Chadayamangalam

Chadayamangalam is historically an important place. It is just 37.5 km away from the City of Kollam and 43 km away from the capital city of the state, Thiruvananthapuram. It's a beautiful town lying between Kilimanoor and Kottarakara, 14 km away from Kilimanoor and 21 km from Kottarakara. It is situated on the southeast side of Kottarakkara Taluk and this place is enriched with huge Black Rocks which attracts and fascinates everyone who looks upon them. Population is of 22,213. Panchayat includes Chithra, Kadakkal, Chadayamangalam, Ittiva, Velinalloor, Elamadu & Nilamel.

Institute for Watershed Development and Management, is the State level Training and Extension Centre of the Department of Soil Survey and Soil Conservation is playing a key role in enriching the awareness of conservation of natural resources to the various functionaries associated with watershed programmes, Eco-restoration and conservation of environment.

The place has connections to the stories in the Hindu Indian epic called the Ramayana. According to the epic, when Ravana the king of asuras, kidnapped Sita wife of Lord Sri Rama and tried to take her to his kingdom Lanka on his Pushpaka Vimana, Jatayu; the huge bird opposed Ravana and it resulted in a battle between them. In the war Ravana slit Jatayu's one wing and escaped to Lanka with Sita. With a fatal wound, Jatayu falls on top of a big rock. Later Rama & Lakshmana found the wounded Jatayu and he passed the message and died on the laps of Rama. Hence, the rock got the name Jadayupara.

Jatayu is the son of Aruṇa and nephew of Garuda who has the form of a vulture. Jadayu Para is well known as a tourist destination and a place of pilgrimage. Right on top the rock the building of a huge functional sculpture of the Great Bird Jatayu is under way. An 18 ft high Statue of Lord Sri Rama Chandra is being constructed on the top of Jadayupara.

• Jatayu Nature Park