Islands in Kerala

Islands

Dharmadam Island

Dharmadam Island (Green Island) is a small 2 hectare private island in the Kannur District of Kerala, southern India. It lies 100 metres from the mainland at Dharmadam. This island, covered with coconut palms and dense bush is a beautiful sight from the Muzhappilangad beach. During low tide, one can walk out to it from the beach. Permission is required to land on the island as it is privately owned. Dharmadam, known earlier as Dharmapattanam, was a Buddhist stronghold.

Location
4 km away from the town of Thalassery.
17 kms from Kannur

Ezhumanthuruthu

Ezhumanthuruthu (എഴുമാന്തുരുത്ത്) is a small "thuruthu" i.e. island situated 8 km west of Kaduthuruthy town. It falls in Kottayam district, the city of letters. It is a densely populated place of Kaduthuruthy Gram Panchayat.

The population is around 3,500, in an area about two square kilometers. It is a twin "thuruthu" comprising the main land Ezhumanthuruthu and another small thuruthu called Pulithuruthu. The adjoining place to the east is the famous Ayamkudy and to the west is the popular water-logged place of upper Kuttanad known as "Mundar estate". The populace of Ezhumanthuruthu is 90% agriculture labourers and small or medium farmers.

One can reach Ezhumanthuruthu straight from nearby town Thalayolaparambu by road of 5 km or from Kaduthuruthy town. The nearest railway station is Kaduthuruthy railway station. It is about 6 km away from this place. Long ago, the place was surrounded by rivers. Now any one can access through road.

Ezhumanthuruthu is emerging as a hub for the "Monsoon tourism" and "Inland water tourism". Several foreigners used to visit the nearby place "Mundar estate" which has a unique feature that during heavy monsoon and subsequent flood, it is a marvelous experience for people to have a ride on the inundated area. This place is otherwise called as a part of the "Upper Kuttanad". During paddy harvesting season it is a nice experience to visitors to watch the village folk engaged in harvesting rice. The Koithupattu, traditional folk song sung by elders is now near extinction. The villagers have a craze on performing boat race during Onam season as a mark of enthusiasm on the arrival of fresh rice, welcome for Onathappan and so on. Spending a vacation on July- August in Ezhumanthuruthu is a memorable experience.

Location
8 km from Kaduthuruthy, Kottayam

Gundu Island

The Gundu Island is one of the many islands that make up the city of Kochi, Kerala, India. The November 1967 amalgamation order of the Kerala Legislative Assembly declared Gundu Island as part of Kochi. Gundu is the smallest island around Kochi with an area of 5 acres (20,000 m2) completely surrounded by coconut trees. The island can be reached from Vypin island only by boat.

Location
10 mins from Vypin island

Kavvayi Backwaters

Kavvayi Backwaters/Valiyaparamba Island

Kavvayi Backwaters located near Payyannur is the third largest backwater in Kerala and the largest one in north Kerala. The Kavvayi Kayal(Backwaters) is dotted with several small and large islands. Valiyaparamba island is the largest among them and stretches over 16 km2. Located north to Payyannur, Kavvayi is the largest backwater stretch in North Kerala. It stretches from Kavvayi near Payyannur in Kannur district to Neeleshwar in Kasargod district. There are several small and large islands in the backwater adding to its enchanting beauty. The backwaters is fed by four rivers.

Kavvayi backwater is named after the Kavvayi island close to payyannur. Kavvayi used to be an inland port and a major administrative center during the past centuaries. Now the importance of Kavvayi island has diminished but still there are several educational institutions in this small island as a remnant of its years pride and glory. Another major island is the Valiyaparamba island and it is the largest among them. The northern portion of Kavvayi Backwaters is also known as Valiyaparamba backwaters. The island is approximately 16 km2 in size with a population of 10,000. The island's main source of income come from agriculture and fishing. A secluded beach named Valiparamba beach runs parallel to the backwaters on its western side.

