Batu caves are the second most visited tourist destination in Kuala Lumpur (KL), after the iconic Petronas towers.
Batu caves are basically a series of caves and temples formed in a limestone hill. It attracts thousands of tourists and worshippers during Thaipusam, an annual Hindu festival. We had an incredible day at the historic site.
Blog Contents
Places to see
There are four main attractions in this region
- Temple Cave (also known as Cathedral cave)
- Dark cave
- Cave villa
- Ramayana Cave
Currency in Malaysia
Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) is the official currency in Malaysia
- 1€ ~ 4.6 MYR
- 1 MYR ~ 17.1 Indian Rupee (INR)
How to reach Batu Caves?
Located 15km north of downtown KL, there are multiple ways
By Taxi
Grab is the best option if you are looking for Taxis. It is basically a Singapore based transportation provider that is similar to Uber. The prices are affordable and have a variety of options. I used this for my entire KL trip. Grab was so fast that in a matter of minutes a driver is at your doorstep.
Fares: Initial cost – 1 MYR, 1.3 MYR per km.
By Train
Every half an hour, a train leaves from KL Sentral to Batu Caves. The ride takes about 30 min. Daily travel pill gives a detailed insight on how to reach Batu caves with a train.
Fares: 55 MYR (one way)
By bus
There are only two buses leaving in a day, at 10 am and 2 pm from Bukit Bintang Kiosk.
Site Entrance
In Hinduism, worshipers serve garland to Gods as an offering. So there are many small shops available in and around the entrances. Pick up a garland for ~ 25 MYR.
Opening hours: 6 am – 9 pm
Lord Murugan statue
Many have this question, ‘How Batu caves are so famous?’
The answer lies right near the Temple cave entrance. This is the first thing one can see, a 43m tall Lord Murugan (Hindu god) statue. This statue is the second largest Hindu deity (god or goddess) in the world.
It was also my first time seeing such a huge Hindu god. We reached early (~ 7 am). So there was ample time to gaze at the view and click pictures.
Tip: Crowd starts to build up from 9 am. Also, the humidity level rises. So get there early to beat the crowd as well as the scorching sun. Follow this pattern while visiting hot South East Asian countries like Cambodia, Thailand.
1. Temple Cave (or Cathedral cave)
It’s now time to climb. 272 colorful steps lead to a series of temples. The steps are steep, so watch out everyone. It is necessary for women to cover their knees and shoulders before the climb. You can rent a Sarong (special clothes type) at the nearby stall for ~ 5 MYR.
During our visit, some construction work was happening on the top. So we (volunteers) carried bags of sand way up to help workers.
Note: Hinduism has many Gods. So don’t be surprised if you spot people worshipping different Gods. That’s quite normal.
The walk around the caves was wonderful. The temples were very well built and fully functioning, unlike Angkor Wat in Cambodia. It was a very good time for Hindu families.
The uninvited guests
At the top, Monkeys outnumbered tourists. They are extremely violent. Keep your belongings safe. Don’t even dream of eating something. They snatch and run.
But we are at their home, isn’t it? So no complaints, please.
In recent times, the Dark Cave is closed for unknown reasons. So we couldn’t visit. Try your luck when you go.
The crowd building up
After our descend, the tourists’ count had increased. By now, there was hardly any space to click pictures with the statue. We had a quick breakfast at a nearby restaurant.
South Indian food is very famous in Malaysia and it is found everywhere. The main reason being the 11th-century migrants from India.
Tip: Near the Murugan statue, a big signboard gives directions to all sights, washrooms, restaurants. Use them to navigate.
2. Cave Villa
Post breakfast, it was time to relax. Cave Villa was the perfect spot. Don’t get carried away by the name. This spot was more like an exhibition and a place to chill.
Entry fee: ~15 MYR
The first 15 min, we spent seeing a bunch of caged birds, then a group of big Parrots.
We walk further to discover some empty chairs. It was for a cultural stage show. Professionals dressed up in traditional attire danced for various Indian music. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them perform.
Tip: A washroom is available at this spot, just opposite to the stage.
Walk further up, two elephant paintings welcome you at the Cave villa entrance.
Inside there are two sections
–> One section containing a description of various South Indian literature, writers. I am sure this part would be boring for someone who doesn’t know Indian history.
–> The other one has creepy animals kept in cages as an exhibit. It was a reptile park. I had no idea what they were doing out there. The smell was awful so I could barely stand.
Little park
Finally, we ended up walking through a little park with decorated flowers. Followed by small bridges connecting a pond.
3. Ramayana Cave
It’s storytime. Facing the Murugan statue, walk about 300m to your left to reach the cave. Along the way, there are small food stalls (sweets, fruits, biscuits) available to fill your stomach.
The cave depicts the Story of the Ramayana, an ancient Indian epic. A constant debate goes around where the Ramayana was a true story or just Fiction.
Entry fee: 5 MYR
The cave’s entrance was pretty normal. But I was astonished by the way the cave described the whole Ramayana’s story. Right from the start, along Rama’s journey, each and everything was clearly explained with small statues.
The English description below would make a tourist keen to know history. This cave was a complete surprise. Since the cave is at one end, there were hardly any tourists. But I highly recommend this spot.
Half-day is good enough is to visit Batu caves. The key is to reach as early as possible. Batu caves allow tourists to experience a great taste of Hinduism and its culture.
Put Batu caves right at the top of your bucket list while visiting KL.
Overall experience: ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ out of 5
Time of visit: April 2019
FAQ
1. What is the best season to visit Batu caves?
December – February are pleasant. But the weather is highly unpredictable. It rains heavily for half a day, then the sun again comes out. From March until September, you feel an inch closer to the sun. Yes, it is super hot and humid.
2. Are shops available inside the Batu Caves?
Yes throughout the visit, you can find small stalls to big restaurants, most of them being Indian.
3. Are there currency exchange centers near Batu caves?
Yes, there is one inside. But they open only at 9 am. So the best option is to bring some cash.
4. What are the rules while visiting a temple?
Yes, there are few like covering your knee and shoulders, removing slippers. For more info, read my post on Big Buddha at Pattaya.
5. How to reach Batu Caves?
The fastest option is to use Grab, a taxi service. Scroll up to know more.
6. Is there a washroom nearby?
Yes, facing the Murugan statue, walk 100m to your right. There is a hidden washroom. Cleanliness level can be questionable? But at the top (Temple Cave), I didn’t find anything.
“My greatest pleasure is to travel down an unfamiliar road” – Marty Rubin