Jatayu Para, Kollam (Quilon), Kerala India

Jatayu Para or Jatayu Rock which is connected with the mythical character Jatayu in the epic Ramayana. It is located at Chadayamangalam, 30 kms from Kollam, on Thiruvananthapuram - Kottayam M.C.Road. Chadayamangalam village is on the South East side of Kottarakara. 

Jatayu Para, a huge rock is in Kollam District. This huge rock is in the Chadayamangalam village on the M.C. Road. The name comes from the epic, Ramayana. It is believed that Jatayu, the giant bird in the epic fell here after failing in its attempt to stop Ravana from taking Sita away. Noted sculptor and film maker Rajiv Anchal has designed the sculpture and expert structural engineers and architects are involved in its making. As the work is done at a height of 1000 ft a rope way has been built for transportation of materials. The news that the biggest functional sculpture is being built on The Jatayu Rock is slowly spreading. It would be useful to tourists if this site is included in the National Tourism Map as it is situated close to MC Road which is the route for lots of Ayyappa Pilgrims who travel via Trivandrum and Kanyakumari. For the spiritual tourists from other States of India the Jatayu Rock can doubtlessly turn into a great attraction. It would be especially attractive to Pilgrims from the north where Lord Rama is very popular.

Jatayu, a gigantic bird, tries to rescue Sita from the hands of Ravana and fell on the rock and made his last breath after fighting courageously with Ravana. This curious  rock formation is named as Jatayupara after the incident. Jatayu Para is believed to be the place where Lord Rama and Lakshmana came to know about the kidnapping of Sita.

The huge single rock is situated 2000 ft above sea level covering an area of around 60 acres. We can see a triangular shaped tiny pond on the top of the mountainous rock which never dries up even in the hottest summer. Some believe that the pond has been created when Rama pressed his feet to on the rock to give water to Jatayu who was on his last breath. But others believe when Jatayu fell and his beak hit the rock , forming the natural spring on the rock.

There is a small temple dedicated to Lord Rama at the top of the rock. It can be reached by climbing steep steps. An annual crafts mela is conducted every year during December  January and craftsmen from various parts flock together at the temple to display their products. This time devotees come in large numbers to offer their prayers to Lord Ram.