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Batu Caves

Visiting The Batu Caves In Kuala Lumpur

Located in the district of Gombak north of Kuala Lumpur, the Batu Caves are a series of caves among limestone hills, making an interesting natural landscape.

BATU CAVES IN KUALA LUMPUR

A modern metropolis with plenty to offer to visits, that’s Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. If you’re visiting different places in Kuala Lumpur, the distinctive Batu Caves are one of the most popular attractions in Kuala Lumpur, alongside the iconic Petrona Towers. While you’re in Kuala Lumpur, you’re really missing out if you don’t visit the Batu Caves. This may be far from the city center but is impressive.

We’ve compiled a lot of advice and information to guide you to the Batu Caves, to show you what’s so special about them and how to best go about visiting them.

BRIEF BACKGROUND TO THE BATU CAVES

If you are wondering where is Batu Caves located it’s Located in the district of Gombak north of Kuala Lumpur, the Batu Caves are a series of caves among limestone hills, making an interesting natural landscape. are batu caves worth visiting?

What makes the caves special is that it is home to one of the largest and most popular Hindu shrines in the world outside India. But there wasn’t always a shrine in the caves, and for quite some time instead the indigenous locals and Chinese settlers would collect the bat guano from the cave.

The Batu Caves caught the attention of K. Thamboosamy Pillay, a little more than a decade later,a leader of the Tamil Hindu community in Malaysia. Within the largest of the caves, in 1891, he had a shrine built to the Hindu god Lord Murugan and the Hindu festival of Thaipusam was celebrated at the site the next year. The festival is still celebrated at the Batu Caves and pilgrims come every year.

Batu Caves

BEST TIME TO VISIT THE BATU CAVES

In terms of weather, the city’s position near the equator and its tropical climate mean temperatures don’t vary much that’s why there are several options for choosing the best time to visit the Batu Caves. Between May and July is widely considered the best time to visit the city because Kuala Lumpur experiences its heaviest rains during March and April. This is the best time to visit batu caves. 

Depending on what you want to experience, that could be a good or bad thing. However, it’s worth noting that Hindu festivals take place in the Batu Caves since it is a Hindu Site. It includes the celebration of Thaipusam. This festival features processions and huge crowds of pilgrims and is a three day festival and takes place either late January or early February.

Batu Caves hours of operation is the Gates open at 6 a.m., and this is one of the benefits of arriving early and you won’t have to deal with the heat quite yet, and for the first few hours of the day you can expect it to be mostly free of other tourists. The Dark Cave doesn’t open until 9:30 a.m.

GETTING TO THE BATU CAVES

Batu Caves View
Jason Rost: https://unsplash.com/es/fotos/KaFdx3zSrgg

There are several options for how to get to the Batu Caves from Kuala Lumpur.

By train: One -way ticket costs RM2.60 for KTM commuter train and it is the easiest option for reaching the caves and departing regularly from Kuala Lumpur Sentral station to the Batu Caves station. 

By bus: Take the 11/11D from the bus stop near Central Market or the U6 from Chow Kit to reach the caves. The train is a better and faster option to travel to the Batu Caves.It’s also possible to use the city’s bus network.

By tour:
A guided tour is the best way to go if you prefer not to worry about transport and would like to be shown around the site. Tours are still reasonably priced and often include other cultural attractions in the area, while more expensive than public transport. A guided tour to the Batu Caves can be booked here.

 

By taxi: Taxi prices depend on whether you ask the driver to wait around for you, but expect to pay up to RM40 one way. It is the quickest option for getting to the Batu Caves, it regularly takes 15 minutes from the city center.  My suggestion is that you use Grab Taxi, it’s very inexpensive.

how much time do i need to see the batu caves

You’ll no doubt want to know how long does it take to explore the Batu Caves for your Kuala Lumpur itinerary when planning a trip to the Batu Caves. If you want to do the Adventure Tour in the Dark Cave be sure to budget more time, it could be several hours on its own. So could be as little as 30 minutes to 3 hours.

