{"id":11315,"date":"2021-08-08T19:00:57","date_gmt":"2021-08-08T18:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/girlaroundtheworld.co.uk\/?p=11315"},"modified":"2023-06-29T19:05:33","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T18:05:33","slug":"visiting-batu-caves-malaysia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlaroundtheworld.co.uk\/visiting-batu-caves-malaysia\/","title":{"rendered":"Complete Guide: Visiting Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Batu Caves are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Malaysia<\/a> – and with good reason! The Batu Caves are an incredible limestone hill scattered with 4 different caves. Tourists flock to this interesting sight from all over the world each year (5.000 per day!) and, if you\u2019re going to be one of them soon, this complete guide is here to help! In the post below I will tell you literally EVERYTHING you need to know about visiting Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you ready?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>First of all, why should I visit the Batu Caves?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The Batu Caves are one of Malaysia\u2019s national treasures, hosting the tallest statue of a Hindu deity. I recommend this site to ANYONE visiting Kuala Lumpur, as it\u2019s a real highlight. And this is not even an overstatement!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, Kuala Lumpur by itself is pretty cool and there are countless things to do, see and eat here, but your trip just won\u2019t be the same without seeing the beautiful Batu Caves on the outskirts of the city. They\u2019re full of history, they\u2019re super interesting and they provide countless photo opportunities. Plus, visiting Batu Caves can be as cheap as 5 US$<\/strong>, so why not?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RELATED READ: <\/strong>In case you\u2019re curious to find out about some other unmissable places in KL, I recommend checking out my dedicated article full of precious info: Complete Guide: 12 Things to Do in KL<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Everything you need to know about visiting the Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>Quick info about the Batu Caves<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The bright rainbow stairs of the Batu Caves are fast becoming one of the modern wonders of the world ever since its colourful renovation in 2018. With 272 steps leading up to the 4 limestone caves, this place of Hindu worship is more than just an Insta-famous tourist attraction, trust me! Oh, and did I mention the limestone formations are 400 million years old?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, the Batu Caves are one of the most important Hindu shrines outside of India, especially during the festival called Thaipusam, which sees over 1 million visitors every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The caves are dedicated to the Hindu god Lord Murugan. An impressive 50-meter golden statue of him stands guard at the bottom of the Batu Cave stairs. During Thaipusam, Lord Murugan is celebrated with offerings and acts of penance. These are carried out in order for the worshipers to receive forgiveness and relinquish their negative traits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the 272 Batu Cave steps: <\/b>Hey, don\u2019t get discouraged! Although there are 272 stairs until you reach the main temple (Batu Caves Temple Cave), the climb itself isn\u2019t so bad. 272 steps might seem like a lot but you\u2019ll have plenty of opportunities to pretend to check out the view while you take a break. The perfect excuse to catch your breath!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>Where are the Batu Caves located?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Batu Caves are located in Gombak Selangor, around 13 km north of the centre of Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out the map below for a clearer idea of where to find them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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BATU CAVES ADDRESS:<\/strong> Gombak, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CO-ORDINATES:<\/strong> 3.237874, 101.684026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>How to get to Batu Caves<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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There are various ways you can get to the Batu Caves from central KL, but the two easiest, most direct methods are definitely by taxi or train:<\/p>\n\n\n

TAXI OR GRAB<\/h3>\n\n\n

30 minutes from the city centre. This is probably the easiest way\u00a0to get to the\u00a0Batu\u00a0Caves, especially if you are hoping to get there early. You can hail a cab for around\u00a020-30 RM (4.90 US$)\u00a0from central KL or order a Grab (the Asian equivalent of Uber) which is a bit cheaper.\u00a0If you decide to get a taxi, make sure you ask the driver to turn on the meter\u00a0to make sure you get the\u00a0correct\u00a0price at the end.<\/p>\n\n\n

TRAIN FROM KL SENTRAL TO BATU CAVES<\/h3>\n\n\n

The most direct journey by public transport is with the KTM Komuter train (the Batu Caves is the last station on the line). The journey will take a bit less than 45 minutes and the ticket costs 2.60 RM (0.60 US$) one-way. Running from 6:45 AM to 11:46 PM, every 30 min – 1 hour. I recommend checking the KTM Komuter timetable here.<\/a>\u00a0The caves are only 5 minutes by foot from the Komuter train station.<\/p>\n\n\n

