I first saw Jatayu Earth Center on social media and always wanted to be there in person, so here I arrived in Chadayamangalam to witness our very own marvel of architecture. As I began this journey of 800 steps in the sweltering noon heat, I kept reminding myself of the real essence of this holy structure built in this place, as the story of Ramayan goes...Despite his old age, Jattayu fought Ravana valiantly, but Ravana severed his wings, causing him to fall to earth. Before passing, he informed Ram of Sita’s abduction by Ravana!
The journey for us to reach the actual Jatayu is not nearly as tumultuous, and I promise it's worth it for the excellent views of nature and the satisfaction of completing the climb. At many locations, we see people resting in the shade and gathering at cold water points, so you never feel worn out by the sun. At the summit itself, one thing I was not expecting was the speed of the wind, which managed to steal my cap and toss it up towards the sky, so you better hang on to everything you care about! Another unexpected discovery is the excellent lemonade that one can get at the canteen at the top—this might just be a motivating factor for me to return again! The whole place reverberates with soothing music as you walk around it.
A few steps towards the left wing of Jatayu and we find the Ram Mandir. This is built with the most serene backdrop of Kerala, and there are actually multiple statues of saints and sadhus surrounding the main temple. Inside, we see two statues, one of Ram and another of Hanumanji. The fact that this mandir preserves such valuable rock-carved gods from Ramayan and pays respect to the sacrifice of Jatayu makes it a memorable visit for anyone and everyone.
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