The Batu Caves are easily the most famous tourist site in Kuala Lumpur, and they’re well worth a visit! Made famous from Instagram posts of the stunning rainbow steps, the Batu Caves are a must-do on any trip to Kuala Lumpur. .
While they’re not the most difficult or awkward place to visit, there are definitely a few things you should know before you go. This blog will talk you through the key questions, based on what I wanted to know before my visit!.
If you’re planning the rest of your time in Kuala Lumpur, check out my blog The Most Amazing Things to do in Kuala Lumpur..
What time of day to visit.
The caves are open from 7am-9pm. You’re going to want to start as early as you can for your trip to the Batu Caves, as this fascinating destination gets very busy later in the day. .
An early start gives you the best chance of getting those amazing photos of the rainbow stairs as you climb. Add to that the increased heat as you climb those 250 stairs, plus the fact that there are more terrifying monkeys later in the day, and you’ll agree an early start is best.
The entrance has beautiful detailing
History of the Batu Caves
The caves were originally used as a shelter for the indigenous Temuan people, and later for the excavation of bat guano, which can be used to make gunpowder. .
They first became a religious site in 1891, a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Murugan. The first statue of Lord Murugan was created inside at this time. The first concrete steps were put in place in 1940, as the original wooden steps had begun to deteriorate. The giant golden statue of Lord Murugan, one of the largest in the world, was constructed in 2006, while the stairs received their rainbow hue in 2018.
The statue of Lord Murugan at Batu
.
How much does it cost to visit the Batu Caves?.
The main cave temple is free to enter. There are other caves nearby with entrance fees, including the Cave Villa (RM15 for non-Malaysians) and the Ramayana Cave (RM5).
How to get to Batu caves
The Batu caves are easily reachable via Kuala Lumpur’s public transport system. The KTM Kommuter trains go to Batu, which is the end of the line. These trains run about every half an hour, so plan your journey accordingly. The Batu station is about 5 minutes walk from the caves – just follow the crowds. .
To get to the KTM Kommuter trains, you’ll need to go to KL Sentral, or another stop on the line that’s near your hotel. Check your nearest stop here. .
You can also do what I did and take a Grab. As I was going early in the morning, and Batu is out of the city, this cut my transport time from well over an hour to around half an hour as we were going away from the traffic. The extra time in bed felt well worth it!.
The famous stairs at the Batu caves
What to bring on your trip?
This might seem like a silly question (or wild overplanning!) for visiting a site in a city, but there are a couple of things you should consider when planning your trip to the Batu caves. .
–Batu is a religious site. This means that you should dress appropriately, covering your shoulders and knees. This applies for men and women, but as always, particularly for women. Consider bringing a sarong and/or shawl if your outfit for the rest of the day is more revealing.
–Bring water. Even first thing in the morning, the humidity is high and the climb will make you thirsty. There are shops around to buy extra water if you need, but worth starting with your own.
–Consider how your bags will appear to monkeys. It could be worth taking a rucksack that you can put everything inside (e.g. your waterbottle and phone). Don’t bring plastic bags and don’t bring visible (or smellable) food or snacks. The monkeys are intense. If you want your phone out on the steps, consider bringing a strap or other way of attaching it to you in case a monkey decides they’re keen on a new iphone.
.
Top tip: the most popular isotonic/electrolyte drink in Malaysia is called 100Plus and it’s available everywhere! Consider a 100Plus to rehydrate after your visit (that’s what I did).
The view from the top
What to expect at the Batu caves?.
There are a few things I wish I’d known about my visit to Batu before I visited!
–Firstly, when I arrived around 8am, there were no monkeys. By the time I was descending at 9am, there were monkeys everywhere. The monkeys at Batu are fully used to humans and very aggressive. They run up and down the bannisters looking for things to steal, and I wasn’t the only one really struggling with my fear. There also wasn’t anyone around to help e.g. staff, as there have been in other places I’ve seen aggressive monkeys.
–Earlier really is better for Batu as it meant that I was able to get really good photos on the way up without the risk of my phone being stolen!
–I was partly prepared for the monkeys, but not for the pigeons. There were huge flocks of pigeons everywhere. If, like me, you’re not a pigeon fan, mentally prepare yourself in advance.
–Batu is still a functioning religious site, and particularly early in the morning there are likely to be people visiting to pray. Be respectful and allow people space, and consider whether it’s appropriate to film or photo people worshipping if they haven’t directly consented.
–It’s very damp and humid within the caves themselves. Anything you wear is going to get very, very damp and sweaty. Take this into account when you are planning the rest of your day!
There were so many pigeons in the entrance! Be prepared if you’re not a fan.
.
What to visit at the Batu Caves?.
Most people visiting Batu will only visit the main temple cave, which is what I did. This is probably the best option for a 1 day Kuala Lumpur itinerary. .
The cave is an attraction in itself. However, within the main cave, there are a couple of different Hindu temples built into the rock. The biggest is not available to the public to enter, as it is reserved for worship.
Temple inside the Batu Caves
.
You can also climb more stairs to very top of the cave, which is like a cenote and open to the air. This provides some beautiful photos.
The view once you reach the highest point inside
.
Once you’ve visited the main cave temple, I would suggest moving on to the next item on your itinerary if you only have a short amount of time in Kuala Lumpur. However, if you’re keen to spend more time at Batu, there are other caves to visit, including the Villa Cave, which has galleries and murals presenting scenes from Indian epic stories. The Ramayana cave has detailed murals presenting the story of the Ramayana.
Em
[…] out my guide Batu Caves: Everything you need to know for more detailed information on visiting this amazing attraction. […]