Batu Caves is one of Malaysia's most
famous tourist destinations especially
for the colourful Thaipusam festival.
This attracts up to 800,000 devotees and
spectators; the highlight
is seeing devotees in a trance carry
kavadi, a metal frame attached to the body.
Rising almost 100m above the ground, Batu Caves
actually consists of three main caves
and a few smaller ones. The biggest,
referred to as the Temple Cave, has a
100m-high ceiling, and features ornate
Hindu shrines. To reach it, visitors
have to climb a steep flight of 272
steps.
Below the Temple Cave is the Dark Cave, with its
amazing rock formations and a number of
animals found nowhere else. Stalactites
jutting from the cave's ceiling and
stalagmites rising from the floor
form intricate formations such as cave
curtains, flow stones, cave pearls and
scallops which took thousands of years
to form. The Malaysian Nature Society
organises regular educational and
adventure trips to the Dark Caves.
The other main cave is the Art Gallery Cave
located at the foot of the steps.
Statues and wall paintings depicting
Hindu deities and mythology are
displayed here. The walk to the entrance
is itself quite a pleasant experience
through a lake and ponds filled with
hundreds of colourful fish.
Batu Caves is also the centre of rock
climbing development in Malaysia for the
past 10 years. More famous for its role
as a religious centre for Hindus in
Malaysia as well a prominent tourist
attraction in the country, not many
people realise that Batu Caves offers
more than 160 climbing routes.
The routes are scattered all around the side of
Batu Caves, which is made up of
limestone hills rising to 150m. These
climbing routes are easily accessed as
most crags start from ground level.
Location
About 12km north of Kuala Lumpur. There
are several cave temples, which are open
to the public, such as Temple Cave, Art
Gallery and Museum Caves. Dark Cave is
open for educational or adventure tours.
When to go
Any time of year.
Access
By car, bus to taxi from KL. By bus take
the 11D Intrakota bus from Bangkok Bank,
or the 69 Park May bus from Hong Kong
bank clock tower near Central Market.
Permits
None required. Entrance fee for Dark
Cave.
Equipment
None
required for the temple caves. For Dark
Cave, light clothing, walking shoes and
a torch.
Facilities
Batu Caves is a very popular tourist
attraction, so there are food stalls and
some souvenir shops. 272 steps up to
Temple Cave. Dark Cave is almost at the
top on the left side of the stairs.
Nature
Dark Cave is a large cave with some huge
chambers. It is home to a wide variety
of invertebrates, also many bats, and
the cave racer, a snake adapted to
living in the caves. There are some fine
stalagmites and stalactites.
Batu
Caves, Selangor