Temple de Changy
A Hindu temple at Capesterre-Belle-Eau serving Guadeloupe's Indian-descended community.
Saved in this browser only - no account, nothing sent anywhere. See your map
After abolition, indentured labourers were brought to Guadeloupe from southern India from 1854, and their descendants make up a substantial part of the island's population, keeping a religious practice that blends Tamil tradition with Catholicism. The temple at Changy near Capesterre is one of the most visible of the island's mayemin, brightly painted with carved figures on its gateway, and ceremonies including animal sacrifice are held there on set occasions.
What you actually see
- The painted gateway - the carved and coloured entrance tower.
- The temple building - the shrine at the centre of the compound.
- The Indian heritage - the community descended from indentured labourers after 1854.
- The syncretic practice - the blend of Tamil tradition and Catholic observance.
When to go
December to April is the driest. Ceremonies fall on set dates in the ritual calendar. Visits outside ceremonies are informal.
Honest expectations
It is an active place of worship and entry may be restricted; permission should be asked. Ceremonies include animal sacrifice, which some visitors find distressing. Photography needs asking.
Nearby
Capesterre-Belle-Eau is nearby, and Allee Dumanoir is north.
What to pack for Temple de Changy
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.