Location
50 kms from Kannur

Kothad Island

Kothad (Malayalam: കോതാട്) is an island near Kochi surrounded by river Periyar. It is a part of Kadamakkudy grama panchyath, Kanayannur Taluk, Ernakulam District in the Indian state of Kerala. Chittoor-Kothad bridge is the main bridge connecting Kothad island with outside. With the construction of Vallarpadam International Container Terminal Road, transportation made easier. Bus services are available to Kochi and Aluva. KSRTC's Thirukochi buses are also servicing from Kothad. Boat service between Ernakulam-Varapuzha and South Chittoor-Kadamakkudy is also available. Other small boat services connects Kothad with nearby islands like Pizhala, Chennur and Cheranallur. It is so close to the Cheranallur village, and hence have all facilities available much easier

Location
20 kms from Aluva

Kuruvadweep

Kuruvadweep is a group of islets forming 950 acres of evergreen forest. These islets are located in one of the tributaries of the River Kabani in the Wayanad district, Kerala, which is close to the border with the State of Karnataka. This of dense and evergreen forest is uninhabited and hence a home to rare kinds of flora and fauna: uncommon species of birds, orchids and herbs namely. Its unique geographical characteristics make it a place where not only the leaves but also silence is evergreen being away from cities and thus it has become a place of attraction. Most recently, it has been identified as the most visited place in the district by tourists drawn from all over the globe.

The island surrounded by streams and river can be accessed using rafts or fiber boats run by Kerala Tourism Department. Entrance to the island is restricted and monitored by Vana Samrakshana Samiti, a Dept of Forest of Kerala initiative to protect forest, and at times of heavy rain and frequency of elephants and other animals to the island a pass obtained prior to the visit of spot from Dept of Forest is mandatory. There are three prominent islets among the group, where one would come across a variety of vegetation, some rare orchids and wild flowers. One of these main islands contain two small fresh water lakes These islets are also haven for migratory birds, whose activities break the otherwise silent environs of these beautiful islets. The avian life here includes hornbills, parrots and a host of butterfly species. For those with a bent for trekking can make the most of it by heading for Kuruvadweep, while it is an exciting proposition for those carving for some blissful and serene moments; and for some it is definitely a place where one can get under the cool shades of big trees and listen to the lullaby of the gurgling river.

Location
17 km from Mananthavady

Munroe Island

Munroe Island is located at the confluence of Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada River, in Kollam district, Kerala. The island, accessible by road, rail and inland water navigation, is about 25 kilometres (16 mi) from Kollam by road, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) west from Kundara and about 25 kilometres (16 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.

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, which is one of the famous boat races in Kerala, is at Karuvathrakadavu- Muthiraparambu nettayam in Munroethuruth. The famous Chittumala Theerthatanam starts from here.

Location
27 km from Kollam

Nedungad Island

Nedungad is a small island located in Ernakulam district of Kerala. It is a moderately hot and humid place round the year. Heavy showers with thunder and lightning are experienced between June-September due to the south-west monsoon. The north-west monsoon brings light rainfall during October-December. December to February is comparatively cooler than the rest of the year. During the summer, March-June, the temperature hits a usual high of 35 °C (95 °F) while the mild winter high is 25 °C (77 °F). The temperature range is usually 20–35 °C (68–95 °F).

Location
8 km from Ernakulam

Parumala Island

Parumala is a small village and island on the Pampa River in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala, India. Parumala is renowned for the presence of the Tomb of St. Gregorios (Parumala Thirumeni), the Greatest Saint of India belonging to the Indian Orthodox Church(Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church) and Syriac Orthodox Church, so it is a pilgrimage site.[citation needed] The annual feast Ormapperunnal is held at the Parumala Church annually on the first and second of November.

Location
10km from Chengannur

Pulinkunnoo

Pulinkunnoo is an island village in Alappuzha district in the Indian state of Kerala. Pulincunnu is located in the Kuttanad taluk and region of Alappuzha District. The scenic beauty of the wide river ride through the Pampa river is the reason why this route is one of the most favoured by houseboats tourism operators in Kerala. It is part of the Kerala Backwaters, a network of lakes, wetlands, and canals. The famous Rajiv Gandhi Trophy boat race is held here during the months of October – November every year.

Location
35 km from Kochi

Ramanthuruth

Ramanthuruth is one of the islands that make up the city of Kochi, Kerala, India. The November 1967 amalgamation order of the Kerala Legislative Assembly declared Ramanthuruth Island as part of Kochi.

