The Beauty of Batu Caves in Selangor | A Travel Guide
What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear Malaysia?
Is it Langkawi? Petronas Twin Towers? Or Batu Caves?
As for me, it’s the third one- Batu Caves! I feel like a trip to Malaysia isn’t complete without a visit to this iconic landmark, so I had to include it on our list when I was preparing the itinerary. Not only is it a natural wonder to explore, but it's also a great place to give your legs a good workout.
Going to Batu Caves in Selangor
Malaysia has countless destinations you can visit- whether you like the beach or the city, they have something to offer. In some urban areas, there are also hidden gems you can explore, such as this beautiful cave complex that is only 30 minutes away from Kuala Lumpur.
💡 Did you know?
This popular tourist destination is located in Selangor, not in Kuala Lumpur;
The caves were discovered by an American naturalist in the 1870s.
Location | Where to Find Batu Caves
Address: Gombak, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia
You can book a Grab car. It only takes 20-30 minutes to get there if you’re coming from Kuala Lumpur.
Entry to the Caves | How Much Does it Cost to Go There?
Admission to Batu Caves is free. You can walk around the area, stay inside the temple cave, and climb the stairs as many times as you want.
However, if you want to check out the Cave Villa or the Ramayana Villa, there is a small entrance fee of 5 RM (that’s around ₱67, US$1.50, AU$1.74, or £90).
Dress Code | What to Wear
Batu Caves is still a place of worship, so guests are encouraged to wear proper attire. Avoid mini-skirts, short dresses, or revealing tops. Also, make sure to wear the right shoes or slippers. There's plenty of walking to do.
For my outfit, I went with the basics. I wore a plain shirt to go with my maxi skirt and flats.
🛒 Blue maxi skirt from House of Lulu on Shopee: https://invl.io/cllu5vn
What to Expect at Batu Caves
First, since you're visiting a cave complex in an urban area, expect the experience to be more exploratory, not adventurous. No proper caving equipment is required, and you can visit anytime you want without a guide. I'm saying this because I overheard a group excessively complain about how boring it was and how there was nothing to see but the caves. Well, one can't expect to rappel or go on ziplines when you visit a cave (that is also a place of worship) close to the city. But anyhow, I think most of you will appreciate the beauty of Batu Caves.
Now, let’s go check it out.
The Golden Statue
At the foot of the stairs is the massive Golden statue of Murugan- a Hindu war God. It is Malaysia’s tallest statue, and it looks glorious.
Aside from the massive statue, this attraction is easily recognized with its colorful stairs that match the colors of the temples.
One of the local superstitions is that you can make a wish after climbing the stairs for the first time. Would you make a wish if you visited? ⭐
Climbing the stairs isn't as tiring as it looks. They have a lot of landings where you can take breaks, so as long as you're careful, you'll be fine. The only thing is they are steep- this is why comfortable footwear is a must. If you're visiting during the rainy season, wear non-slip shoes (the ones with good rubber at the bottom).
Hmm. What else? You’ll encounter plenty of monkeys (long-tailed macaques) on the ground and on your way up to the temples. I understand they are all cute, but they are still wild animals capable of attacking if they feel threatened. They can also jump on you, especially if you have food, so be careful. And be nice.
Once you reach the top (Dark Cave), you can walk around the open space to marvel at the cave formations, check out the Sri Velayuthar Temple, or buy souvenirs from the little shops.
Temple Cave
The temple cave is the main attraction at Batu Caves; it’s the one you reach after climbing the colorful stairs. They have two temples here, the Sri Velayuthar Temple (the main temple) and Lord Murugan Temple (the one at the top, after the second flight of stairs).
Cave Villa
The Cave Villa has a calmer ambiance. I like how they have a relaxing lake to welcome you. There is also a floating walkway for bird-watching or taking photos.If you're traveling with children who may have difficulty going up the stairs, it may be ideal to take them to the Cave Villa instead. Here, you can find colorful statues of Hindu deities with information about them.
On the sides of the spacious entryway, you’ll see verses from Hindu scriptures. I took my time here because the verses are very insightful. I recommend reading them if you plan to visit this spot.
The photo below shows what seems like a miniature version of the steps found at Batu Caves- where devotees (or "Bhaktas") pay their respects to Lord Murugan ⬇️
The cave looks really nice with all the colorful paintings and detailed statues. It was calming to be here.
The Cave Villa has a section where you can look at reptiles and take photos with a snake. Cameras are not allowed inside this area, so you can only have a look. We went around to check them out, and honestly, I feel like the space is too tight for all the animals.
Ramayana Cave
The Ramayana Cave is the one on the farthest left. We didn’t check it out anymore since we were already content with what we saw during the three hours we stayed there.
The Three Wise Monkeys
Before I end the post, I'd like to a share a photo of the Three Wise Monkeys- these monkeys symbolize the popular proverb "see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil".
FAQ | Others
How many steps does Batu Caves have? 272 steps, to be exact.
Based on our experience, it takes 2-3 hours to go around (this is only for the Temple Cave and the Cave Villa).
Can we take a Grab going to Batu Caves? Yes, you can.
The term “batu” means rock in Malay.
There is a restroom outside the cave complex.
That would be all for today. Feel free to check out the other guides on the website. You can use them as a reference later on 💜
