Batu Caves Magnificent Hindu Cave Temple
Quick Facts about Batu Caves Hindu Temple
Thamboosamy Pillai
- Batu Caves Founder: K Thamboosamy Pillai
- Built: 1891
- Primary Deity: Lord Subramaniar or Karttikeya;
- Number of steps: 272 to the cathedral cave;
- Height: 400 feet or 125 meters;
- Entrance Fee: Free
- Parking: Cars RM2 per entry;
- Bus Parking: RM10 per entry;
- Opening Hours: daily from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm
- Location: about 13 KM north of KL, District of Gombak
- Temple managed by Batu Malai Sri Subramaniar Temple.
Key Tips for visiting the Batu Caves
- As steps leading up the Batu Caves are not covered, it would be good idea to visit it in the later part of the afternoon when it's not so hot.
- Do keep a plastic bag with you to protect your important documents from the humidity, the rain and your sweat.
- Do carry an umbrella with you wherever you go as it can rain anytime in Malaysia. A foldable umbrella that you can keep in your bag will cost about RM10.
Batu Caves Golden Statue
Golden Statue of Lord Murugan
- Completed: January 2006
- Cost: RM2.5 million
- Height: 43 meters or 135 feet;
- Materials used: 300 liters of gold paint, 1550 cubic meters of concrete.
- Tallest statue of Lord Murugan in the world.
- Malaysian Book of Records: Tallest Hindu deity in Malaysia.
How to go to the Batu Caves
Public Transportation
- Take Rapid KL Bus from Pasar Seni. Journey time about 45 minutes. Cost RM2.
- By taxi will cost you around RM20 per taxi from KL.
- You may go by KTM Commuter trains soon when the station at Batu Caves opens. Cost about RM2.
RAPIDKL Buses
Rapid KL is a government funded project to reduce congestion in the city and although it started out pretty well in 2006 the situation has deteriorated. However when it works it's wonderful. If you want to try it out, here are the routes.
Bus #U6 from Titiwangsa Terminal on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur near the KL Monorail Station. The fare is only RM2 per day unlimited use of all #U series busses, not just for #U6. Just keep the tickets with you.
Cityliner
- Bus no. 69 from Jalan Pudu;
- Cost RM2 per way.
Intrakota
- Bus no. 11D or 11 from Bangkok Bank bus stop right in the financial district of KL.
- Cost RM2 per way.
By Taxi
Monkey at Batu Caves
Going by taxi from the city will cost you about RM20 per taxi, but you have to agree on the price with the driver before hopping into the taxi.
By Car
Use the Middle Ring Road II and head northwards. Coming from the the city, head for Jalan Sultan Ismail towards Jalan Kinabalu and onto Jalan Kuching heading north. Make a right turn at the Kepong intersection. Go towards Genting Highlands and Batu Caves. You won't miss the huge golden statue of Lord Murugan, waiting to welcome you to Batu Caves.
My Recommendation
If you have time to kill and want to mingle with the local folks and don't mind waiting, sometimes hours, then try the public buses. Otherwise a taxi is fairly cheap. Or you can book your visit to the Batu Caves through a local agent which will usually include some additional excursions.
Book the tour here
 Batu Caves and Suburbs of Kuala Lumpur Private Tour Visit the spectacular Batu Caves - one of the most sacred places for Hindu's in Malaysia. This massive limestone outcrop, situated 10 miles north ot Malaysia's capital city Kuala Lumpur, and its cavernous interior is home to Hindu deities and one will need to climb the 272 steps to fully appreciate the caves. On this private tour you will also witness the art of fine pewter crafting, batik designing & pass a typical Malay house. |
Kuala Lumpur Grand Day Tour Enjoy a day exploring the best of Kuala Lumpur! Spend your morning discovering bustling Chinatown, Royal Palace, National Museum and the Craft Cultural Complex. After your buffet lunch, view Malaysian suburban homes as well as rural lifestyle before learning about the art of Batik designing. The last stop is the spectacular limestone Batu Caves - a must-see for all visitors to Kuala Lumpur. |
Brief History of Batu Caves
Originally used by the Orang Asli or aborigines of the Bersisi tribe for shelter when out hunting.
Cathedral Cave Entrance
- 1860s Used by the Chinese community to collect guano from bat droppings for their vegetable farms around Kuala Lumpur.
- 1878 Discovered by William Hornaday, an American Naturalist, who documented the caves and made popular as a result.
- 1891 Temple founder, Thamboosamy Pillai, laid foundation stone and installed a "murti" or consecrated statue of the Sri Subramania Swamy Temple. Apparently the mouth of the entrance to the main cave resembles the shape of a "vel" or spear. Thamboosamy also founded the Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Jalan Bandar near Kuala Lumpur Chinatown.
