This Temple at Waterloo in Carapichaima is a testament to one man's love of Hinduism. The Temple was
the 25-year attempt of an industrious and devoted indentured labourer called Siewdass Sadhu who
originally wanted to construct a worship centre at No Man's Land – the sea. Sadhu was denied land to
build his beloved temple and took his struggle offshore, toiling and unloading buckets of dirt into the Gulf
in an effort to create artificial land.
The Waterloo Temple, the Sewdass Sadhu Shiv Mandir or better known as the Temple in the Sea, is an
octagonal- shaped colourful structure. At the entrance of the temple, stands a statue of its designer with
flags and statues adorning the temple's perimeter. Before entering, you must remove your shoes because
once inside, you are on holy ground. The beauty of reverence is reflected in the well-crafted murtis of
Lord Hanuman, Lord Ganesh, Lord Shiva and Mother Durga as flowers adorn them. The site is an active
prayer site, often used for weddings, pooja ceremonies and cremations since the Waterloo Cremation Site
is next to the grounds of the temple. While the temple has survived erosion from the sea, it still remains as
a beacon of hope and great beauty. It is tiny, but a symbol of great persistence and love. The temple was
not built in the ocean out of whimsy, but rather out of necessity.