Batu Caves – The Enchanting Natural Limestone Caves

Batu Caves Kuala Lumpur is one of the best geographical wonders in Malaysia. It is a series of Limestone caves near the Batu River (Sungai Batu). With its status as a well-known pilgrimage, the Caves draw a lot of tourists and Tamil Hindu pilgrims.

The magnificent Batu Caves Kuala Lumpur was discovered in the latter part of the 19th century by William Hornaday, an American naturalist. On noticing the shape of the cave entrance, which is similar to that of the tip of a spear used by the deity of the Tamil’s Muruganswamy, a temple was built inside the cave in 1891.

Lord Subramanian Temple at Batu Caves

The Batu Caves temple is devoted to Lord Subramanian. The temple is not just a place of worship for the Tamil Hindus but also a place to show their reverence to their deity. It is a place to showcase their culture and heritage.

It was in the year 1891 that the idol of Lord Subramanian was placed and consecrated in the temple by K. Thambusamy Pillai, an influential man in the Tamil fraternity in Malaysia. Since then, the place has become a center of pilgrimage, and the Tamil Hindu festival of Thaipusam is celebrated as a major festival in the Batu Caves temple every year. 

During the 3-day festivity of Thaipusam, people from within Malaysia, as well as around the globe, visit Batu Caves Kuala Lumpur to be a part of celebrations. A high point in the Thaipusam festival is to watch the devotees with their tongue and flesh pierced and others holding decorated milk containers called kavadi on their heads, march up the hill in a procession to the Batu Caves temple.

The cave hours are from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM from Monday-Sunday. The entry to the temple is the same as the Batu Caves hours.

Rock Climbing in Batu Caves Kuala Lumpur

The area of the caves has become the place for rock climbing in Kuala Lumpur. It is said that there are eight crags which mostly start at ground level making most of the 170 rock climbing routes to be easily accessible by climbers. There are also several sport climbing walls for rock climbing enthusiasts in this region.

How to Reach

• The best way to travel from KL Sentral to Batu Caves is the direct KMT train. It takes about 40 minutes to reach Batu Caves, and the fare for an adult (one way) is RM 2.60. The first train from KL Sentral to Batu Caves leaves at 6:56 AM, and the last train leaves at 10:46 PM.
• There are also taxi services from KL Sentral to Batu Caves. A return ride costs about 80 Ringgit.
• A halfway bus ride to Batu Caves is the cheapest option. You can book tickets for Mayangsari Express buses. Also, from KL Sentral, there is a free bus service to Sentul Station, and from there, visitors can take a KTM Komuter train to Batu Caves.

Recommended: Bus Travel in Malaysia

Best Time to Visit

Visiting Batu Caves early before 10 in the morning or the early evening is highly recommended. By doing this, visitors can avoid the rush and also the hot and humid temperature of the day time.

Entrance Fee

There is no entrance fee for Batu Caves or the temple. However, the Adventure tour and Educational tour does include a fee of RM 80 – RM 100 and RM 28 – RM 35, respectively.

Places to Visit

• Selayang Hot Spring

Also known as Kolam Air Panas to the locals, the Selayang Hot Spring is a natural hot water spring. It is near Batu Caves and is very popular among the locals of Kuala Lumpur. The water is believed to contain a lot of minerals, which, when taken a bath with is said to cure skin diseases. The place has four pools with water temperature ranging from warm to very hot.

The place has specific rules which visitors should follow. Putting feet inside the pool or diving into the pool is not allowed, and so is bathing in underwear. Washing of clothes and children inside the pool are also forbidden.

The Selayang Hot Spring area has toilets and showers that visitors have to pay for if they use them. There are also traditional massage parlors and a shop selling snacks and drinks along with giving plastic containers and buckets on rent to use it at the hot spring.

The place opens up at 7:00 AM and closes late in the evening. There is no entrance fee, but visitors are required to pay a parking fee for the vehicles.

• Ramayana Cave

The Ramayana Cave has beautiful paintings depicting the story of the Indian epic Ramayana. Past that, there is a 15-meter tall statue of the monkey God Hanuman. Upon passing a bridge, visitors come across a massive statue of Kumbhakaran in a deep sleep. Beyond that, after climbing a few stairs, is a Shiva temple with a naturally formed Lingam, which is a form of Lord Shiva.

The cave opens at 8:30 AM and closes at 6:00 PM. The ticket price to the cave is RM 5.

This year, plan a trip to Malaysia and explore the geographical splendor and the natural beauty of this famous place. For discounted online bus tickets, visit www.redbus.my.

To know about bus ticketing in Malaysia in Malay, please visit – Tiket online bas