Located in Chadayamangalam in Kollam district of Kerala, India, the sculpture of Jatayu is the world’s largest bird sculpture.
Its designer and sculptor is Rajiv Anchal who is also an esteemed director and screenwriter. It took Anchal 6 years to build the sculpture which is the main spectacle of Jatayu Earth’s Center Nature Park.
The sculpture is 61 meters long, 21 meters tall, and has a width of 46 meters.
To reach Jatayu, visitors have to take nearly 1000 steps to get to the hilltop where the sculpture and the museum are.
At the museum’s entrance, a plaque reads:
“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…”
The plaque informs the visitors about Jatayu, the king of vultures, who is a demi-god from the Hindu epic Ramayana and how the sculpture is a representation of his myth.
According to the legend, the demon Ravana tries to kidnap Sita, a goddess, but Jatayu intervenes and fights Ravana.
Although Jatayu fights bravely, Ravana beats him since he is very old and weary. After beating Jatayu, Ravana cuts Jatayu’s wings and he falls to the Earth.
The Hindus believe that the place where Jatayu fell is the town of Chadayamangalam. Therefore, the sculpture and the park were built in the same spot.
The sculpture of Jatayu, the world’s largest bird sculpture, commemorates the valiant battle of Jatayu against Ravana and his resolve to save the innocent, a universal example for everyone.