Location
6 km from Ernakulam

Valiyaparamba

Valiyaparamba is a small island in the Arabian Sea in the Kasaragod district of Kerala state, south India. It is one of the main tourist spots of the district and also a fishing centre. Valiyaparamba is located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south west of Cheruvathur separated from the mainland by Kavvayi Backwater and about 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Bekal, Kasaragod, north Kerala. The island is approximately 16 km2 in size with a population of 10,000. The island's main source of income come from agriculture and fishing. The Island has 13 wards ruling by each ward member to leading the Valiyaparamba Panchayathu. Valiyaparamba is fed by four rivers and dotted with numerous little islands, Valiyaparamba is fast turning into a much favoured backwater resort that offers enchanting boat cruises. Valiyaparamba, a hinterland separated from the mainland, is a noted fishing centre in the district and is just an hour drive from Bekal - one of the most enchanting beaches of Kerala. The Bekal fort which stands on a headland that runs into the sea offers a spectacular view of the surroundings.The National Water Way passes through this beautiful Island and foreign tourist halt here for few hours on the way to Bekal in house boat.

Location
30 km from Bekal

Venduruthy

Venduruthy is a small island in Kochi, India. It is now a part of the greater Willingdon Island. The isolated island is approachable only from the Ernakulam backwater channel. It boasted of two edifices-the Roman Catholic Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, it was built by the early Portuguese settlers in the 16th century. Black heavy clay silt was scoured from the channel bed by the dredger Lord Willingdon and deposited in vast quantities upon the site, whilst around the perimeter a strong four-foot stone wall was constructed as a safeguard against inroads from the sea. Trees were planted along the coast to keep the soil firm. Within a decade the island which is now named Willingdon Island came into being. The Cochin Port Trust (Madras), commandeered the areas fringing the Mattancherry Channel north-west of the island and built fine buildings and a solid wharf. The rest of the land lay open with an abundance of grass and shrubbery growing in great profusion.

Location
3 km from Kochi

Vypin

Vypin or Vypeen (Malayalam: വൈപ്പിന്‍) is one among a group of islands, that form part of the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. The island is about 27 km long. Vypin is connected to mainland Kochi by a series of bridges known as the Goshree Bridges, which take off from Kalamukku in Vypin, touches other two island and lands in Marine Drive, Kochi. The western coast of Vypin has the longest beach in Kochi namely, the Cherai Beach, Kuzhuppilly Beach and the Puthuvype Beach. The northern tip of Vypin (Munambam) has the largest fishing harbour in Kochi namely, the Munambam Fishing Harbour. Recently Puthuvype is became the major industrial hub in Kerala and the fastest growing city suburb i.e., the SPM project of the Kochi Refineries, the Puthuvyp LNG Terminal, IOC Bottling Plant and the proposed Oseanarium. India’s first international container trans-shipment terminal in the Special Economic Zone at Vallarpadam Island. There are regular boat services from Fort Kochi to Vypin Island. The Goshree bridges also connects the islands Mulavukad and Vallarpadam. Now Vypin is a fast-developing suburb of the Kochi City. Today all basic infrastructures for modern living are available in Vypin. Njarakkal is the business capital of Vypin. Travellers from North Kerala use the Vypin-Munambam state highway to reach Ernakulam.

Location
5 km from Kochi

Willingdon Island

Willingdon Island is an island, which forms part of the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. Much of the present Willingdon Island was claimed from the Lake of Kochi, filling in dredged soil around a previously existing, but tiny, natural island. Willingdon Island is significant as the home for the Port of Kochi, as well as the Kochi Naval Base (the Southern Naval Command) of the Indian Navy and Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, a constituent unit of Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The island is also home for other establishments associated with the port, namely, the Office of the Cochin Port Trust (that controls the Port of Kochi), the Customs Office, and more than two dozen export-import offices, warehouses, a few hotels and business centers. The Island was created during construction of modern Kochi Port in 1936 with the soil dredged out while deepening the Vembanad Lake to accommodate the new Kochi Port. It was named after Lord Willingdon, the erstwhile governor of Madras, who commissioned the project. Robert Bristow, the chief protagonist and engineer for the project, owned the first building on the island. Today the entire land belongs to Cochin Port Trust and Indian Navy.

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