Batu Caves Tourism (2024) - Malaysia > Top Places, Travel Guide

Batu Caves Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 1 Day

Best Time: January to February

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"Malaysian National Treasure"

Batu Caves Tourism

Batu Caves is a series of limestone caves and one of the most popular Hindu shrines located outside India. It is situated about 13 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur in the district of Gombak, making it an unmissable day trip from the city. The main highlight of the Batu Caves is 140 feet tall Murugan statue, the tallest in the world.

The limestone hill comprises three main cave temples among which the Museum Cave and Art Gallery Cave are located at the base (foot) of the hills that host different Hindu sculptures and paintings . The Cathedral or the Temple Cave is the largest cave that also happens to the most significant one. There are other multiple smaller ones like the Ramayana Cave, Hanuman Temple and Dark Cave.

Batu Caves features various idols of mythological importance. There is also an audio tour available for the tourists . There is a wide variety of flora and fauna to see here including some rare species that only grown in limestone. You should keep an eye out for the bats and the long tailed macaques.

Each cave requires a certain admission fee, other than the Temple Cave. To reach the temple cave , you have to climb up 272 steps ! The best time to visit Batu Caves is during the festival of Thaipusam that takes place with a 3-day procession during late January or early February .

1. Ramayana Cave

The most spectacularly embellished caves in Batu Caves, Ramayana Cave depicts the mythology of Ramayana. It is situated on the extreme end of the steep walls of the hill about 100 metres on the left w (Read More)hile facing the hills and is colourfully lit on the inside , The statues are exquisite to look at as it narrates the love story of one of the greatest Hindu scripture.

The Temple Cave is the centrepiece at Batu Caves guarded by an ornate 42.7m tall Lord Murugan statue. To climb to the top of the temple , the wooden stairs have been replaced by 272 psychedelic concr (Read More)ete steps. It is one of the most photographed sights of Malaysia.

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More on Batu Caves Travel

How to Reach Batu Caves

Opens 06:00 AM – 09:00 PM

The commuter train at KC05, Batu Caves Komuter station from KA01, KS01, KJ15, MR1, KE1, SBK15, KL Sentral fares around RM 2.6.
You can also reach Batu caves availing the bus 11/11d from Bangkok Bank Terminus (Near to Puduraya Terminus) or bus U6 from Titiwangsa.
Intrakota bus No 11D from the Central Market
Cityliner bus No 69 at Jalan Pudu to get to Batu Caves
Batu Caves is also easily reached by travelling by car or taxi which costs around RM30 to RM40
If you are coming from Kuala Lumpur, the train is easy, cheap, very fast and drops you off right at the entrance.

Rock Climbing at Batu Caves

Since the past decade, Batu Caves have remained as the integral rock climbing site and developmental centre of Malaysia with over 160 routes for climbing that are spread all over. These routes are easily accessible from the base itself. The Damai caves form the North-Eastern region where the routes usually start from. Local tourist and adventure sites offer abseiling and spelunking activities for the tourists.

Thaipusam at Batu Caves

During the annual Hindu festival of Thaipusam that is usually held in January, Batu Caves receive a prosperous flux of traffic with thousands of visitors and pilgrimage making it one of the world’s largest pilgrimage site. The procession begins at dusk from the Sri Mariamman Temple in Kuala Lumpur and reaches the Batu Caves in the early hours of dawn. The vibrant celebration lasts for about eight hours.

Thaipusam celebrates the Hindu God, Subramanian. Devotees carry ‘kavadis’, heavy metal constructions with flowers and milk to the top of the temple. The atmosphere is mesmerizing and electrifying during the day and a little quieter by night. The procession lasts there for about 2 days after which they return to the Sri Mariamman Temple.

History of Batu Caves

Batu Caves hill is made of limestone that is about 400 million years old. It was established as a pilgrim by K. Thamboosamy Pilai, who was an Indian trader. It is also referred to as the 10th Caves, the hill of Lord Murugan, as Pilai’s inspiration was the vel shaped entrance to the main cave. The limestone caves were put in the record only in 1878 by the colonial authorities (Syers and Day ) and Hornaday, an American Naturalist.