Batu Caves: Malaysia’s Iconic Religious and Tourist Attractions

Tourists coming to Kuala Lumpur are often familiar with the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, but the city has another unmissable attraction. We are talking about the historic Batu Caves, one of the biggest attractions in Malaysia. What makes the Batu Caves so iconic, you may ask? Home to the world’s largest statue of Lord Murugan, the Hindu God of War, Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur serves not only as a place for worship but also as one of Malaysia’s national heritage sites. The limestone forming the Batu Caves has existed for more than 400 million years. It is also believed that some of the entrance points of the caves were used as a shelter by a tribe of Orang Asli.

Located in Gombak, about 13 km from Kuala Lumpur, Batu Cave temple was named after the Malay word ‘Batu’, which means ‘rock’. Batu Caves is one of the most visited places on all popular Malaysia tour packages from India. The Batu Cave Temple was first constructed in 1891 inside a cave where the limestone was formed naturally over 400 million years ago. It was originally discovered by an American Naturalist in 1878. The site was then transformed into a religious site by an affluent Tamil businessman, Sri Thamboosamy Pillai, in 1891. Here is a first-hand guide to help you explore the Batu Caves if you happen to visit the place soon.

History of Batu Caves

The Batu Caves have been around for a long time, about 400 million years ago. During the 1860s, Chinese settlers began excavating the caves for farming purposes. However, the cave made it to the public eye after the limestone hill was recorded by colonial authorities and an American Naturalist, William Hornaday, in 1878. It was around 1890 when people around the Batu Caves saw the potential for the caves to be a religious site. That is when the leader of the Tamil community in Malaya, Mr K Thamboosany Pillai, sent his close associates to the site Shri Thiruvengadam Pillai and Shri Kanthapa Thevar to search for an ideal place to worship Lord Murugan.

Mr K Thamboosany Pillai established the first temple in the Batu Cave by putting a sacred statue of Lord Murugan in one of the best spots he could find. The cave has been dedicated to Lord Murugan ever since. Over the years, the Batu Cave temple has evolved into an important Hindu centre in Malaysia, easily accessible from Kuala Lumpur. In 2017 alone, it is estimated that over 1.6 million people visited the Batu Caves during the Thaipusam festival.

Things To Do In Batu Caves Murugan Temple

Batu Caves, with its rich cultural heritage and breathtaking natural beauty, offers visitors multiple things to do and immerse themselves in. In case you plan to book a Malaysia couple package, some of the top things around the Batu Caves Murugan Temple include:

Temple Cave

Known as the main cave at Batu Caves, the Temple Cave is guarded by a 42.7-metre-tall statue of Lord Murugan, painted entirely in Golden colour. To withstand the heavy footfall of tourists every year, the wooden staircase has been replaced with concrete and painted in all shades of rainbow. The vibrant colours around the Temple Cave make it one of the most picturesque backdrops for your Instagram stories. Inside the Batu Cave are two massive cavers connected by 56 steps. The first cavern shows six abodes of Lord Murugan, while the second cavern is of Sri Valli Deivanai, who is the wife of Lord Murugan.

Temple Cave is frequented by millions of devotees and tourists each year.

Entry Fee: Entry is free for all visitors

Dress Code: Female visitors must wear appropriate attire on the temple premises, covering their shoulders and knees properly.

Ramayana Cave

Next to Temple Cave is Ramayana Cave, which is equally spectacular. The cave is adorned with statues of characters from the holy book Ramayana. Upon entering inside the Ramayana Cave in Batu Cave, you would notice a huge statue of Lord Hanuman standing tall and a sleeping statue of Kumbharan in a sleeping posture. When you climb the stairs inside the Ramayana Cave, it will take you to a naturally occurring Shiva Lingam and a stalagmite.

Entry Fee: The entry fee for Ramayana Cave is approximately 5MYR

Dark Cave

Dark Cave is slightly offbeat and eerie compared to the rest of the caves in Batu Caves. The caves remain less crowded most of the time as it is at the topmost height and are home to different types of spiders, bats and other insects. It is believed that Dark Cave in Batu Cave is home to one of the rarest spiders in Malaysia. The cave is sprawled across 6,500 sq. ft. and it is advisable to explore the dark cave with a certified guide only. The tour of the Dark Batu Cave requires people to be physically fit, as some crawling is required to dodge the narrow sections inside the cave.

Cave Villa

The last leg of the Batu Cave is Cave Villa, situated at the foot of the caves with stunning attractions, beautiful statues, and brilliantly painted paintings. Cave Villa is the best place on the Batu Caves premises to learn about Hinduism. The cave has an Art Gallery, which has many wall paintings and carvings that narrate the story of Lord Murugan and several other Hindu deities.

Entry Fee: Cave Villa charges a nominal charges for visitors to enter the premises

Other Things To Do At Batu Caves Murugan Temple

Apart from exploring the various caves, if you want to indulge in adventure activities or savour some local cuisine, Batu Cave has everything under one roof. Some other things that you can try on your trip to Batu Caves include:

Rock Climbing

Rock climbing as one of the adventure activities at a religious place like Batu Cave might come as a surprise, but it is one of the common activities around the temple premises. Owing to the rough and gigantic limestone hills, the area has become one of the famous spots for rock climbing among visitors. You can rent rock climbing gear from the cave shop and indulge in the adventure activity as you wish. Other common adventure activities around the Batu Cave Murugan Temple include hiking, biking, etc., which lets you explore the place more.

Enjoy Local Food

There are many small and medium-sized restaurants around the Batu Caves that serve a variety of delectable local food at the best prices. So, if you feel hungry after exploring the different caves at the Batu Caves, you can add a pitstop and get your hands on some of the most delicious food at these stalls. While savouring food, beware of the monkeys that are present around the caves in hundreds. It is advisable not to offer them any food items to stay safe. If you are carrying any food item in your bag, keep it very safe with you as the monkeys can snatch it from you if you are not attentive enough.

Best Time to Visit Batu Caves

Kuala Lumpur has two main seasons: dry and wet. The climate remains mostly hot and humid, so you must be prepared for that. To enjoy the atmosphere at its best, you can book your Malaysia tour package either in January or February during the Thaipoosam festival. During the festival, you can witness the three-day procession between Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown and the Batu Caves.

So when are you packing your bags and planning a trip to Batu Caves? Sightseeing places in Malaysia are waiting for your arrival. To plan your trip to Malaysia effortlessly, look no further than Veena World as your trusted travel companion. From flight booking, accommodation, meal inclusion, and sightseeing to 24*7 customer service, Veena World ensures you do not worry about anything while enjoying your trip. If you wish flexibility in choosing your travel dates, places or other trip inclusions, do not miss out on checking Veena World’s Customised Holidays section.