THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The second phase of the Jatayu Earth Centre at Chadayamangalam will be thrown open to the public on July 4. The adventure tourism aspect of the Centre, including cable cars and rock climbing, will also begin on that day. This was announced by tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran here on Tuesday.
The Jatayu sculpture, which the Tourism Department claims to be the largest bird sculpture in the world is 200 feet long, 150 feet wide, 65 feet tall and is positioned right at the top of a rock situated 1,000 feet above sea level. The sculpture has been created by a team led by filmmaker Rajiv Anchal at a cost of Rs 100 crore. “All these years Rajiv Anchal was working on this. It is ready but since rains are expected anytime, we have decided to inaugurate it in July,” the tourism minister said.
The filmmaker selected the spot as the Jatayu rock on which the sculpture has been created is considered to be the exact spot where the bird had fallen after its wings were sliced by a furious Ravana who was whisking Sita away in his ‘pushpakavimanam’in the mythological story of the Ramayana. This colossal sculpture situated in Jatayupara can be accessed by state-of-the-art cable car service. “The cable car service manufactured completely in Switzerland is the first of its kind in the country. Travelling to a thousand feet height in the cable car will itself be a mind-blowing experience for the tourists,” the minister said.
Rajiv Anchal said that the museum and a 6D theatre inside the sculpture would open in November. “The 10-minute film which tells the tale of Jatayu is being made in Hollywood and would be screened here for visitors,” Mr Anchal said. The state government, apart from offering the land for a 30-year lease, spent '10.25 crore for infrastructure development.
The project, done in the build-operate-transfer model, will be handed over to the state after 30 years. Till then, a minuscule portion of the revenue will be shared with the state; it will be two per cent during the first three years and then the sharing pattern will be reviewed. The ticket charge will be Rs 400 per person; Rs 250 for cable car service and Rs 150 for entry. The adventure package including food will be priced at Rs 2,500 per person.
