"Batu Caves is one of Malaysia's most famous tourist destinations. Every year hundreds of thousands of Hindu devotees congregate here for the colourful Thaipusam festival."
Batu Caves is one of Malaysia's most famous tourist destinations especially for the colourful Thaipusam festival. This attracts up to 800,000 devotees and spectators; the highlight is seeing devotees in a trance carry kavadi, a metal frame attached to the body.
Rising almost 100m above the ground, Batu Caves actually consists of three main caves and a few smaller ones. The biggest, referred to as the Temple Cave, has a 100m-high ceiling, and features ornate Hindu shrines. To reach it, visitors have to climb a steep flight of 272 steps.
Below the Temple Cave is the Dark Cave, with its amazing rock formations and a number of animals found nowhere else. Stalactites jutting from the cave's ceiling and stalagmites rising from the floor form intricate formations such as cave curtains, flow stones, cave pearls and scallops which took thousands of years to form. The Malaysian Nature Society organises regular educational and adventure trips to the Dark Caves.
The other main cave is the Art Gallery Cave located at the foot of the steps. Statues and wall paintings depicting Hindu deities and mythology are displayed here. The walk to the entrance is itself quite a pleasant experience through a lake and ponds filled with hundreds of colourful fish.
Batu Caves is also the centre of rock climbing development in Malaysia for the past 10 years. More famous for its role as a religious centre for Hindus in Malaysia as well a prominent tourist attraction in the country, not many people realise that Batu Caves offers more than 160 climbing routes.
The routes are scattered all around the side of Batu Caves, which is made up of limestone hills rising to 150m. These climbing routes are easily accessed as most crags start from ground level.
Last viewed - March 11, 2010
Getting there
Batu Caves is located about 13km North of Kuala Lumpur city centre. Take Intrakota bus No 11D from the Central Market annexe or the Cityliner bus No 69 at Jalan Pudu to get to Batu Caves. Taxis are also available anywhere around city.
User recommendation
"Tempat yang menarik untuk dikunjungi terutama apabila perayaan Thaipusam." by Fitri Alia
"Went there with my loved-one, wel really completed 200+ steps to climb up there. Hmm scared all the monkeys greeting everybody at the staircase. Finally, saw the inside one, hmmm what should I say ah? Hmmm well I cant stand the smellll, I dont have any idea what is that? :) No offence. " by echang
"excelent place to visit!" by Mee yan
"I had to visit the Batu Caves, even though I am not a Hindu I gained an insight into the significance of this spectacular site. The reverence of all visitors and astounding natural splendour make this an irresistible place. I feel rather humbled by my experience" by Tony Loughran
"excellent cave sytem.but hard climb for disabled people"
"aku tak kisah ketinggian tangganya..tapi apabila sampai di gua...dia punya bau yg buatkan aku hampir pengsan.." by Iwan
"Interesting place to show for
friends from outside Malaysia
" by Anu
"Been there once during Thaipusam festival. Quite chalengging to climb." by imran
"I like the decoration of the inner side of the cave..it's kindda unique..but nice...sometimes..Indian people can be really creative when it comes to worship" by Mifs
"Fascinating, peaceful, always another corner to look up at and the shrine looks as if it really should be there. Could clean up a bit but you may have done something about that since last I visited KL." by John Ward
"i would like to say that the rating you guys give for Batu Cave is not fare because Batu Cave is a very intresting place to go and it is near to the main Citi Kuala Lumpur. Well beside Indian other races still going there and enjoy the festival. I am sure Batu Cave is a very very intresting place to go .Thank You." by mina
"penat giler siot nak sampai ke gua ni..aku terfikir, macam manala si Thamboosamy boleh terjumpa gua ni..dan terfikir nak buat kuil..tapi apapun..aku taknak pegi lagi..suasananya menyeramkan aku..bau pulak satu macam...dan bau ni semakin menjadi-jadi time Thaipusam..uwek!!" by Padaiyappa
"What else can be expected here?but I like to be here while the Thaipusam celebration is on..it is really exciting" by Nawri
"Batu Caves is too crowded during the Thaipusam Festival. So don't ever count the steps or you may get collapse. " by scalia
"Di luar kawasan Batu Caves ini mempunyai leretan kedai yang menjual bunga-bunga untuk upacara pemujaan bagi mereka beragama hindu. " by shoana
"visit at night with the light they use definitely give u a freak" by simon
"this is a place where you can find peace and relaxation. The beauty is really captivating"
"This cave is believed to have the vel of Murugan, hence it had ben choosen to be the main temple during Thaipusam. Its a colourful event and the cave willbe lit up with burning insence. Come during normal days and theres not much that u can see." by moose
"Batu Caves,wonderful esp during thaipusam...but de smell inside the cave coz by bats...quite uncomfortable,aniway itz nature ya..whatsoever, i love to be ther every year on thaipusam...itz awesome!!!" by vis
"I've climbed the stairs and up to the cave. Inside the cave you may find that there are some temples and there are Hindus carrying their child for some sort of religious ceremony. There are also the stagletite and staglemite inside the cave. But becareful, on the way down, you might feel that your knee couldn't be bent at all." by angah
