Our family has spent a year living and traveling around Malaysia. It is our desire to visit places that are less known and often overlooked by the majority of visitors. At first we were apprehensive to go to the Batu Caves, because it is featured on the cover of a travel guide sitting on our coffee table. We prefer hidden gems.
However, we did end up going and we were glad that we did. Going to the Batu Caves was a cultural experience we were happy that we decided to do. We will pass on all the important information regarding the visiting hours of Batu Caves, what you should do when you are there, when the best time to go is, and of course if it a good place to take your kids or not.
So, should you or should you not go and visit the Batu Caves? It was picturesque. It is a photographer’s paradise with many awesome shots you can do. Our kids enjoyed climbing the stairs and seeing the monkeys. More on that later. We would say yes, you should visit it. However, we do not recommend you need to spend very much time there. An hour or two would be sufficient.
The staircase is very photogenic which is why it is featured in so many articles and books about Malaysia. So, if you are into photography we recommend this is a great place to go, you just have to be patient because getting a good picture will require going at the right time or getting lucky and getting a shot with less people in it.
How to get to Batu Caves / Location:
Batu Caves is located around 10 miles north of the city of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. It does not take long to get there by car. Depending on traffic you can expect it to take anywhere from 20 minutes if the traffic is good to 50 minutes if you decide to go during rush hour.
There is ample parking at Batu Caves, but there is a fee to bring your car in. Make sure your parking ticket is visible in the windshield once you park.
Cost: 3 MYR for a car
You can get to the Batu caves by taking a taxi, Grab taxi (similar to Uber or InDrive depending on what you are familiar with). You can also take the KTM Komuter train to Batu Caves. This is the dark blue line on the map. The KTM Komuter has its last stop for Batu caves.
If you start on that line it is a rather simple ride without having to transfer trains. The train passes though KL Sentral Station so if you need to start on a different line you will have to change trains. Following Google Maps is very helpful when navigating train changes!
From KL Sentral to Batu Caves on the KTM Komuter line you can expect it to take about 45 minutes and to pay 2.60 MYR a person.
Cost: 2.60 MYR
Best Time to Visit
When it comes to the visiting times of Batu Caves, the best hours to come are early morning. This is a good time to visit the Batu Caves as there are less people. The stairs are west facing so in the morning they are shrouded in shadows of the hill behind. That means you can climb in the shade! Morning is definitely the coolest time to go in regard to temperature. In the afternoon and evening you will have direct sun on the stairs and it can get hot and bright.
If you are up for an evening adventure, visiting it in the evening offers a unique experience. Our family has not gone in the evening yet, but we’ve been looking at the evening photography of the stairs and they look really cool!
It is recommend to visit Batu Caves on weekdays as it can get busy during the weekend. It can also get very very busy during Hindu Holidays. Avoid going during a Hindu Holiday. You can check out all the holidays at the Public Holidays in Malaysia website.
Most Hindu Holidays vary on the dates year by year, so a quick google check on when the holidays would be most helpful in planning when not to go.
A specifically popular holiday for the Batu Caves is during Thaipusam. This holiday typically falls late in January or early in February. It is not a set date each year. Do not go during this holiday unless you want to experience the crowds.
What Makes Batu Caves Special
The Giant Golden Statue (Murugon Statue): Highlight the impressive 42.7-meter-tall golden statue of Lord Murugan at the entrance, one of the largest of its kind in the world.
Steps/Cave Temples: The steps is the main attraction. They are painted bright colors which make for a colorful ascent and for some fun pictures. There are monkeys that mike to hang out along the steps and swipe food and other things when they can.
Once you get into the temple cave you can enjoy the temple built inside the cavern. There are richly decorated stupas and statues. The cavern itself it impressively large.
Natural Beauty: Discuss the stunning limestone formations and the surrounding lush greenery that make the site visually striking.
Batu Caves Visiting Hours and Cost
The Batu Caves is a free attraction. You do not need to pay to go up the stairs and explore the temple.
Visiting Hours: 6:00am - 9:00pm (this is the stairs and temple at the top)
Cost: free
There is more at the location to see and do. There are some other caves nearby have different operating hours. These are within walking distance and are considered part of the overall complex.
We did not feel a need to go into the other caves as you can go up the iconic stairs and into the cave temple for free. The hours and cost for those are listed below if you do want to go and see more.
Visiting Hours of Other Attractions Next to Batu Caves
Ramayana Cave
If you are facing the Batu Cave stairs, you will go to the left and there you can find other caves to visit if you choose. They should only take a few minutes to walk to as everything is close by.
Visiting Hours: 8:00am - 9:00pm
Cost: 5 MYR
Dark Cave:
Visiting Hours: 10:00am - 5:00pm weekdays, 10:30am - 5:30pm Weekends
Cost: Adult 35 MYR, Child 25 MYR
You can see the official area website to find out more about the other caves.
