If you ask any avid traveler to list a handful of nations worth exploring in their lifetime, India would undoubtedly be mentioned as a destination that holds an essential allure – from its captivating diversity to its rich historic tapestry, cultural depth, and revered temples. India’s place on numerous bucket lists is well-earned.
Now, the incentives to explore this enchanting land have multiplied, with one remarkable attraction being the awe-inspiring eagle statue crafted by the renowned filmmaker Rajiv Anchal, rekindling an age-old myth.
After 10 years of hard work, Indian artist Rajiv Anchal has opened his unique landmark to the public.
Located near Kerala, Jatayu Earth Centre has become one of the best places to visit while traveling around India.
The sculpture is a dedication to the Hindu epic Ramayana.
Penned in Sanskrit, the legendary Ramayana narrates the tale of a colossal eagle from the epic, which descended during a battle against Ravana to safeguard the Hindu goddess Sita. The inhabitants of Chadayamangalam village in the Kollam district of Kerala have held this narrative close for generations, and now, it has been splendidly resurrected.
When we say that it is the biggest sculpture of a bird in the world, we really mean it since the sculpture itself stretches 200ft from tail to head and is also built on top of the 1,000ft-high Jatayupara towers.
The author of the sculpture, filmmaker Rajiv Anchal, says he had the idea for longer than 10 years. “I had presented a model for this sculpture to the Department of Tourism during my Fine Arts College days in the 1980s. Although they were impressed, it didn’t take shape back then.” The author of the sculpture also emphasizes the importance of not turning the monument from a cultural one into a religious one. According to him, “Jatayu died protecting a woman’s honor, and that is what the sculpture stands for. People of all faiths have invested in the project, and people of all faiths will be coming to see it. My work is for all of them. For those looking for religion, there is the old temple just outside the compound.”
