85 Ft Hanuman Murthi in Chaguanas, West Indies
The town, Chaguanas, West Indies, is very culturally diverse hosting a very large East Indian population as well as a significant African population. The predominantly East Indian population explains the dominance of Hindu religion in the area. This dominance is evident by the amount of Temples located in the area. Of major significance was the construction of the tallest(85 feet) Lord Hanuman statue in the Western Hemisphere in Orange Field. Also of significance is the temple in Waterloo, which extends into the sea. The murti of Lord Hanuman – Karyasidhi Hanuman – is one of the tallest statues in the Caribbean islands.
Lion House or Hanuman House in Chaguanas, West Indies
The Lion House, is the ancestral home of the Capildeo family and stands majestically on the Chaguanas Main Road in Chaguanas, a large town half way between Port of Spain and San Fernando. It is the only building of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. Conceived, designed and constructed by the late Pundit Capildeo, it remains a symbol and memorial to the indentured Indian immigrants, one hundred and twenty thousand of whom arrived in Trinidad between 1845 and 1917. It is the story of one indentured immigrant’s success and his bequest to the Nation.
