11 Oct 2025 - KUL Day 2: Batu Caves

After breakfast this morning, we took a grab ride to Batu Caves, one of Malaysia’s most iconic landmarks, a place where natural beauty, religion, and culture come together in striking harmony. The moment we entered the compound, we were being directed to a cave that has an admission fee.  Do note that the main Batu Cave is free, so we walked the other direction towards where most people gathered.

Batu Caves is named after the Sungai Batu (Stone River) that flows past the hills. The caves themselves are said to be around 400 million years old, but their spiritual significance began in 1891, when K. Thamboosamy Pillai, a Tamil trader, installed a shrine to Lord Murugan inside the main cavern.

Today, Batu Caves stands as one of the most important Hindu temples outside India, dedicated to Lord Murugan. Before reaching the caves, we were greeted by the towering 42.7-meter (140-foot) golden statue of Lord Murugan, the tallest statue of the deity in the world. It’s a breathtaking sight and the perfect photo spot before we began our climb.

Leading up to the main Temple Cave are 272 brightly painted steps, each one offering a better view of the surroundings.

At the top, we entered the largest cavern, an awe-inspiring chamber with high ceilings and rays of light filtering in through natural openings.

Inside are several Hindu shrines and statues, where prayers and rituals take place daily.

The Temple Cave, also known as the Cathedral Cave, is the grand centerpiece of Batu Caves. The cave is enormous, with ceilings soaring more than 100 meters (around 330 feet) high. The cavern’s natural limestone walls rise dramatically, their rough textures streaked with mineral deposits and shades of gray, brown, and green. We entered through a broad stone staircase that leads into a large, open chamber. The floor is paved for easier access, though parts of the cave retain a rugged, uneven charm.

When sunlight poured through the cave’s openings, it created a surreal, almost divine atmosphere, beams of light illuminating swirling dust and the shrines below.

Near the back of the cave, a large open skylight allows sunlight to stream in, bathing the inner temple area in a golden glow.

The colony of macaques was one of the most memorable parts of visiting Batu Caves. The long-tailed macaques are native to Southeast Asia and have made Batu Caves their permanent home for generations. Their presence shows how nature and spirituality coexist at Batu Caves, where humans, animals, and the ancient rock formations share the same breathtaking setting.

We spent about 45 minutes admiring the cavern's interior before leaving via the same colourful rainbow steps. The views were awesome along the way.

Batu Caves is more than just a tourist stop, it’s a living symbol of Malaysia’s multicultural spirit, where faith, art, and nature converge.

We had some snacks and beverages in a nearby Indian restaurant before taking the KTM Komuter line back to KL Sentral.

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