BUS<\/h3>\n\n\n

You can also take a bus, but I don\u2019t really recommend it – the trip will take close to one hour and the train is way faster and more comfortable than the bus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TIP:<\/strong> If you are planning to use public transport around Kuala Lumpur a lot, I recommend getting the KL TravelPass which gives you unlimited rides around the city for 2 consecutive days. The pass also works to and from the airport and will save you a bit of cash if you\u2019ll be using it lots! You can buy it at KLIA Ekspres Ticket Counters. Or you can buy it online here.<\/a> You can find more information about it on the official website here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>Best time to visit Batu Caves<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Batu Caves opening hours:<\/strong> The Batu Caves are open every day, year-round from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AIM FOR:<\/strong>\u00a0If you want to get photos on the stairs without the crowds, you\u2019ll have to get there early<\/em>, close to the opening time. However, you won\u2019t have it completely to yourself.\u00a0Hindu\u00a0monks\u00a0will be making their way to worship and sleepy monkeys waking up for the day. For me, this is the perfect time to see something authentic. By 9:30 AM the tour buses will start to arrive and the entire place will begin to get crowded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, if you arrive early and want to visit the Dark Cave, you will need to wait as it only opens at 10:00 AM. Alternatively, you can also visit late in the evening, near the closing time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AVOID:<\/strong> Visiting on weekends or public holidays. During Thaipusam Festival – that\u2019s when Batu Caves are most crowded, but you’re bound to have a special experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HOW LONG SHOULD I SPEND AT THE BATU CAVES: <\/strong>Around two hours for the entire temple complex. I recommend reserving a half-day<\/strong> for this experience if you consider the travel time as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RELATED READ:<\/strong> Where to Stay in Kuala Lumpur – 5 Best Areas and Hotels<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>What can you see at the Batu Caves, Malaysia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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There are 4 beautiful caves on-site and one giant statue of Lord Murugan, as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n

TEMPLE CAVE \/ CATHEDRAL CAVE<\/h4>\n\n\n

This is the main cave and it can be reached by climbing the 272 steps (beware of the monkeys! – more info below). Its ceiling is vaulted and it\u2019s over 90m tall. The entire cave is devoted to Lord Murugan. This one\u2019s free to enter, but you can leave a donation at the entrance if you wish.<\/p>\n\n\n

DARK CAVE<\/h4>\n\n\n

Halfway up the stairs, you\u2019ll find the Dark Cave, also known as the wildest of the 4 caves. This one is full of limestone formations and cave animals (spoiler alert: the rarest spider in the world can be found here!). The Dark Cave can only be visited with a tour. There are two types of tours available – the Educational Tour (shorter, good for kids) and the Adventure Tour (3-4 hours, a bit more hardcore), both of them are very interesting. I\u2019m mentioning the fee for each tour below. If you take a tour, expect to do some crawling, so I recommend you bring some fresh clothes to change afterwards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTE: <\/strong>Sadly, the Dark Cave has been closed since January 2019<\/strong> until further notice. I recommend checking out their official Facebook page<\/a>\u00a0for further info, maybe they\u2019ll open the tours again soon!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

CAVE VILLA<\/h4>\n\n\n

The Cave Villa is probably the easiest cave to access, as it\u2019s located right at the foot of the hill. No stairs needed here! To access it, you\u2019ll need to pay a cost of 15 RM (3.60 US$) and cross a crooked bridge. There you\u2019ll find not one, but two illuminated caves with statues and Hindu paintings.<\/p>\n\n\n

RAMAYANA CAVE<\/h4>\n\n\n

The Ramayana Cave is located on the left side of the hill, near a tall, green statue depicting a monkey god (Hanuman). This cave is filled with statues and paintings showcasing different scenes from the Ramayana, as well as a light show. The entrance fee for this one is 5 RM (1.20 US$).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TIP: <\/strong>Make sure you don\u2019t miss the five-legged bull statue in the courtyard right outside the caves, it\u2019s a sight to see!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>Batu Caves price and tickets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Below you\u2019ll find all the information you need about the entry cost for tourists for each of the temples (spoiler alert: the main temple is free to enter!):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Main Batu Caves Temple (Temple Cave \/ Cathedral Cave):\u00a0<\/strong>Free, but you can leave a donation in one of the boxes at the entrance if you want to.
Cave Villa:\u00a0<\/strong>15 RM \/ 3.60 US$
Ramayana Cave:<\/strong>\u00a05 RM \/ 1.20 US$
Dark Cave \u2013 Educational Tour (currently closed):\u00a0<\/strong>35 RM \/ 8.50 US$
Dark Cave \u2013 Adventure Tour (currently closed):\u00a0<\/strong>80 RM \/ 19.50 US$<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RELATED READ:<\/strong> Sky Box KL Tower Guide – Is It Really Worth It?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>Best Batu Caves tours<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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In case you don\u2019t want to spend precious vacation time organising your trip to the Batu Caves, I recommend booking an organised tour. These are usually organised by knowledgeable local guides who can also provide you with some interesting information about the site\u2019s history, along with some fun facts along the way. There are also combined tours available, which I think are VERY good if you want to save some time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are my hand-picked Batu Cave tour recommendations below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n