Tucked away in the quiet community of Exchange Village in Couva stands a remarkable piece of Trinidad and Tobago’s history.

Constructed around 1920, the Exchange Sewala, also known as the Exchange Shiv Mandir or simply the “Mud Temple,” was built by descendants of East Indian indentured labourers who settled near the former sugar estates after completing their indentureship.

At that time, members of the community used natural materials, including mud, clay, lime, and cow dung, to create a sacred place of worship that has withstood the test of time and remains one of the country’s most unique cultural treasures.