Outside of Kuala Lumpur you will find Batu Caves, a Hindu religious shrine housed inside enormous limestone caves. Between cheeky monkeys, swarms of bats and colourful half-animal/half-human Hindu sculptures, it makes a fascinating daytrip.
It is worth venturing out of Kuala Lumpur to explore this unique cultural attraction and learn more about both the Hindu religion and limestone cave systems.
What Are the Batu Caves?
This attraction is one of the most popular Hindu shrines located outside of India. Approximately 7.1 per cent of Malaysians are of Indian origin. More than 86 per cent practice Hinduism. Malaysian Hinduism is diverse and there are many temples throughout the country dedicated to important Hindu deities.
It has a great deal of significance in the Hindu religion and is dedicated to Lord Murugan. During the festival of Thaipusam, Batu Caves is the focal point and the place where significant festivities occur.
What You Will Discover During Your Visit
When you approach the caves, you will see the enormous sculpture of Lord Murugan. This is the largest of its kind in the world. You will also be greeted by a staggering 272 steps of stairs up to the cave entrances.
It is quite the climb, but if your legs get tired, you can stop for a break and watch monkeys playing. Be careful though; don’t get too close to the mother monkeys with small babies and pay attention to your belongings. Monkeys have been known to snatch people’s things.
When climbing the stairs, you can turn around and look behind you to view some of the colourful sculptures around the gate, including the eye-catching depiction of the goddess Kamadhenu, who is a sacred “cow of plenty” with a human head and breasts.
Once at the top of the stairs, turn around to enjoy a beautiful view of Kuala Lumpur from above before heading into the dark caves.
The Batu Caves temple complex is made up of three main caves. The largest one is known as Temple Cave or Cathedral Cave and it has a 300-ft ceiling. This cave is filled with colourful and ornate Hindu shrines depicting important deities and figures in Hindu mythology. These sculptures are brightly painted and lit up with coloured spotlights. Plus, there is usually atmospheric sitar music playing.
The second cave is the Art Galley Cave, located across a bridge. This cave features a number of carvings and wall-paintings telling the story of Lord Murugan as well as other sacred Hindu legends.
The third cave is known as the Dark Cave and has natural wonders rather than religious ones. This is an important and protected ecological site home to a diverse number of species including bats, snakes and the endangered Trapdoor Spider. Deep in these pitch-black caverns, there is an entire world of creatures living amidst the damp limestone formations.
The Dark Cave can only be explored on a guided tour, led by a conservationist. A 45-minute tour of the cave costs 35 ringgit and the guides are knowledgeable about the complexities of the underground cave ecosystem and the species in it.
How to Get to the Caves
Getting to Batu Caves used to more time-consuming in the past, as it required a taxi or bus ride from the city. In 2010, a train link was built. You can now take the KTM Komuter Train from the KL Sentral train station and it will take you to Batu Caves. The train runs every 30 minutes and the tickets cost four ringgit return.
You will know when you have arrived at the caves, because you will see the enormous towering golden sculpture of Lord Murugan.
From gregarious monkeys to voluptuous sacred cows, the Batu Caves is certainly worthy of a day out of Kuala Lumpur.
About the Author: Anandi Mehra is a travel consultant and freelance writer. She likes to look on Expedia to find hotels in Kuala Lumpur and visit its many interesting attractions.
saminder gumer says
it looks so beautiful. i would love to go there sometime in my life. i have been to india but never here.
ANN*H says
This looks and sound like a beautiful thing to be able to see. Tho I know I will never get to India in my life but I enjoy seeing the pictures and reading about it. I can just dream that I am there. I would love to see all the sculptures there.
Raine says
This is one my dream places to travel to, wonderful post-I learned details and information I didn’t know, and I could look at the pictures all day. I’ve only travel the US, Canada, and Mexico once for a day. Thank you for posting about this, it makes me smile and remember about exciting, exotic things that I forget about when life gets crazy.
Vickie COuturier says
those stairs would be the killer,it looks nice ,but I would never go to a hindu temple,,looking from afar is enought for me,
June M. says
Wow! Those stairs would be a great workout, lol. I could never go up all of them due to my back & legs though, but I did like reading the post and seeing the pictures.