Batu caves opening times: 7:00 am to 9:00pm

COST FOR ENTERING THE BATU CAVES

Batu Caves are popular with tourists because there is no entrance fee for the main temple complex but it is possible to make a donation. Yes you read it right batu caves admission fee cost 0$. You will only need to worry about the cost of getting there and back. If you are worrying about the batu caves entrance fee.

There are individual entrance fees for each side cave, you will be able to decide how much you want to see while you’re there. Ramayana Cave and Dark Cave, the smaller caves, have their own small entrance fee. The cheapest tour through the Dark Cave is RM35 while the entry to the Ramayana Cave is RM5.

TIPS FOR VISITING THE BATU CAVES

Monkey
Vance: https://unsplash.com/es/fotos/6xt27zh9dPA

Here are a few extra tips for visiting the Batu Caves to help you get the most out of your experience.Ex. Bangkok, Thailand

Batu caves dress code, What to wear

The Batu Caves are an active place of worship so this is something that is important to remember because visitors are advised to show respect by wearing clothes that cover their shoulders and knees. They are less strict with men about this.

Prepare for Warm Weather:

Since you’ll be climbing a gargantuan staircase, you really need to come prepared. Meaning you would need to bring an appropriate sun protection and a water bottle to stay hydrated

Mind the Monkeys:

The Batu Caves is the home for macaque monkeys, you’re practically guaranteed to come across them when visiting the temple complex. It is better to keep your guard up when you’re around them, these monkeys are known for their mischievous behaviour. Stealing things like water bottles from tourists iis not uncommon for the monkeys and even biting trying to take items from those who don’t give up.

BEST THINGS TO TRY TO DO AT THE BATU CAVES

Batu Caves

Whats inside the batu caves?

  • Lord Murugan Statue

There is a magnificent towering golden statue standing right at the entrance when you arrive at the complex, it’s the Statue of Lord Murugan. Standing a mighty 42.7 meters (140 feet), this is often the world’s tallest statue of the Hindu deity and has become the site’s iconic image, although it was only added in 2006. Construction of the Murugan statue involved 300 liters (90 gallons) of gold paint, 250 plenty of steel, and 1,500 cubic meters (52,972 cubic feet) of concrete.

 

  • Cave Staircase

The Batu Caves and its temple have a great staircase that brings visitors and pilgrims to caves. At the bottom of the Murugan statue sits a large plaza area with long metal barriers leading to the entrance of the site. Originally built from wood in 1920, the 272 stairs were later replaced with concrete ones to raise the heavy foot traffic.

In 2018, the steps and stairs were vibrantly repainted, causing quite the stir on social media with their new look and making the complex even more photogenic. The steep staircase, set against the limestone rock and lush vegetation, has long been a well liked photography.

  • Temple Cave

To reach the entrance of the Temple Cave, the heart of the Batu Cave complex, you would like to climb the great long staircase. You’ll immediately notice just how massive this great cavern really is when you just step into the Temple Cave, and above you with a ceiling that looms roughly 90 meters (295 feet). 

It’s this view of the temple surrounded by high stone walls with daylight pouring down that creates the climb up so worthwhile. Here within the upper cavern lies the Sri Valli Deivanai temple, dedicated to the wife of Murugan.

The cave features several Hindu shrines, also as remains of old buildings carved into the walls. Thankfully a smaller set of stairs to a second open-air cavern, lies another set of stairs.  More stairs, yay!!

 

  • Dark Cave 

You will find a stopping area at the midway point that leads to the entrance to the Dark Cave, when venturing backtrack down the massive staircase. The Dark Cave isn’t illuminated like the Temple Cave and is known for its wildlife, rock formations and adventure activities.

Options available are very limited for visitors; there are only two guided tours. Meant to preserve the ecosystem of the cave. During a 45 minute tour takes you unto the cave guided by headlamps to see rock formations, the resident bats, and perhaps even a trapdoor spider. As for the longer tour, it offers the prospect a chance to go spelunking and squeeze through some of the cave’s narrower sections. The longer tour lasts several hours and is merely available when booked in advance.

