Batu Caves

About Batu Caves

Limestone hill that has a series of caves and cave temples in Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia

Batu Caves is a limestone hill rising 325 metres in Gombak, Selangor, about 13 km north of Kuala Lumpur, containing a series of caves and cave temples; the name comes from the Sungai Batu, the "stone river", that flows past the hill. The caves were discovered by the American William Hornaday in 1878 and have been used as temples by Hindu priests ever since, becoming one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India. The main temple is dedicated to the deity Murugan, and the site is the focal point of the Tamil Hindu festival of Thaipusam in January or February, when devotees carry portable shrines skewered to their bodies in a long procession from central Kuala Lumpur. At the foot of the hill stands a 43-metre statue of Murugan, among the tallest in the world, and 272 rainbow-coloured steps climb to the Temple Cave, a vast cavern open to the sky that holds many shrines and statues of Hindu gods. Other caves in the hill include the small Cave Villa with its murals and the Dark Cave devoted to nature. For Muslim visitors Batu Caves is a cultural and geological landmark reflecting Malaysia's religious diversity, to be seen from the outside and from the great cave hall without taking part in the rituals.

Where:

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia