Caroni Swamp. Photo: Stephen Jay Photography
Caroni Swamp
Central
Tucked away into a secluded corner of the island, this 12,000 acre sanctuary is home to the Scarlet Ibis and other exotic wildlife including caiman and boa-constrictors. Guides take you along the wetland in flat bottomed boats, where the real thrill is the afternoon arrival of the Scarlet Ibis, their red hue a reminder of nature’s remarkable paintbrush.
Hanuman Murti and Dattatreya Temple
Waterloo Road, Carapichaima
Tel: 673-5328
Standing tall is the monumental 85-foot Hanuman Murti in Carapichaima, Central Trinidad. Hanuman is a Hindu god. The statue is said to be the largest of its kind outside of India. The intricately designed architecture and the temple's pinkish tint, were built according to the Darvidian style of south India. Indian indentureship and heritage are documented in the nearby Indian Caribbean Museum in Waterloo.
Indian Caribbean Museum
Waterloo Road, Carapichaima
Tel: 756-2734; 673-7000
The Indian Caribbean Museum was created to preserve the heritage of the East Indian Indentured labourers who have played an integral part in shaping the history and culture of Trinidad and Tobago. The museum contains several artefacts which help to tell the story of the original labourers who made their way to Trinidad to work on the plantations after the abolition of slavery.
http://www.icmtt.org/
Our Lady of Monsterrat Church
Tortuga, Caroni
The church administration can be contacted at 650-0082; 636-0769
DThere is so much waiting to be discovered in Central Trinidad including the Our Lady of Montserrat Roman Catholic Church, designed by a French priest and named by Spaniards after the hill on which it stands. The church’s original structure has been retained since it was built in 1878.
Temple in the Sea
Central
It’s more than a shrine to Hinduism, it’s proof of perseverance. In Carapachima, this testament to love was built by one man - Siewdass Sadhu - not once, but twice, carrying stones by hand, on-foot and by bike, to the sea, after the first temple was destroyed, because he built it on government land. The result is a beautiful holy homage that transcends religion and radiates peace.