Temple At the Bottom
There are temples at the bottom level before you ascend up the stairs. They are beautiful and you can walk around and see them without having to pay anything. We recommend spending a few minutes admiring these temples.
Visiting Hours: 6:00am - 9:00pm
Cost: Free to walk around
They are also actively used for religious purposes, so be mindful of that as you look around. That being said, you can find plenty of people loitering around here waiting for people in their group who are climbing the stairs. Why not rest in the shade of a pretty temple if you don’t want to climb up and are just waiting for your friends!
What Makes Batu Caves Special
The Giant Golden Statue (Murugon Statue): Highlight the impressive 42.7-meter-tall golden statue of Lord Murugan at the entrance, one of the largest of its kind in the world.
Steps/Cave Temples: The steps is the main attraction. They are painted bright colors which make for a colorful ascent and for some fun pictures. There are monkeys that mike to hang out along the steps and swipe food and other things when they can.
Once you get into the temple cave you can enjoy the temple built inside the cavern. There are richly decorated stupas and statues. The cavern itself it impressively large.
Natural Beauty: Discuss the stunning limestone formations and the surrounding lush greenery that make the site visually striking.
Top Things to Do at Batu Caves
Climb the 272 Steps
This attraction is all about climbing the iconic stairs. They are brightly painted and very picturesque. A visit here would not be complete without climbing the stairs; however, the best photos are often taken from the bottom where you can see the stairs behind you. But to get to the temple in the cave on top you must climb up the stairs.
Visit the Cave Temple at the Top
Going into the cave is nice and refreshing as the temperature is cool. Always a bonus in the tropics! You will be greeted by stalls trying to sell souvenirs when you first enter. Once you are in the cave opens up into a very large cavern and the temple inside has some beautiful Hindu architecture.
Once you are in you can continue on a bit further into the cave. You will simply follow the path, and yes, more stairs. Once you have gone further you will see more temple complex.
The cave opens up into a beautiful opening where you can see the sky streaming down.
There is also a free water station at the top! Perfect for filling up your water bottle. Gotta stay hydrated!
In our opinion, the temples at the base are more beautiful. Being built inside the cave is really cool though.
Spot the Animals
Batu Caves is known for having troops of macaque monkeys. The monkeys hang around the stairs and are notorious for harassing climbers. This can be fun if you are expecting it. They can provide for some good photos. They can also be annoying as they are little burglars trying to swipe your sunglasses, food, and phone.
If you are prepared and aware of your surroundings, you will be fine. They may be difficult for little kids to hold their own against, so if you are climbing the stairs with small kids just be sure to keep them close.
Sadly, no one mentions the pigeons of the temple. People feed pigeons, a lot. There are massive amounts of pigeons flying around. The pigeons are always fun for kids to run toward and have them all fly away.
Visit the Other Caves and Temples
You have the option to visit the other caves also and these can be quite popular. We have chosen to never visit them as they cost money, and a free activity is amazing!
If you are wanting to see classic Hindu temple designs, then the temple at the base of the stairs is the place to go. They are brightly painted and have fine details to look at. They are also used for daily worship, so you need to be respectful. It is worth checking these side temples out!
What to Wear and How to Act:
To visit the Batu Caves you need to dress and act respectfully because it is an active worship site. You cannot wear provocative clothing (short shorts, short skirts, or revealing tops). You also cannot run up and down the stairs or make too much noise. Kids bounding up the stairs is just fine, it is using the stairs as an exercise spot that is frowned upon.
In short, be respectful during your time at all religious sites.
History
Batu Caves is a unique destination in Malaysia as it is a major Hindu temple in a Muslim country. The cave complex was developed into a temple in the late 1800’s by a prominent Indian trader by the name of K. Thamboosamy Pillay. As Malaysia was under colonization during that era, and religion was mixed, the popularity of the temple grew and established itself as the major Hindu worship site it is now.
Fun fact. The giant Golden Statue (Murugon Statues), which dominates many photos, actually opened in 2006 and so is a relatively new feature to Batu Caves
Now Malaysia is a Muslim country. However, there is still a large Indian population, so the Batu Caves attracts many visitors, predominantly Hindu worshippers. The worshippers are drawn to the entire complex, so while the stairs are the main draw, the other temples and caves also are quite popular.
Final Thoughts
The Batu Caves does not fit our standards as a place to visit that is off the beaten path. The only way you can really go and feel like you are seeing it differently and in a unique way would be to go for a night visit.
In the end, is it worth going to? Yes, for various reasons. First, because the cost is right, free. Second, because it is easy to get to and does not require much time to see. Finally, it has become an iconic landmark in Malaysia. It is up there with the Petronas Towers in downtown Kuala Lumpur, the Cameron Highlands tea plantations up north, and the history of Melaka down south. Check out all the posts of awesome things to around Malaysia.
