The Batu Caves are an amazing series of caves and temples that are found in a limestone hill in Gombak, just 13 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. Its name comes from Sungai Batu Batu River.
It is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India. There are three main caves, which are dedicated to Lord Murugan. The largest, known as Cathedral Cave or Temple Cave, has several Hindu shrines decorated with great ornamentation. To get there, you must climb 272 steps, so not everyone can access, as it rises 100 meters from the ground.
At the base of the hill, there are two quite important temples, the Art Gallery Cave and the Museum Cave, where you can see a large number of Hindu statues and paintings. They are places of worship and veneration for Hindus since they tell the story of Lord Murugan, a sacred deity in areas such as southern India, Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Visitors can learn more about these caves through a full audio tour.
The Ramayana Cave is located to the left of the massive wall of the hill which tells the story of Rama in a different way by taking advantage of irregularities in the wall with the help of special lighting.
Also it is possible to find a golden 42.7 metre (140 ft) high statue of Lord Murugan. It is one of the highest and most impressive statues in the world.
The Batu Caves are also a popular spot for climbing, offering over 160 routes scattered throughout the area of the caves. You do not need extensive knowledge of climbing, as most of cliffs are at ground level. But perhaps the most special fact is the Thaipusam Festival, a famous event in the international Hindu community because it attracts more than a million pilgrims a year.
To reach them, just take a bus or taxi from Kuala Lumpur but perhaps the best way to do it is by train from Central Station, for just 2 RM, while the taxi ride is about 25 RM.
Tags: batu caves, climbing, home, kuala lumpur, malaysia, malaysia travel guide, p2827, pilgrimage
