Rising 1,000 feet above sea level from the granite hills of Chadayamangalam in southern Keralam, the Jatayu Earth Centre houses the world’s largest bird sculpture. Measuring 200 feet long, 150 feet wide, and standing 70 feet tall, the colossal concrete colossus reclines across a massive bedrock outcropping, visible throughout the Kollam landscape.
Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Filmmaker and sculptor Rajiv Anchal spent a decade building the project, which combines regional folklore with sustainable tourism. According to the Ramayana, the town of Chadayamangalam—historically known as ‘Jatayumangalam’—is where the mythical bird Jatayu fell after fighting Ravana to save Sita. Instead of a religious shrine, the 65-acre site serves as a secular monument honouring courage and the protection of women, alongside an eco-adventure park.
The sculpture itself is built directly onto the granite rockface of Jatayupara, showing the bird fallen on its back with its wings splayed, talons curled upward, and one wing sliced away. The interior is hollowed out to house a multi-level audio-visual museum and a 6D theatre detailing the mythology alongside the civil engineering required to secure thousands of tonnes of sculpted concrete to the rocky ridge without disrupting the natural rainwater flows of the hill. Outside, a paved perimeter observation deck provides 360-degree views stretching across the Western Ghats and the agrarian lowlands of southern Keralam.
Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Visitors can reach the summit by cable car or by a stone stairway. An automated Swiss-engineered ropeway system transports passengers from the base reception to the hilltop in roughly five minutes, using glass cabins that provide aerial views of the forest canopy. Alternatively, travellers can climb an 826-step carved stone stairway that winds through the rocky terrain, a walk taking about 30 to 45 minutes at a steady pace.
The park includes a dedicated adventure zone integrated into the surrounding rocky terrain. The natural granite topography is used for activities such as rock climbing, bouldering, rappelling, and chimney climbing through vertical crevices. The facilities also feature valley-crossing zip lines, archery and rifle shooting ranges, and a tactical paintball zone set within natural boulder formations.
Located along the Main Central (MC) Road, the centre serves as an inland detour for travellers on Keralam’s southern coast. The site sits roughly 30 kilometres northeast of Varkala, making it a one-hour drive for day-trippers. Those arriving by air can connect via Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, located 52 kilometres to the south, while rail passengers can access the site via Kollam Junction, 38 kilometres away. Direct taxis and local state transport buses connect both hubs to Chadayamangalam.
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