Batu Caves are the most revered and popular Hindu shrine outside India. Located in the northern suburbs of Kuala Lumpur and is a highly visited site. The number of pilgrims and tourists reaches up to one and a half million people a year.
Nature started working on their creation back in the Cretaceous period. Later, in the 19th century, a temple dedicated to the god Murugan was built in this secluded place at the expense of a trader from India. A modern statue of the deity is placed near the stairs leading to the caves.
Since the late 19th century, the annual Tamil festival of Thaipusam has been held in the caves. Tamils are the main Indian people living in Malaysia.
Until 1920, the caves, which rise a hundred metres above the ground, were virtually inaccessible. One had to have mountaineering skills or great religious zeal to enter them. In 1920, a staircase was built to them, which has already become a landmark. It has 272 steps. After climbing them, it is worth stopping not only to take a break - from the top of the stairs you can see an absolutely stunning panorama of the surrounding area.
From the stairs begins the main hall of the spacious Temple or Light Cave. It gets its name from the Hindu temple located at its end. It is called Bright because its hall is still accessible to daylight. The small neighbouring cave also has a temple, but the monkeys there have chosen it as a place to interact with tourists, so you should be prepared for petty looting. The Dark Cave is just to the left of the Temple Cave. It is the most voluminous and longest of the Batu caves. The height reaches up to 120 metres, and the way through it stretches for two kilometres. The cave is in pristine condition, crystals of various compounds, skilfully carved by nature itself, not destroyed by civilisation. The Dark Cave is also unique with its fauna. It includes the rarest spider on the planet. Scientists have been studying the cave for the second century and continue to make discoveries. A tour here is booked and conducted with the permission of the Natural Resources Conservation Society of Malaysia.
Down at the base of the hill are two more cave temples, a cave art gallery and a cave museum. They are filled with Hindu statues representing various deities and paintings on religious themes.
