Discovered in the 1860s by Chinese settlers and then popularized in 1878 by William Hornaday after an exploration, the caves were found to be suitable for a temple and thus dedicated to Lord Muruga by the Indians of Malaysia.
Since 1892, the festival of Thaipusam has been celebrated here till this very day and now a spectacle to observe during the stunning and mesmerizing festival held in the month of late January or early February.
An estimated one million people visit the Thaipusam Festival at Batu Caves every year making it the largest held festivals in Malaysia.
For those who want to visit the Batu Caves, you can do so on a half day trip here. There are activities like Rock Climbing at Batu Caves, a Nature Exploration at the Dark Caves and an unique Art Gallery Cave here.
You are also greeted by the tallest Lord Muruga Statue in the world which is painted in full gold at the foot of the cave. The statue is 42.7m (140 feet high) high and was unveiled in January 2006, having taken 3 years to construct.
A walk up the famous 272 steps takes you to the mouth of the caves where the Temple Cave is located. For those seeking something different while in Kuala Lumpur, you can easily visit the Batu Caves.
How to get to Batu Caves?
Overall, the best way to get here is by using Grab or taking the KL Commuter Train. Public buses are available, but the traffic can get really busy on certain hours of the day. Below are the ways to go to Batu Caves.
Train to Batu Caves
- KTM Kommuter train takes you to the caves on the Port Klang - Batu Caves line. An adult single fare is around RM1.30 from KL Sentral to Batu Caves.
- When you reach the Batu Caves Station, just exit and you will enter the main temple grounds. It is a five minute walk to the main entrance of Batu Caves.
Public Bus to Batu Caves
- RapidKL Buses From the Petronas Twin Towers or Bukit Bintang (in front of HSBC Bank), take the Rapid KL city shuttle bus route B103 to the Chow Kit Monorail station. An adult single fare for the city shuttle is RM1.00. At the Chow Kit Monorail station, change to RapidKL bus route U6 which will take you to Batu Caves. A single fare is RM1.90 for adult.
- Cityliner: Bus No. 69 from Jalan Pudu. Cost RM2 per way.
- Intrakota: Bus No. 11D or 11 from Bangkok Bank bus stop right in the financial district of KL. Cost RM2.50 per way. The stop at Batu Caves is easy to see, the stop for the way back is a little further down the road, in front of a restaurant.
Taxi to Batu Caves
- A taxi will be short and simple but will cost you about RM18-RM25 one way to Batu Caves from KL Town. Make sure the meter is used or you agree on the price before taking the taxi.
- Best to take the newer taxis with call numbers on them. Avoid scruffy looking old beat up taxis.
- I would also recommend taking Grab private car or ride hailing service.
Driving to Batu Caves
Conclusion
For those planning to experience Thaipusam in Malaysia, you should plan your visit carefully for this incredible event that takes place here. Usually the Thaipusam Festival is held on end January or early February.
You can also take a look at some of the Thaipusam 2013 Videos which I took before. Personally, it is a beautiful and amazing event to witness in real life. For photographers, this will definitely challenge your skills too.
Bring water for your trip here as it can get really hot and humid. Various food and drinks stalls are available at the foot of the caves while up top, there is a souvenir shop that sells bottled drinks.
There is no charge to climbing the main caves but there is a RM2 charge for visiting the Art Gallery Caves here at Batu Caves.
- Seriously, if you are driving, get there before 8.00 am in the morning. I drove there at about 9.00 am and parked at least 2 kilometers away. The traffic jam there is just crazy.
- Many people will park on the main highway or roads that lead to the place. However, not to worry as this is a festival so the police will not summon you.
Thaipusam at Batu Caves, Malaysia
Conclusion
For those planning to experience Thaipusam in Malaysia, you should plan your visit carefully for this incredible event that takes place here. Usually the Thaipusam Festival is held on end January or early February.
You can also take a look at some of the Thaipusam 2013 Videos which I took before. Personally, it is a beautiful and amazing event to witness in real life. For photographers, this will definitely challenge your skills too.
Bring water for your trip here as it can get really hot and humid. Various food and drinks stalls are available at the foot of the caves while up top, there is a souvenir shop that sells bottled drinks.
There is no charge to climbing the main caves but there is a RM2 charge for visiting the Art Gallery Caves here at Batu Caves.