BATU CAVES

ABOUT BATU CAVES
Leave the city behind and bask in the wonders of Batu Caves - one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in Malaysia. There are three main attractions. which are Temple Cave, Cave Villa, and Ramayana Cave .
 
Also referred to as Cathedral Cave, the Temple Cave is dedicated to Lord Murugan, the Hindu God of War. Guarding its entrance is a majestic and magnificent 42.7 metre-tall golden statue of Lord Murugan, which is also the tallest Lord Murugan statue in the world. The journey to the Temple Cave begins with 272 vibrantly-coloured steps. Take it slow and enjoy the majestic view of the Kuala Lumpur city on your way up. Once you reach the top, you’ll be greeted by an enormous, 100 metre-high arched cave ceiling with small openings that let in beautiful, natural light. This 130-year old cave temple also features ancient shrines and Hindu deity statues.

In case you were wondering: yes; there are attractions that do not require you to climb stairs, and it’s none other than Cave Villa and Ramayana Cave. They are both located at the foothill of Batu Caves. Cave Villa is filled with beautiful, coloured lights. It features vibrant Hindu statues and characters from Hindu folklore. There are also nuggets of oriental wisdom seen on plaques around this cave for those who seek contemplation. 

The Ramayana Cave is located at the left of the hill. This cave is centered on the ancient Hindu epic, Ramayana and is adorned with statues and scenes from the classical story. Along the way to the cave is a 15 metre-tall Lord Hanuman statue, a Hindu Monkey God who is also one of the central characters in the Ramayana epic.

HISTORY
Batu Caves is a limestone hill with a series of beautiful caves (three major caves and a few smaller ones) and historic cave temples. According to experts, the limestone forming the caves is about 400 million years old. Back in the days, the Orang Asli (the indenigious people) used some of the cave entrances as their living quarters and for shelter. The caves quickly became famous after being recorded by zoologist William Temple Hornaday in 1878.In 1890, K. Thamboosamy Pillai, an Indian trader, was moved by the beauty of the cave and went to build the first cave temple of Batu Caves. Today, Batu Caves is one of the most popular Tamil shrines outside of India and has been the place of major Thaipusam celebrations in Malaysia since 1892.

FUN FACTS
Batu Caves is said to have the rarest spider on earth (the Trapdoor Spider) living here! 

OPENING HOURS
Batu Caves is open every day from 7.00am - 9.00pm.

ENTRANCE FEE
One of the best things of Batu Caves is the free entrance for the main temple (Temple Cave/ Cathedral Cave)! 
For Cave Villa, the entrance fee for Malaysians and non-Malaysians are RM7 and RM15 respectively. 
For Ramayana Cave, the entrance fee is RM5, regardless of nationality.

DRESS CODE
Short skirts and hot pants are not allowed. Be mindful and have your legs covered at all times when you’re visiting this religious wonder.
 

DIRECTIONS
#1 Taxi or Grab | RM45 - RM60 | Approximately 45 mins
The easiest way to Batu Caves is by car. You can either drive, take a taxi or just Grab from the hotel. The fare for a standard taxi is around RM45 - RM60, depending on traffic conditions. The journey is about 30 kilometres long and takes approximately 45 minutes.

#2 Train | RM5 - RM7 | Approximately 2 hr 15 mins
First, board the BRT Sunway Line bus from Sunway Lagoon to the Setia Jaya KTM Station (Fare: RM1.80). Buy a ticket to the Batu Caves KTM Station (Fare: RM4.30) and board the train heading towards Tanjung Malim. Alight at the KL Sentral interchange station (no need to exit the station) and board the KTM train heading to Batu Caves (total travel time: approximately 1 hour). One KTM train arrives every hour, with more coming in during rush hours.

#3 Bus & Train | RM5 - RM16 | Approximately 2 hr 30 mins
First, board the BRT Sunway Line bus from Sunway Lagoon to the USJ7 LRT Station (Fare: RM3.20). Then take a 40 minutes LRT train ride (Fare: RM4.00) to KL Sentral. Get off at KL Sentral, exit, head to the KTM Station and be on your way to the Batu Caves KTM Station (Fare: RM2.60, total travel time: approximately 25 minutes). No worries - all are within the KL Sentral complex.

< Image credit (from left to right) - thaya_90 via Instagram, masumrefat via Pixabay, masumrefat via Pixabay, civitatis.com and photosforyou via Pixabay >