Malaysia is a country in which ethnic groups, their cultures and religions are mixed. Not everyone knows that here are the most comfortable resorts, with a superbly developed infrastructure, striking calmness, cleanliness, virgin nature, which is inherent in new tourist routes. Many travelers consider this country the capital of ecotourism.
If you are planning to visit the capital of Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur - do not miss the amazing sights located in its vicinity. It contrasts with the high-rise buildings and marvels of modern technology. Today we will talk about the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur. We invite everyone who was lucky enough to be here to take part in our conversation and supplement their description in the comments to the article if you consider it incomplete.
Malaysia on the world map
In Asia, on an area of over 300 thousand square meters. km is an amazing country - Malaysia. The island of Kalimantan is its eastern part, and the peninsulaMalacca is the western part of the country. The eastern regions are washed by the waters of several seas: Sulawesi, South China and Sulu. The eastern part is adjacent to Indonesia from the south and Brunei to the north.
Western Malaysia in the east is also washed by the South China Sea. In the west of this part of the country is the Strait of Malacca. West Malaysia borders two countries: Thailand in the north and Singapore in the south. Look at the map of Malaysia. The country has another neighbor - the Philippines, from which it is separated by the waters of two straits (Alice, Balabak).
The continental part of the country is famous for its mountainous terrain, formed by several ridges that cross the country from north to south. A small coastal zone belongs to the flat part of Malaysia. Putrajaya became the administrative center of the country in 2005, where the government was transferred. The capital of Malaysia is only 20 km away.
Batu Caves: historical background
We invite you to leave the capital and go to its suburbs to see one of the most visited sights of the country, which is visited by over one and a half million people every year. The Batu Caves in Malaysia are located 13 km from the capital. They were formed naturally and have undergone major changes in their 400 million years of existence.
Once in ancient times they were inhabited by representatives of the Besisi tribe, and the caves in those days were high rocks. Gradually, under the influence of water currents and various natural factors, rocks were washed out and through voids appeared in the mountains.
Until the 17th century, the forest reliably hid caves from human eyes. They were accidentally discovered by a merchant from India Tambusami Pillai, who traveled around the country. He founded a temple here in honor of the god Murugan. The Batu caves (Malaysia) became known to the general public thanks to the naturalist Hornedey (USA), who described them in 1878. After 14 years, a Tamil festival began to be held here regularly, with pilgrims from all over the world participating in it.
In 1920, tourists gained access to the highest cave. A long staircase consisting of 272 steps was attached to its entrance. As in the distant past, the caves are still subject to the influence of natural factors. That is why some caves are closed as they become unsafe to visit.
Structure
The Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur cover an area of more than 2.5 square meters. km. This is a large complex, consisting of thirty hills of various sizes, with deep internal formations.
Underground temple
This is one of the most famous cave temples in Malaysia and, undoubtedly, one of the main attractions of the country. According to some versions, it is the largest Hindu temple located outside of India. However, this is not true. The temple has become one of the most popular: it is always visited by numerous pilgrims and tourists from all over the world.
The temple occupies the largest Light Cave in the complex. Tourists encounter religious paraphernalia on the site, which is equipped in front of the main staircase already at the foot of the mountain. Several simple structures and sculptures are located at the entrance to this Batu cave. The statue of the god Murugan is impressive: its height is 43 meters.
Main cave
Many tourists are limited to visiting only this cave, if time is limited. All believers and pilgrims strive to get here, and the rest of the complex is more likely to be tourist sites.
The temple cave is the most spacious, with a high vault. It is open in one place, and natural light enters from the hole inside. The interior decoration is quite modest: a dozen altars - small and large. To get into the cave, you need to overcome 272 steps. But do not worry: there is nothing difficult in the ascent. Even older people are able to cope with this task. Hindu shrines are kept inside, which look mysterious against the backdrop of picturesque stalactites.
For a very modest fee in the form of a donation, if you wish, you can take part in one of the rites or watch it from the side. The stream of believers almost never dries up. It is important to know that the entrance to this Batu cave in Kuala Lumpur is only allowed in formal clothes - with covered shoulders and legs above the knee.