- 1892 First Thaipusam festival celebrated here. This major Hindu festival has been held here annually since then.
- 1920 Wooden steps were built to access the main cave or the cathedral cave where the Sri Subramania Swamy Temple is located.
The Caves at Batu Caves
Cathedral Cave
This is where the primary deity is located. It is found 272 steps up a concrete stairway, at about 100 meters above ground. This is an impressive cave in itself with a dome shaped ceiling about 100 meters above the floor. Within the cave are another 2 sets of stairway with a total of another 50 or so step. It is called the cathedral cave because of the main Hindu temple which is located within.
Art Gallery Cave and Museum Cave or Valluvar Kottam
- Collectively called the Cave Villa
- Entrance Fee: RM1 per person; The fees have recently been increased to RM5. I will need to update you on the prices.
- There are fascinating collection of Hindu statues and paintings. These depict the life story of Lord Murugan from birth to marriage and to his triumph over the evil Soorapadam.
Gallery Cave
After paying the entrance fees you'll walk across the pond teeming with kois, river terrapins and tortoises. Inside the cave you'll be able to see the various exhibits and mural paintings on the cave walls.
Do not miss the statue of the 5-legged bull which was donated by a farmer to the temple. The bull lived in the temple grounds with a harem of cows till a very old age.
Ramayana Cave
Statue of Hanuman at Batu Caves
Located toward the left of the temple compound as one enters. You'll be able to see the 15 meters or 50 foot tall statue of Hanuman or the monkey god. Within you'll be able to see statues related to the tale of Ramayana.
- Open to public since 2001.
- Entrance Fee: RM1 per person.
Dark Caves & Malaysian Nature Society
ME with Dark Caves guide
- Managed by Malaysian Nature Society to preserve the pristine condition of these caves network;
- Located half-way up the cathedral caves, at step number 204;
- 2 KM of unspoiled cave habitat;
- You'll witness formations such as cave curtains, flow stones, cave pearls and scallops formed from stalagmites and stalactites.
Address and Contact of Malaysian Nature Society
- JKR 641 Jalan Kelantan, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
- Tel: 6 03 2287 4732
- Fax: 6 03 22878773
- Cave Wardens
- Mr. Suja 6 019 2155682
- Mr. Jaya 6 012 3103 464
MNS sanctions 2 very fascinating tours into the dark caves. A shorter Educational Tour which last about half an hour and the longer Adventure Tour which last up to 3 hours inside the cave. You may avail yourself for the Educational Tour anytime, but for the Adventure Tour, you should book in advance.
Education Tour
Take a trip into the "Hidden World" and get an appreciation of the cave ecology and geology. This is a guided tour of the Dark Caves.
- Length of tour: 30 to 45 minutes
- Adult RM35
- Child below 10 years old: RM25
- Included: service of a professional guide
- helmet
- head light
- Wellington boots (optional)
Entrance to Dark Cave
Adventure Tour
- Length of tour: 2 to 3 hours
- Adult RM80
- Child below 10 years old: RM60
Is Rock Climbing for you?
You'll be happy to note that there over 160 climbing routes around these hills. They are easy to access and most crags begin at the ground level.
- Height: 150 meters.
Flora and Fauna in and around the caves
Some of the plants and animals found around Batu Caves.
- fruit bats;
- long tail monkeys. Be wary of them and do not provoke or tease the monkey as they can be aggressive and have been known to bite when threatened;
- silver leaf monkeys;
- pigeons;
- At the dark caves:
- trapdoor spider;
- cave toad;
- cave cricket;
- cave racer snake;
Thaipusam Devotee with skewers
Festival of Thaipusam
No article or visit to the Batu Caves is complete without mentioning this important and grand Hindu celebration.
Visitors and devotees from all over the world come to Batu Caves during the celebration of the festival of Thaipusam.
The Thaipusam Festival is held in the Hindu month of Thai. This fall around end-January or early-February.
Find out the latest news about this exciting Thaipusam in Malaysia.The celebration last 3 days and takes a few weeks to prepare.
Python lays eggs in Caves of Reptiles
A reticulated python, measuring about 8 meters, laid 165 eggs at the Caves of Reptiles in Batu Caves recently (March 2009). The Caves of Reptiles opened last year and houses more than 100 species of Malaysian snakes.
Python Laying Eggs at Batu Caves
The reticulated python is one of the largest snake in the reptile family.
It is commonly found in Malaysia and normally lays up to about 100 eggs. Guinness Book of World Records World's largest snake: 10 meters python, Sulawesi, Indonesia, 1912.
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