Batu Caves is a limestone hill located 13 kilometer North of Kuala Lumpur. Known as a religious site of worship for the Hindus, the cave is one of the most visited Hindu shrines outside India. Every year, over 1.5 million devotees congregate for the colourful 3-day Thaipusam festival, making it one of the biggest gatherings in history.

Standing almost 100 meter above the ground, Batu Caves feature three main caves and a few smaller ones. The biggest is the Temple Cave boasting 100 meter-high ceiling and ornate Hindu shrines. The only way to reach its entrance is to climb a steep flight of 272 steps. Walking pass a few altars and statues will lead you to an opening in the roof of the hill, where sunlight shines through into the cave. The Dark Cave is found below the Temple Cave, renowned for its incredible rock formations. The cave does have restricted access as it is a home to a diverse range of fauna, such as spiders, bats and snakes. However, there are regular educational and adventure tours for visitors to explore the 2-kilometer Dark Cave organised by the Malaysian Nature Society.

The third main cave is the Art Gallery Cave located at the foot of the steps. There are statues and wall paintings depicting scenes of deities from Hindu mythology. The walk to the entrance passing through a lake and ponds filled with hundreds of colourful fish is very pleasant.

Getting There:
Batu Caves is located in Gombak district of Selangor state. Visitors can access the caves through Jalan Kuching and Middle Ring Highway. The best way to get to Batu Caves is to take the KTM commuter train from KL Sentral station to the Sentul Station. Public buses are available from downtown KL.

NB: During Thaipusam festival, there are many public buses to Batu Caves from Puduraya and Kotaraya. The LRT and KTM also operate till late.