Situated in Kollam district, Jatayu Earth's Centre is a tourist hub located on top of the 1,000 ft-high Jatayupara that towers above the green expanses of Chadayamangalam.
Jatayu Earth's Center. (jatayuearthscenter.in)
Palm-lined beaches, backwaters, hill stations, national parks – Kerala is a tourist’s hotspot for many reasons. But did you know that the state is also home to the world’s largest bird sculpture?
Situated in Kollam district, Jatayu Earth’s Centre is a tourist hub located on top of the 1,000 ft-high Jatayupara that towers above the green expanses of Chadayamangalam village. This majestic statue is 200 feet long, 150 feet wide and 70 feet tall. An eco-tourism initiative, the Jayatu Earth’s Centre perfectly blends mythology and craftsmanship, offering an enriching experience to tourists.
Spanning over 65 acres across four hills, this is Kerala’s first ever BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) tourism.
The sculpture is a spacious five-storied building, housing a museum and a multi-dimensional theatre that will screen the animated film, featuring the epic battle between Jatayu and Ravana.
The inspiration behind the sculpture originates from the legend of Jatayu– the King of vultures from the epic Ramayana.
Rajiv Anchal (jatayuearthscenter.in)
Designed by sculptor and filmmaker Rajiv Anchal, the sculpture is carved out on the Chadayamangalam hilltop where the battered bird is believed to have fallen after failing to thwart Ravana’s abduction of Sita.
For the uninitiated, legend has that when Ravana was attempting to abduct Sita, Jatayu tried to rescue her. Even though he fought valiantly, Jatayu was defeated. After his wings were clipped, the bird fell on the rocks in Chadayamangalam. While on the search for Sita, Rama and Lakshamana chanced upon the stricken Jatayu, who informed them of the incident.
To immortalize Jatayu’s sacrifice, the sculpture has been designed precisely how Ravana left it—injured and wingless.
The massive structure shows the bird facing upside down with clenched claws, reflecting the agony it went through during the face-off. Anchal’s piece of art is also dedicated to women’s safety, commemorating Jatayu’s efforts to protect Goddess Sita from Ravana.
There is a 6D theatre inside the sculpture that offers a visual treat for those wanting to revisit the legend of the fallen warrior. With high-resolution pictures, the recreation of the Jatayu-Ravana battle experience is sure to leave visitors in awe. The virtual reality museum inside is designed to promote the idea of harmony.
The cable car ride is an option for visitors to get to the hilltop. (jatayuearthscenter.in)
Next to the sculpture, there is also a Ram temple that attracts devotees. A few meters away, there is a replica of the waterbody from which Jatayu is believed to have drank water from to survive. There is also a replica of king Janak’s (Sita’s father) palace at the site.
This place is also a hub for adventure tourism, and offers visitors tons of thrilling activities like rock climbing, valley crossing, rappelling, among others.
Here, you will also have a cable car system that transports visitors to the top of a hill, where the statue is located. This ride will also offer you the opportunity to enjoy the panoramic views of the landscape. And now, you even have the option to choose for hele-taxi experience from here. The ride will take you both up and down the hilltop where the statue lies.
There is also a 1.5-km granite stone walkway. Adventure junkies can opt for trekking. With a trail of 826 steps, the walkway will help you enjoy the scenic landscape.
Besides all this, Jatayu Earth’s Centre also features a cultural centre that showcases traditional art forms, exhibitions, and folk performances.
Trivandrum International Airport is the nearest airport for those commuting by air, and located about 51.2 km from the destination.
If you prefer taking an adventurous trail, there’s a picturesque walkway for that. (jatayuearthscenter.in)
If you are travelling by train, the closest railway stations are Punalur Railway Station (25 km) and Paravur Railway Station (27.5 km. Kollam Junction is about 35 kms and Thiruvananthapuram Central about 55 kms
If you prefer bus, Chadayamangalam is located on Main Central (MC) Road, connecting Angamaly (Ernakulam district) and Kesavadasapuram (Thiruvananthapuram district). Buses are available from major bus stations in the state.
Visiting hours: 10 am to 5 pm
Contact details:
Jatayu Earth’s Center
Chadayamangalam P.O.
Kollam, Kerala – 691534
www.jatayuearthscenter.in
Apr 23, 2024
Mar 31, 2024
Mar 25, 2024
Mar 22, 2024
Mar 14, 2024
Mar 08, 2024