Dark Cave
The next largest is this cave, which is located at a height of 204 steps. It fully justifies its name, since the sun's rays never penetrate inside it. Sometimes the tour in the Dark Cave is interrupted by the rustle of bat wings or tourists who have not seenbehind the light of a flashlight, one of the many bizarre partitions and columns. All travelers are provided with helmets to prevent accidents.
The length of this cave is more than two kilometers. There are seven vast cavities here, each of which contains stalactites, stalagmites, partitions, cave pearls, columns. But there are no man-made temples here, because the Malaysians want to preserve this place in its original form. The Dark Cave has not yet been fully explored, work on its study continues to this day. It is in no way connected with religion, so inside you can only admire the extraordinary beauty of stalagmites and stalactites. Groups to visit this Batu Cave in Kuala Lumpur form at the entrance. Tours are conducted in English.
Ramayana
Another large Batu cave in Kuala Lumpur, which is also a temple. She is the youngest in the complex, was opened to tourists relatively recently. Quite rarely in popular publications there are mentions of this cave. More often, its description can be found in reference books for speleologists.
Inside you can see statues and sculptural compositions telling stories from the Indian epic Ramayana. The halls are equipped with colored lighting, which effectively emphasizes the beauty of stalagmites and stalactites. A detailed biography of Rama is inscribed on the walls, including a description of the principles of his life and exploits.
Gallery
Another Batu Cave located in Kuala Lumpur, inwhich the locals rarely visit. Here you can see several ancient frescoes telling about the life of the god Murugan, bas-reliefs and statues. In front of the entrance to the cave there is a fish pond and a stage where local artists perform performances on historical themes several times a day.
Vallurwal Cottam
Above, we presented you with a description of the Batu Caves, created by nature itself. Unlike them, Vallurwal Kottam is a real art gallery with unique works of art. There are several statues of Hindu deities here, the walls are decorated with quotes from the famous collection of aphorisms "Tirukkural" - one of the main books of Malaysians.
Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur: how to get there
A popular landmark of the country is located in the vicinity of the capital of Malaysia, so to get here from other cities, you will have to make one transfer - this is at least. Directly from the capital to the Batu Caves can be reached by:
- The bus. It departs from the Puduraya Bus terminal every half an hour starting at 07:30. The last bus leaves at 18:30. The journey takes about 45 minutes.
- KTM train. The cheapest and most convenient way. The train departs from the central transport hub of the capital, from the KL Sentral station.
- Taxi. It is better to arrange a trip back with the driver in advance: in Batu, prices are three times higher.
According to tourists, even if you know how to get to the Batu caves, you can still face certain problems, such as the way back. Therefore, experienced travelers recommend preparing coins in advance, since ticket machines at the station do not accept cards or banknotes.
You will need to be patient to stand in line of tourists who are having a hard time figuring out this complex mechanism and buying a token. The most enterprising people get to Kuala Lumpur by taxi. You can walk to the next station and there you can easily take a bus or train.
Reviews and travel tips
Surprisingly, we couldn't find any negative reviews. Everyone loves the Batu Caves. According to tourists, excursions to them leave a lot of vivid impressions. Particularly striking is the Temple or Light Cave. The disadvantages of visiting the complex include the fact that the tours are conducted in English. There are other minor flaws as well. They should be taken into account so as not to overshadow your trip. Therefore, experienced travelers advise:
- It is better to visit the complex in the early morning, after opening. Afternoon they are very hot and crowded.
- Visit the temples located at the foot of the hills. Quite often there you can see Indians in beautiful national clothes, who perform unusual rituals.
- If you are in Kuala Lumpur in January, it is better to refuse a trip to the caves: at this time, the Thaipusam festival takes place here, after which huge piles of garbage remain.
- For this trip, choose open shoes that fit snugly on the foot. Choose clothes according to the weather, but keep in mind that whentemperature +30 °C outside in the caves is much colder.
- When going on an excursion to the caves, take water and sandwiches or cookies with you: there are no shops nearby, and in a few cafes the menu is not very diverse.
And a few more tips. Malaysia is a Muslim country, so there are strict rules even in public transport. For example, most electric trains, as well as the Kuala Lumpur metro, have pink cars in their trains, which are intended only for Muslim women. In addition, it is forbidden to smoke, eat, drink, and transport animals in transport.
