Batu Caves

I’ve visited this place a couple of times but still amazed with the place. Although it’s not in Kuala Lumpur area, this is a must see place in Malaysia. It is truly exotic and tremendously gorgeous. It’s located in Selangor State, and it’s about 13 kilometers (7 miles) north of the capital city Kuala Lumpur. While this place is a ‘tourist attaction’ area, it’s also a holy place for Hindu’s in Malaysia. This place culturally very interesting, nothing like it anywhere else, even in Indonesia, my country. Once in a year, usually between January to February, they are celebrating Thaipusam festival. You should not missed this festival when you around here on February. In Thaipusam festival you can observed Indians carrying large ‘kavadhi’ (a metal frame attached to the body), piercing their cheeks, mouth, and hands.

This area consist with 3 main caves and a smaller ones. When you get there you will be welcome by the world’s tallest statue of Murugan, standing at 42.7 meter (140.09 ft) high. There are also a very long stairs, about 272 step, that will take you to the main temple inside the caves. Along the stairs, you will meet a lot of monkeys, they are waiting for your food, like bananas or peanuts. While you are resting after climbing this stairs, you should not put anything outside your pocket or bag, or the monkey suddenly will grab your things and run away.

I found my self resting a lot while trying to climb the stairs. The stairs are not for the people who have a faint hearted or out of shape, but it is so worth it. When you got to the top you will find the main temple inside the cave with 100m ceiling on top of you. I found my self chilling a little when I saw the big stalagnit on top of the ceiling. I was wondering what if an earthquake happen when I was there, then all the stalagnit will fall to my head.

You could also pray in their temple, the monk will give you a little dot sign on your forehead, then ask you to pray to their Gods. You don’t have to pay to see and pray at the temple but they provided some kind of a box if you would like to donate. The monk would also likes to take a pictures with you as long as they are not too busy praying. Ask them nicely, it’s worth it to take a pictures with them. The cave also smell something weird, I guess it’s a bats poop or monkeys poop. Make yourself comfortable with the smell of the cave once you get there.

The easiest part now is going down, but be careful, because the stairs step is so small, even for my asian foot, you will fall down if you are not careful. And beware with monkeys, they are everywhere waiting for your things to grab. On the ground there are also a small temple, souvenirs shop, restaurant and dove birds. Yes dove birds everywhere, and their poop also everywhere. That’s why this place is so smell, there are dove birds poop, bats poop and monkeys poop, prepare your self for that. And this place is not so clean, you can see a lot of garbage around this place. I can’t understand that the Hindu’s people worship this place but they keep them in such a smelly place like this.

You can go to Batu Caves by a KTM train from KL Sentral Station to Sentul Station. Or the easier way is just take a taxi, they will bring you here in 30 minutes from KL city. Or take a bus, bus Nr 70 and 349 are leaving from Lebuh Pudu (in China Town, Petaling Street) every 30 minutes. Do yourself a favour, wear some comfortable shoes. Remember, you must climb up 272 steps of stairs!

Video of Batu Caves