One of the things everyone insisted we see while in Kuala Lumpur was the Batu Caves. And now – having been there – we see why! They’re spectacular, and an easy day trip from the city (forty-five minutes by commuter train from Sentral, the main station).
The caves themselves – limestone – are spectacular. But, because they became a Hindu religious site (especially for the Tamil), they are even more special.
There’s a giant gold statue of Murugan (the Tamil god of war) off to the right of the 272 steps to the cave at the top. The view of the city is amazing, even from halfway up. We made our trek up along with several Indian families, all of whom were barefoot. Given the steepness and slipperiness of the steps (not to mention their uncleanliness), we were really impressed!
Allegedly, the cave entrance looks like Murugan’s spear, which was the inspiration for the statue. Inside the main cave are several temples and shrines, and the mix of natural and human-made is stunning. And, like many Hindu shrines and temples, the Batu Caves feature a riot of colour and smell: food, flowers, brightly-dressed pilgrims, incense, and statues all compete for your attention.
As if all this weren’t enough, there are monkeys at the Batu Caves! Cheeky macaques, who will happily steal your food (or flower garland).
All of this – maybe – sounds like a nightmare to you. But in fact, in spite of the noise and crowds, this felt like a holy space.
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