Batu Caves: A Majestic Hindu Temple Complex

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Overview

Located just 13 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur, the Batu Caves are a dramatic limestone hill providing a unique blend of nature and spirituality. Estimated to be around 400 million years old, these caves were once the home of the indigenous Temuan people and now stand as a significant Hindu sanctuary. The highlight is the impressive 42.7-meter statue of Lord Murugan at the foot of the hill, leading visitors to an eye-catching entrance that opens to 272 colorful steps. The site comprises several main caves, including the grand Temple Cave, which is illuminated by natural light streaming through its ceiling openings. Explore the Art Gallery Cave and Museum Cave for a glimpse of intricate Hindu art, while keeping an eye out for playful macaque monkeys that inhabit the area. The Batu Caves gain vibrant life during the annual Thaipusam Festival, when devotees come to pay homage to the son of Shiva.

Photo of Batu Caves
Photo of Batu Caves
Photo of Batu Caves
Contact Info
  • AddressGombak, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Phone+60 3-6189 6284

Reviews

Ali Khan
Pakistan
4
A nice tourist attraction, well located on a main road. You can easily visit while going to some longer day trip. Basically, it is a Hindu Temple with a huge golden statue. There is a mountain in the background with Batu Caves inside, however to go inside the caves one must climb about 270 stairs, which I did not. Hence, I only visited the site at the ground level. Good toilet facilities and some souvenir shops are also present.
Emily Smith
United States
4
Purely amazing. These caves are expansive and the religious aspects are quite interesting. I LOVED the monkeys! Such intriguing animals… also don’t miss the other spaces to the left and right of the colorful stairs (like the peacocks!). 4 stars only because of the upkeep of the place.
Michael Carter
Australia
4
Great place to go with easy access thanks to Grab and trains. There are buses, but they can take a while due to different entrances. Unfortunately, there was a bit of smell due to a lot of litter, and the monkeys may try to take some food or drinks if you're seated and not careful. It's still a beautiful sight and I would definitely recommend going as it's cheap to get to and free to enter.
Anna Rossi
Italy
4
The entrance was rough. A very hot place. The scenery is breathtaking. I recommend going early not only to avoid crowds but to enjoy the caves at a lower temperature. Sadly, we did not see any monkeys.
Ravi Sharma
India
5
Get ready to climb 272 steps! Try to climb in a zigzag pattern to avoid knee troubles; I used that trick to climb up. Be careful with the monkeys, just don’t keep anything fancy or eye-catching with you as they’ll snatch it. They took something edible from my bag as it was kept in the bottle rack so it was easy for them to snatch it. Don’t worry as they’re harmless. Upon climbing halfway, just turn back and you'll realize how huge the statue is, as it may not appear large before climbing. There’s no place for dustbins on the way so keep the plastics with you while climbing. And be cautious if you’re going on rainy days; take an umbrella with you. The stores downstairs may charge high prices for an umbrella, and as it’s a hilltop, rain can come unexpectedly. The steps can get slippery, so make sure you wear shoes with good grip. Happy climbing!