Batu Caves

One of the big “must see” sites here is Batu Caves, a karst limestone mountain with caves developed into a Hindu temple complex, the largest outside of India. We caught a train from KL Sentral station which is a huge transportation hub travelling 13km north. These caves date back 400 million years and were originally used as primitive homes for the indigenous Temuan people. At the base of the hill is a huge 42.7 meter high golden statue of the Hindu god Lord Murugan, then a long climb up 272 stairs to the caves. One must be aware of the long tailed macaque monkeys as you get to the top and avoid stepping on a tail! There are three main caves used as temples and shrines, plus a labyrinth of smaller caves and tunnels. The main caves are 400 meters long and 100 meters high. The largest cave is called Temple Cave or Cathedral Cave and is lit by holes in the ceiling, letting in natural light. Once inside, you need to take off your shoes before going into the temple. There were many more Hindu followers than tourists there and aside from receiving a blessing, they were enjoying a meal (eating with the hands is customary) sitting in groups on the floor. After making our way back down, we had a drink inside one of the Indian restaurants. We debated whether to go in the Ramayana Cave with its 15 meter tall statue of the Hindu monkey god Hanuman outside. We decided to change themes for the afternoon.Read more