Sri Dattatreya Yoga Centre and Sri Karya Siddhi Hanuman Murti, in Carapichaima in Trinidad and Tobago, is a shrine to Lord Hanuman, with Dattatreya as the centre's presiding deity. It is also known as Dattatreya Mandir, 85 Foot Hanuman Statue Carapichaima.
The Hanuman Murti is the tallest Hanuman statue outside India and the tallest in the Western Hemisphere, making the centre one of Trinidad and Tobago's foremost pilgrimage sites and tourist attractions, drawing thousands of local and international visitors each year. The Sri Dattatreya Yoga Centre was established in 1986 under the guidance of His Holiness Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji.
Trinidad and Tobago carries a distinct temple identity of its own: Home to the Temple in the Sea and the 85 foot Hanuman Murti, two landmark shrines built by a Hindu community descended from Indian indentured labourers who arrived from 1845 onward.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM |
| Evening | 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM |
Open daily, Sunday through Saturday.
Poojas and daily rituals
Daily worship; festival day observances include all day chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa, Hanuman Puja and Satyanarayan Vrat Katha
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Hanuman Jayanti | Marked with all day Hanuman Chalisa chanting by pundits and devotee groups, culminating in Hanuman Puja and Satyanarayan Vrat Katha. | |
| Datta Jayanti | December (Margashirsha full moon) | Celebrates the birth of Dattatreya, the centre's founding deity, with Mantapotsava and Panchamruta Abhishek ceremonies. |
History and architecture
Architecture
Dravidian South Indian style temple complex; the 85 foot Hanuman murti and other statuary were carved by stonemasons brought specially from India, with the entrance flanked by two life sized elephant statues
History
The Sri Dattatreya Yoga Centre was established in 1986 under the guidance of His Holiness Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji. On 9 June 2003, Swamiji consecrated the centre's 85 foot Sri Karya Siddhi Hanuman Murti, a project that took about two years to complete using stonemasons flown in from India.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Located in Carapichaima, central Trinidad; accessible by private taxi, rideshare, or public maxi taxis and buses. On site parking and disability access are available.
Where this information comes from
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