Batu Caves

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Batu Caves Sri Subramaniam Temple Selayang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 68100+60 3 6089 6284

Description: The Batu Caves are a massive Hindu shrine and tourist attraction in the Gombak District, 8 miles north of Kuala Lumpur. The caves take their name from the Batu River, which flows past the hill, and are home to one of the...Read More

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Batu Caves view Photo - Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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Batu Caves

by Koentje3000

Hamme, Belgium

May 7, 2006

Best of IgoUgo The Batu Caves are holes located in a limestone rock formation (batu means rock), towering 100m out of the surrounding plains and thus visible from quite a distance. The place was already long known to local Orang Asli tribes, but was only ...Read more The Batu Caves are holes located in a limestone rock formation (batu means rock), towering 100m out of the surrounding plains and thus visible from quite a distance. The place was already long known to local Orang Asli tribes, but was only 'discovered' at the end of the 19th century by William Hornaday, an American on a hunt with some local guides. The place was overgrown with the jungle in those days. A few days later they found the largest cave in the area, nowadays called Gua Lambong. Hornaday compared this cave with a Gothic cathedral, due to its size and form. Soon after its discovery, it became a tourist attraction to the colonisers, with elephants bringing the people and their servants to the caves and picnics organized nearby. Local Hindu population made up a legend on the origin of the Caves, supposedly a ship and its crew turned to stone after the captain denied his mother for her humble descent. Soon the Caves became a place of worship to the Hindu population of Malaysia.When you go through the entrance gates to the Batu Caves, you will come to a square in front of the limestone rock. This square is dotted with colourful Hindu temples. Since Januari 2006 you can see here the 50m golden statue of Lord Murugan, the second son and an incarnation of Lord Shiva. When I was here in 2003, the statue was only starting to get a shape, but it was obvious that it was going to be a huge statue. A little to the left of the square is another nice Hindu temple and a cave at the bottom of the limestone rock. Access to the cave is on a walkway crossing a small pond and the cave contains an art gallery with strange Hindu statues and paintings.Major sight in the Batu Caves however is the so-called Cathedral Cave, 50m above ground level. Access to the cave is via a huge staircase at the back of the square, just next to the golden statue. You have to climb the 272 brightly coloured steps to get access to the cave. Locals sell a colour paper 'diploma' to people who climbed the steps for a few ringgit (€1), making a nice souvenir. The cave is a huge cavern, hence its name. The sides are lined with statues and the ceiling is dripping with water. It is remarkably cool inside. If you walk towards the end the ceiling is open, so daylight can enter here. In this area they built a small temple as well. Inside and outside the cave, you will notice quite a few monkeys living in the area.The caves are located just north of KL Federal Territory, 10km from the city centre. To get there you should take bus 11 or 11d from Puduraya. Ask the driver to drop you at the caves. Entrance to the caves is free and the bus ticket will cost around RM2 (50¢). Close

From journal The Modern Capital of Malaysia

Batu Caves

by Asia Traveler

Onalaska, Wisconsin

December 11, 2004

Frankly, I found the Batu Caves disappointing. After reading all about them in the guidebook, we were excited to go, but the caves themselves are not all that interesting. If you are interested in the Hindu aspect of the caves or want to go for the ...Read more

From journal Five Days in Malaysia

Rock-solid faith at Batu Caves

by ManFriday

Copenhagen, Denmark

October 25, 2002

Best of IgoUgo An absolute must for everyone experiencing Kuala Lumpur, the Batu Caves is a set of huge cathedral-like caverns in limestone hills just north of Kuala Lumpur. The magnificent natural formation have been converted to a Hindu temple and it will leave ...Read more

From journal Muddy flats of Kuala Lumpur

Batu Caves

by erasmus

Copenhagen, Denmark

February 27, 2002

Best of IgoUgo The temples in Batu Caves are a must-see if you are in KL. They are situated in a large limestone formation that rises abruptly from the cultivated and urban areas north of the city, and this magnificent location is what makes the complex ...Read more The temples in Batu Caves are a must-see if you are in KL. They are situated in a large limestone formation that rises abruptly from the cultivated and urban areas north of the city, and this magnificent location is what makes the complex interesting.

When you arrive at the site there is a big square on which Indian vendors have put up their simple cafés or restaurants. It is a good idea to sit down at one of them and have a soft drink before you begin the long stairway ascent to the most impressive of the caves. From here you can also enjoy the distinct hindu nature of the surroundings, complete with small temples, colourfull woodcarved figures and of course hindu worshippers dressed in exotic sarongs.

The stairway itself is impressing: it is about 300 steps high and maybe 15 m wide, divided into three longitudinal segments by ornated fences. There are resting plateaus for every 30 steps or so, and there is a resident population of macaques who just love bothering tourists on their way up or down.

Once up the stairs you stand at the entrance of a huge natural cave (maybe 50 m to the ceiling) which has been decorated with hindu statues here and there. Walk past the first big cave and you will find the temple itself, which isn't much, but its location more than makes up for that. In the bottom of the big cave the ceiling opens and allows the sun to shine into the complex. You can see the rainforest trying to climb down into the cave 50 m above your head, and it all gives an impression of awe, especially combined with the religious nature of the site.

There are a couple of other caves in the area, one of them filled with statues telling some story from the hindu mythology. There is also a big pond with huge fish and tortoises. All in all you can easily spend a couple of hours here enjoying the complex. Close

From journal Metropol with a friendly face

Batu Caves

by traveling mama

Toledo, Ohio

November 4, 2000

It is crowded and a little dirty, but really cool. It is the most fascinating cave you will ever see. The Hindu art/temples are beautiful to see and the monkeys are great, if you have kids along they will love it. The shopping is full of inscense, ...Read more

From journal Must see stopover-Kuala Lumpur

Batu Caves

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Rock-solid faith at Batu Caves

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