Description of the attraction
The Batu Caves are the most revered and popular Hindu shrine outside of India. They are located in the northern suburbs of Kuala Lumpur and are very popular places. The number of pilgrims and tourists reaches one and a half million people a year.
Nature began work on their creation back in the Cretaceous. Later, in the 19th century, a temple dedicated to the god Murugan was built in this secluded place at the expense of a merchant from India. The modern statue of the deity is erected next to the stairs leading to the caves.
Since the end of the 19th century, the Taipusam Tamil Festival has been held annually in the caves. Tamils are the main Indian people living in Malaysia.
Until 1920, caves that rise one hundred meters above the ground were practically inaccessible. To get into them, one had to have climbing skills or great religious zeal. In 1920, a staircase was built to them, which has already become a landmark. It has 272 steps. Having overcome them, it is worth stopping not only to take a break - an absolutely stunning panorama of the surroundings opens from the top steps of the stairs.
The main hall of the spacious Temple, or Light, cave begins from the stairs. It got its name thanks to the Hindu temple located at its end. Light is called because its hall is still accessible to daylight. There is also a temple in a small neighboring cave, but the local monkeys have chosen it as a place of communication with tourists, so you need to be prepared for a petty robbery. The dark cave is located just to the left of the Temple. This is the most voluminous and longest of the Batu caves. The height reaches 120 meters, and the path along it stretches for two kilometers. The cave is in its original form, crystals of various compounds, skillfully carved by nature itself, have not been destroyed by civilization. The Dark Cave is also unique for its fauna. Among her is the rarest spider on the planet. Scientists have been studying the cave for the second century and continue to make discoveries. An excursion here is ordered and carried out with the permission of the Society for the Conservation of Natural Resources of Malaysia.
Below, at the base of the hill, there are two more cave temples, a cave art gallery and a cave museum. They are filled with Hindu statues representing various deities and religious paintings.
