Join me on my day trip to Batu Caves Malaysia.
Batu Caves is one of Malaysia’s most visited tourist destinations on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. Colourful painted steps lead to the main Temple Cave nestled in the limestone hills of Gombak.
An enormous gold plated statue of Lord Murugan watches over the entrance to the main temple where monkeys play on the brightly coloured staircase and locals sell food at its base.
Standing at almost 43 metres tall, the statue is the most famous feature of the Batu Caves and the tallest statue of a Hindu deity in all of Malaysia.
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While entry into the Batu Caves is free, visitors are encouraged to leave a donation.
You can also get involved in rock climbing and visit the art gallery and dark cave for a fee.
Batu Caves Trip Highlights
- Visiting the Temple Cave
- Climbing all 272 colourful steps
- Looking up at giant Hindu deity statues
- Outsmarting the monkeys
- Donuts on the train
Our day trip to Batu Caves began with takeaway coffee and donuts, our first cheeky slice of western food since arriving in Malaysia.
The train journey from Kuala Lumpur was simple enough but felt very slow moving. That said, there was a Dunkin’ Donuts nearby – would you believe – which made up for everything else.
We left with steaming cups of coffee and three donuts for the train journey <3 It felt like a much needed home comfort after our hot and sticky tour of Kuala Lumpur the day before.
I didn’t expect much from the caves so I was naturally impressed when we were greeted by a huge green statue of Lord Hanuman and some cheeky monkeys at the entrance.
The Temple Cave was okay but it felt too organised for my liking. Being the popular tourist attraction that it is, there was the need for lots of guide ropes and dug out steps which took away from its authenticity.
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Yet the monkeys certainly kept us on our toes. When they were not drinking from coconuts, they were sneaking up on tourists and swiping their food so watch out for that!
After a tour of the Temple Cave, or Cathedral Cave as its also known, we took the train back into Kuala Lumpur where we feasted on tangy marmite ribs and lala clams before bed.
The thin shelled clams are oblong in shape and are commonly stir fried in garlic. So good!
How to travel on a day trip to Batu Caves
The easiest and most cost effective way of getting to Batu Caves from Kuala Lumpur is by train. A one way ticket will set you back just 2.6 Malaysian Ringgit, which is around 50 British pence or 60 US cents.
I definitely recommend arriving early to avoid the crowds. We arrived at around 7.30am which meant the area was far less busy.
The first train leaves Kuala Lumpur Sentral station at 6.45am which should get you to the caves just after 7.10am. Trains leave every half an hour and the journey should take around 26 minutes.
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As for the dress code, shoulders can be showing technically speaking but I personally think it’s best to dress as modestly as possible at any place of worship.
When travelling around Asia, I always carry a pair of light trousers and a shawl in my rucksack that I can slip on and off where necessary.
No shorts, mini skirts or short skirts are allowed at Batu Caves so be sure to cover your legs until at least below the knee.
Where to stay at Batu Caves
Since public transport is quick and affordable from Kuala Lumpur, I would recommend staying somewhere central in the city and travelling up to the caves for the day.
Or if you are hoping to explore the surrounding forests and waterfalls, I would recommend staying in the area.
There are several options available ranging from less than £10 per night up into the hundreds.
Overall I found the Batu Caves to be a worthwhile day trip from Kuala Lumpur which you can pack into your schedule even if you are only in the city for two days – just as I did.
It is an easy and cost effective outing and holds a lot of significance to Hindu worshippers around the world.
Despite being disappointed at not being able to freely explore the caves, it is in the interest of preservation and health and safety and the overall experience definitely exceeded my expectations.
Have you visited the Batu Caves and how was your experience? What are your thoughts?
