9th of Teaninich was a Scottish/British soldier and statesman who had great success in India.-Early life:John Munro was born in June 1778, second son of Captain James Munro, 7th of Teaninich...
of the former Princely State of Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
. The island measures 13.4 square kilometres (5.2 sq mi) in area.
History
In 1795 the British established their supremacy in South India and Kerala came under their governance. From 1800 onwards, in order to maintain British Supremacy in Kerala, a ResidentResident (title)
A Resident, or in full Resident Minister, is a government official required to take up permanent residence in another country. A representative of his government, he officially has diplomatic functions which are often seen as a form of indirect rule....
was appointed by the British Administrative head. The First Resident was Colonel Collin Macaulay, followed by Colonel John Munro
John Munro, 9th of Teaninich
General John Munro of the H.E.I.C.S, 9th of Teaninich was a Scottish/British soldier and statesman who had great success in India.-Early life:John Munro was born in June 1778, second son of Captain James Munro, 7th of Teaninich...
. During Munro’s tenure, a senior priest of the Malankara Church
Malankara Church
The Malankara Church is the church of the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala, India, with particular emphasis on the part of the community that joined Archdeacon Mar Thoma in swearing to resist the authority of the Portuguese Padroado in 1653...
, Pulikottil Joseph Kathanar, expressed his desire to establish a seminary for training priests and a place to settle the newly converted Christians. Thus the place was named after Colonel John Munro by the locals.
The history of Munroe Island is connected with the history of Church Missionary Society (CMS). In 1819, during the reign of Rani Gowri Parvati Bayi of Travancore, Munroe Island was granted to the CMS with a condition that revenue generated from the land should be used for the "KEROSENE EXPENSE" of the Syrian students of old seminary in Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
and should not be diverted for any evangelical purpose.
Tourism
The island village is a tourism destination where one can watch coir retting process, coir weaving, fishing, prawns feeding, migratory bird watch, narrow canals and waterways, coconut farms on the lake shore, lagoons, kandal plants and the beautiful tiny islands of Pathupara.Kallada Boat Race
Kallada Boat Race
The Kallada Jalotsavam is a popular Vallam Kali held on the Kallada River at Munroe Thuruthu on 28 days after Onam in Indian state of Kerala.The boat race is conducted along the straight portion of Kallada River...
, which is one of the famous boat races in Kerala, is at Karuvathrakadavu- Muthiraparambu nettayam in Munroethuruth. The famous Chittumala Theerthatanam starts from here.
Tourism is further promoted by the First Community Tourism Programme that was announced by Minister for Tourism Kodiyeri Balakrishnan during a visit to the islands. In addition to building accommodation facilities, the programme will also utilize vacant houses on the islands to cater to both domestic and foreign tourists.