272 steps, Batu Caves

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If you want to visit Batu Caves, the best day is on Thaipusam Celebration.
You embark on the journey as early as 4pm-5pm (Thaipusam Celebration) and you'll see people starting to walk to the holy cave (Batu Caves).
From Kuala Lumpur, take the LRT Putra to Putra Station. Then take the feeder bus towards Tmn Melewar or Taman Batu. Ask the driver to stop you at Greenwood. Then ask anybody around, where's Batu Caves. (Especially traders nearby) They'll happily will help you. Once they show you the direction, just walk toward the direction along the small highway (it's a walking distance about 15 to 20 blocks away). On you left hand side you will notice the huge rock hill (after you have passed Taman Seri Gombak on your right hand side and a few shop houses).

Well, after a long arduous walk, you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Make sure you do not have actual fruits though, as you will get plenty of monkey business if you bring them.

I did enjoy having the steps numbered for me though, as this really did make it alot easier to pace myself! I didn't even get winded!

The Batu Caves are to be reached via a small village in the North of KL, about 13 kms by taxi or public transport , departing at the central Bus Terminal in KL. The caves are a holy and sacred place for the Hindus, saying prayers and bringing offerings early in the morning; to get an impression, you shouldn`t be later than 10a.m. They consist of of limestone are about 400 meters long and more than 90 meters high. There are three main caves and a number of smaller ones, to be reached via a steep climb of 270 steps, accompanied by dozens of monkeys.

Approximately 12 kms. from KL, this cave system is considered a sacred site for the Hindus as this is where the annual Thaipusam Festival is held.

To reach the mouth of the cave, one must climb 272 steep flight of steps. Along the way, there are monkeys waiting to "attack" at the slightest sound of a plastic bag being crumpled which they associate with food.

Although nothing much is going on during ordinary days and I was advised to skip Batu Caves, the idea of climbing those steps is a challenge I can't resist.

Now, have climbed up the steps to the 2nd opening !
I'm in the 2nd openning of the caves now & looked down as I captured what I could see below...
Notice the corroted steps grips...& people down below.

People going up & down on the steps...
There are 3 ways/lanes of the steps but you can choose any one way/lane whether to go up or down the steps.
You can even change to another lane/way while going up or down...
On the photo, you can see an Indian man going down with traditional Hindu costume...maybe after doing his praying at the top !
We shall go up...

Guess how many steps do we need to climb on to reach the top ?
Maybe the first time if you are here, you would have to stop a few times just to take some airs into your lung !
Me, well I stop to have some nicotine smoke into my lung !
Not that I advice anybody to be like me !

Now,...now we shall climb these steps to go up Batu Caves !
In my life, I have been climbing these steps many times always with visiting friends & this time with a Swedish !
Previously with French, Briton, Russian, American, Australian...many international lites there.

Let's us take a closer look then....walk pass the bus & let us see the steps....
We don't need to pay for any ticket to climb up Batu Caves although if you need A Tour Guide with Audio, it's possible to rent it just near the steps....
We can see statutes adorning the arches on the steps entrance...

...to be exact. It's one way to heaven or the other word to describe it but it's a great exercise if you fancy trying it! I've always wanted to visit this place a couple of visit in KL but never did until last July and I wouldn't mind going up to when 's the next one!=)