Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur

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Batu cave is very impressiv! Not only the 272 steps leading up but the cave itself with the opening to the sky!
The caves are a center for worship of the Hindu god Murugan, you´ll also find a shrine to god Rama and a shrine to Ganesh - the elephant-headed god.
A lot of monkeys live around here, no problem it you don´t feed and touch them.

Entrance: free, but parking RM 2

Batu Caves is located 13km north of Kuala Lumpur downtown. It is actually located in the state of Selangor which surrounding KL. The signature feature of this Hindu cave temple is the 272 steps staircase that leads to the cave. The cave is the temple for hindu god lord Muruga, also known as Lord Subramaniam. A tall golden statue of lord Muruga is standing next to the staircase to welcome visitors. It is the tallest statue of lord Muruga in the world.

To the left of the base of the staircase, there is a cave gallery that visitors can go in. There are colourful sculptures of hindu gods on display.

Another popular activity in Batu Caves is drinking coconut juice. Such a refreshing thing to do after you come down from the cave.

Admission: FREE
Parking: RM2

Located just north of Kuala Lumpur, Batu Caves is a series of caves and cave temples in a 400-million-year old limestone hill, named after the Batu river which flows by. It is now one of the most popular Hindu pilgrimage sites outside India. Known to the local aboriginals for hundreds of years, it was said to be "discovered" by a local wealthy Tamil trader in the 1800s. The largest cave, called Temple Cave or Cathedral Cave, has a 100-metre high ceiling and houses several Hindu shrines. It is reached by climbing a 272-step stairs, first built in 1920. At the base of the steps stands a 42.7-metre tall statue of Lord Murugan, completed in 2003, the tallest in the world. Two further cave temples at the base of the hill are the Museum Cave and Art Gallery Cave, and there are also other undeveloped caves. Batu Caves is also famous for its resident families of macaque monkeys.

It is easiest to catch a taxi to Batu Caves, as the site is relatively isolated. An alternative is to catch Cityliner bus no. 69 from Jalan Pudu or Intrakota bus no. 11D from Pasar Seni.

Climb the 200+ steps into Batu Caves, where in the heart of it all, lies a small Hindu temple.

See the many colourful statues of Hindu deities adorning the walls of the caves.

Come Thaipusam, a Hindu festival where devotees wear bodygears called Kavadees pierced under their naked skin, the temple becomes an epicentre of Hindu faith, and the caves will be thronged with thousands of worshippers. It would be a sight to behold!

(Disclaimer: I have never arrived here by public bus)
How to get here by bus:
The RapidKL buses do reach Batu Caves. There are a number of services from several points.
Attaching the relevant website for folk's reference....if it makes any sense:
RapidKL Bus Routes to Batu Caves

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Monday 04/06/07
The Batu caves are a Hindu holy place that encompasses a few smaller Hindu shrines. There's 272 steps numbered all the way to the top. What they don't tell you is that there's more at the top so "272 plus a few more no one mentions" is a bit more accurate. There's a small curio store and a couple of stalls that sells things including a place to buy drinks. Not that many monkeys showed up when we went but apparently the number always changes. We arrived around 10am and it was just after a rainy night so the heat wasn't a killer and the climb up was a lot easier than I expected. The climb down might be a little unnerving for those that get mild vertigo, the stairs are quite steep. Take lots of pictures as there's a lot to see in the cave and out of the cave. The art is just fantastic. There was a little store at the bottom that sells drinks and a man who will crack open a coconut for you if you decide fresh coconut juice is the thing to drink after a long climb. A very worthwhile place to visit

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Batu Caves is a famous tourist destination especially during Thaipusam festival. This event attracts many devotees and spectators who come to watch devotees in a trance carrying kavadi, a metal frame attached to the body. There are also milk kavadi.

Oh and you have to climb steep flight of 272 steps to reach the top.

I took the taxi from Petronas tower to Batu Caves and it cost us RM12.00 but the return journey from Batu Caves to Hard Rock Cafe was around RM16.00. Make sure the taxi drivers use meters.

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The Batu caves are a collection of Hindu shrines within a mountain.

There are a huge amount of steps to climb to get there, and even more inside, but its well worth the effort.

The caves are working temples so priests are in attendance at all times it is open and the devotees come in numbers, but visitors are very welcome.

A number if tours include the Batu Caves in there itinery, so check some of the tour operators if you do not have your own transport

A word of warning - do not cary anything in supermarket plastic bags or the resident monkeys will grab them off you thinking it is food

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The hill is in shape of Indian holy elephant. We have to climb many stairs for reaching the caves. There are a lot of colorful statues of Hindu gods and goddess and small temples in the dark caves with mysterious atmosphere. Some monkeys walk and run a lot...and they are feeded too much. Personally the place doesn't attract me too much. It's pretty "strange" and really "too stinky" (smell of animals' ***)!!!

P.S. Thinking about the bad air there makes me want to vomit... I promise that I will never go back there. A new experience once was enough.