  • Ramayana Cave

The Ramayana Cave are often found by the large green statue of the Hindu god Hanuman standing outside it. It is one of the final caves worth visiting. Located 100 meters (328 feet) to the left of the doorway when you first arrive. Although the Ramayana Cave is way smaller and lower than the Temple Cave, it fills the space with countless statues, shrines, and colors to offer something completely different to the rest of the complex.

  • Rock Climbing

Thanks to the rough and extensive limestone hills around the caves, the area has become quite a popular spot among rock climbers. You don’t often hear about hiking at religious sites, so this is a unique opportunity. Most of the various climbing routes are located on the northeastern side of the hill, opposite the temple’s entrance. Again, this is often an activity best arranged in advance, either with a tour or after seeking advice from local rock climbers.

Common Questions about visiting the caves in kuala lumpur

The number of visitors to Batu Caves has increased significantly since the construction of the giant statue. While many come for worship, others visit for tourism purposes. Exploring Batu Caves offers not only an intriguing learning opportunity about the Hindu religion but also a chance to witness its stunning beauty firsthand.

A highlight of Batu Caves is the complimentary entry to the main temple, Temple Cave/Cathedral Cave! Admission to Cave Villa is RM7 for Malaysians and RM15 for non-Malaysians. The entrance fee for Ramayana Cave is RM5, regardless of nationality.

When visiting Batu Caves, it’s important to dress respectfully, especially since it’s a place of worship. For women, it’s suggested to wear long dresses or pants with covered shoulders. Men can go for a simple tee and knee-length shorts or pants. Comfortable sneakers are recommended, especially for climbing the 272 steps.

The 272 steps leading to Batu Caves may pose a challenge for those with larger shoe sizes, like size 11 and up. The steps are smaller in size, so be prepared for a potentially challenging climb. It’s advisable to wear flip flops or slippers instead for greater comfort during the ascent.

The distance to Batu Caves from the hotel is approximately 20km. You can seek assistance from the concierge to arrange a metered taxi, which should cost around RM20 for a one-way trip. If you require the driver to wait for you, negotiate a fare for the return trip and waiting time. Please note that the new taxi fare includes a starting rate of RM3.00 ($4.80 )

While footwear isn’t specified in the Batu Caves dress code, it’s strongly advised to wear sturdy shoes. Climbing the stairs is relatively easy, with a moderate incline compared to other temples. The ascent typically takes 15-20 minutes, though this may vary depending on how often you stop for photos.

For the optimal experience, consider visiting Batu Caves either in the early morning around 9 am or during the late afternoon. The Malaysian heat can be intense, particularly around midday, making these times more comfortable for exploration.

The climb consists of 272 steps and typically takes around 15 minutes, factoring in maneuvering around tourists and monkeys along the way.

Start Planning Your Malaysia Trip Now!

Book Your Flight:

Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flights. A travellers favorite way to book flights, as it searches websites and airlines around the world with one click.

Book Your Bus or Transportation Within Malaysia:

There are two ways to book your transporation, ask your hotel or hostel, go to the local bus terminal, or book online, for a less stressful trip using Easybook or 12go.asia

Book Your Accomodation: 

Find the best hotels or hostels at HostelWorld, Booking.com, Agoda.com. Perks include with no upfront payment. Pay when you check out and Free cancellations.

Dont Forget Your Travel Insurance:

Two popular choices are SafetyWing and WorldsNomads. A traveler should buy traveler’s insurance to protect themselves against unexpected events such as trip cancellations, medical emergencies, and lost or stolen baggage. It provides peace of mind and financial protection in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Usefull Apps?

Grab/Uber – Local Transportation

Food Panda/Grab – Food Delivery

Whatsapp – Communication

Want More Information On Indonesia?

Be sure to check out my nomad travel guide on the Malaysia for even more tips.

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase.

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