Batu Caves
One of Malaysia's most famous tourist destinations is the magnificent Batu Caves, just 13 kilometers away from the famous city of Kuala Lumpur. The Batu Caves are a collection of caves surrounded by limestone hills in the Gombak neighborhood, north of Kuala Lumpur. They feature an intriguing natural landscape, a significant place of worship, and some impressive sights.
Apart from its stunning caves, the main attraction is the colossal gold-painted statue of Murugan (Hindu god of war, more popularly known as Kartikeya), which took three years to build. The statue of Murugan is located at the foot of the Batu caves, and many other temples and caves surround it. According to various sources, it is the third-tallest sculpture of a Hindu god in the world. (The tallest is the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue in Indonesia, and the second-tallest is Kailashnath Mahadev Statue in Nepal.)
Overview of Batu Caves
| Location | 13 km north of Kuala Lumpur |
| Address | Gombak, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia |
| Timings | 07:00 AM to 09:00 PM (opens everyday) |
| Google Map |
Highlights
- One of Lord Murugan's ten abodes is the heavenly Sri Subramanya Swamy Temple, also known as Cave Temple, where you can visit and pray.
- Admire the statue of Lord Murugan, which is golden in color, rises 42.7 meters tall, and is shining in splendor.
- Indulge in the famous Thaipusam festival, celebrated grandly in honor of Lord Murugan, and witness thousands of devotees fulfilling their vows by taking the 'Kavadi.'
- Visit the Ramayana Cave to reenact episodes from the Ramayana and see a gigantic life-sized statue of Lord Hanuman, a self-formed Shiva Linga, and other gods.
- Visit the Art Gallery and Museum cave, which lies at the foot of the Batu Caves, where there is a sizable collection of statues and artwork depicting the tale of Lord Murugan's victory over the demon Soorapadman.
- Visit the statue of the Five-Legged Bull, which was built in honor of the bull with five legs born in Batu Caves.
Malaysia Batu Caves Ticket Prices
The Batu Caves don't charge an entrance fee, even access to temple caves is free. So you are not required to purchase a ticket to the Batu Caves. This facilitates easy exploration and other activities at this attraction. Rock climbing, an art gallery, and some caves like Cave Villa and Ramayana Cave are not included in the entry fee for the Batu Caves. Although there is no entrance fee to Batu Caves, there is a parking fee of RM 2.00 (INR 33). Below are the details of the ticket price
Cave Villa: RM 15 (INR 276)
Ramayan Cave: RM 5 (INR 92)
Recommended For
Batu Caves, the location of a Hindu temple and shrine, attracts thousands of worshippers and tourists throughout the year, including solo travelers, friends, groups, and family.
About Batu Caves
Batu Caves, one of Malaysia's most recognized heritage sites, is a series of limestone caves dating back about 400 million years ago. The caves, located 13 km north of Kuala Lumpur, were once used as shelters by the native Temuan or Besisi people (an Orang Asli tribe). Today, Batu Caves are synonymous with the majestic Murugan Statue at the foot of the cave.
The Murugan Statue at the caves glistens in bright gold and soars up to 42.7 meters, making it the tallest statue in Malaysia. The cave temple is considered one of the ten holy abodes of Lord Murugan and, hence, is revered by millions of Hindu devotees.
Thaipoosam is the most celebrated festival, and thousands of ardent devotees fulfill their vows here, taking 'Kavadi' (ceremony) and attracting tourists from all parts of the world. The Ramayana Cave is another great attraction at Batu Caves which consists of psychedelic dioramas of the Indian epic 'Ramayana.' The giant statues of Lord Hanuman and Kumbakarna leave every visitor spellbound.
The Art Gallery Cave and Museum Cave at the base of the Batu Caves have an envious collection of Hindu statues and paintings depicting Lord Murugan's victory over the demon Soorapadman. Apart from the religious significance of Batu Caves, the vast limestone outcrops of Batu Caves have made it the prime rock climbing destination in Malaysia, and there are 170 rock climbing routes here.
Interesting Facts about Batu Caves
- It is estimated that the cave is 400 million years old.
- When the sun is rising, the 300 liters of gold paint on the statue of Lord Murugan gleam brilliantly. It is Lord Murugan's highest statue in the world.
- An influential trader endorsed it as a center of worship.
- In the beginning, devotees used wooden steps to enter the temple cave.
- More than 200 different plant and animal species are found in the cave.
- More than 160 rock climbing routes can be found at Batu Caves.
- The 43-meter-tall Lord Murugan statue at the entrance to the cave was built with 250 tons of steel bars and 1,550 cubic meters of concrete. Its construction materials were all imported from Thailand.
