Jatayu Earth's Center, (Template:IPA) also known as Jatayu Nature Park is a national park and tourism centre at Chadayamangalam in Kollam district of Kerala, India. It stands at an altitude of Template:Cvt above mean sea level. To get to the top, there is a cable car, and it is the only cable car in Kerala. The honor of being the largest bird sculpture in the world belongs to Jatayu.[1]
The sculpture measures Template:Convert long, Template:Convert wide, Template:Convert in height and occupies Template:Convert of floor area). It was sculpted by Rajiv Anchal.[2][3]
This rock-theme nature park was the first Public–private partnership tourism initiative in the state of Kerala under the BOT model. The park is about Template:Convert away from the city of Kollam and Template:Convert away from the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram.
After completion, it became accessible to visitors on 17 August 2018.[4][5]
Origins
The park located near the town of Chadayamangalam (Jatayumangalam), which was named for Jatayu. Jatayu was a demi-god in Ramayana (a Hindu epic) who had the form of a vulture.
According to the epic, Ravana was attempting to abduct Sita to Lanka when Jatayu tried to rescue her. Jatayu fought valiantly with Ravana, but as Jatayu was very old Ravana soon defeated him, clipping his wings, and Jatayu fell onto the rocks in Chadayamangalam. Rama and Lakshmana while on the search for Sita, chanced upon the stricken and dying Jatayu, who informed them of the battle with Ravana and told them that Ravana had headed South.[6][7]
The park
The Statue
The statue is a representation of a legend - Ramayana -, and symbolizes the protection of women, and their honour and safety.[8] It was designed and sculpted by Rajiv Anchal.[2][3]
Dimensions
| Feature | |
|---|---|
| Height | 21 m |
| Floor area | 1,400 m2 |
| Length | 61 m |
| Breadth | 46 m |
| Number of wing and tail feathers | 52 m |
| Head thickness from ear to ear | Unknown |
| Height of head | Unknown |
| Distance from eye to eye | Unknown |
| Total weight of statue | Unknown |
| Length of each talon | Unknown |
| Length of beak | Unknown |
| Height of beak | Unknown |
| Width of beak | Unknown |
| Height of eye | Unknown |
Jatayu Museum
It houses a five-story grand sculpture, a museum, and a multi-dimensional theater that shows an animated film depicting the epic battle between Jatayu and Ravana. In addition to all this, the Jatayu Earth's Center also has a cultural center that showcases traditional art forms, exhibitions, and folk performances.
Adventure Park
The Park, on Adventure rock hill, opened on 5 December 2017.
Cave Resort
Jatayu is said to have taken refuge in a cave after his battle with Ravana. An Ayurvedic and Siddha cave resort is under construction and will offer ayurvedic healing paired with tales of Jatayu.[9][10][11]
Dedication
The park opened to visitors on 4 July 2018 and was soft-inaugurated by Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala.[12][13] The park's first phase was worth Template:INRConvert and included the adventure zone having Template:Convert radius.[14][15] On 29 November 2015, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce's Director of stakeholder relations, Majid Al Marri visited the under construction Jatayu Nature Park along with the then Chief Minister of Kerala, Mr. Oommen Chandy.
Access and attributes
Location and access
The park is located on a hilltop in Kollam district in Kerala. No special transportation is required to get into the park.
To reach the top, where Jatayu's sculpture is present, visitors can either take the 826 steps walkway up the hill, or take the cable car.
An additional paid ticket is required for cable car route.
There is a security screening process on the way to the top.
Cameras and bags are allowed. Food is not allowed. Water is allowed, but not in a plastic bottle.
Free filtered water is available at the top. There are multiple cafes present throughout the route.
Inscriptions and plaques
A plaque outside the museum pays tribute to the fallen Jatayu, in a poem translated by K. Jayakumar, was dedicated by Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief minister of Kerala.
<poem>
"Stand atop this hill for a while in contemplation Here is where Jatayu fell Trying to block with his talons and beak The alien gnome who seized in deceit The priceless pearl of a daughter..."
</poem>
Gallery
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Jatayu Nature Park under construction at Chadayamangalam in Kollam district -
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view from distance
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References
- ↑ Kerala tourism to unveil world's largest bird sculpture. The Quint(23 May 2018). Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jatayu Earth's Center Website. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kerala park to welcome visitors in Jan - Khaleej Times. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ↑ Adventure Rock Hill open for visitors. The Times of India(6 December 2017). Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ↑ Enjoy a day of adventure at Jatayu Earth's Center. Outlook Traveller. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
- ↑ Jatayuara at Chadayamangalam - Kerala Tourism. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ↑ Lepakshi Temple - Lepakshi :: The Treasure House of Art and Sculpture. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ↑ Welcome to Jatayu Earth's Center. www.jatayuearthscenter.com. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- ↑ Jatayu park to be opened for public in January - The Hindu. The Hindu(29 November 2015). Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ↑ Phase I of State's First PPP Tourism Project to be Thrown Open in Jan - TNIE. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ↑ Jatayu nature park: A new tourist destination of Kerala. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ↑ Rock theme park to be opened on 4 July(23 May 2018). Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ↑ Jatayu Centre to open on 4 July(23 May 2018). Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ↑ Adventure zone at Jatayu park - The Hindu. The Hindu(29 November 2015). Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ↑ Kerala's rock-theme Jatayu Park getting ready to woo visitors(29 November 2015). Retrieved 1 December 2015.
External links
Official website Template:Commons category Template:Tourism in Kerala Template:Kollam Template:Portal