Spiritual Malaysia: The Batu Caves

The Batu Caves, located about eight miles north of Kuala Lumpur, make for a great day trip for those seeking fun outdoor activities or rich cultural experiences.

Image: Mackaysavage

These caves, made of limestone, are about 400 million years old and today are the center of one of the largest Hindu shrines outside of India. The shrine is dedicated to Lord Murugun, who Tamil Hindus worship as the god of war. The lord’s commanding statue, painted entirely in gold, stands at an impressive 140 feet high, and greets visitors to this holy shrine.

Prior to becoming a Hindu shrine, the caves served important purposes for a variety of people. The local indigenous population, mainly the tribe of Orang Asli, originally used the cave entrances as shelters. In the mid-nineteenth century, settlers around the caves excavated guano to use as fertilizers for their crops and farmland. In 1878, naturalist William Hornaday officially recorded the caves, which made them famous and a popular tourist attraction.

In 1890, K. Thamboosamy Pillai, a Singaporean trader of Indian origin, established the Hindu temple at the Batu Caves as a dedication to Lord Murugan. Today it is arguably the most popular destination for Indians during the Hindu festival of Thaipussam in January. This festival celebrates Lord Murugan with a procession starting at early in the morning, which lasts for eight hours. During this time, hundreds of devotees climb the arduous steps to the temple with offerings for Murugan. This festival is also especially remarkable because of the seemingly torturous rituals performed here. Those who are, shall we say more devoted to the lord, perform a variety of body piercings in order to show their devotion and sacrifice. Although these can look pretty gruesome, they are carried out in a controlled environment – no blood will be shed during the piercings.

Image: Mackaysavage

The temple complex itself consists of three separate areas. The main area is the Temple Cave, some 272 steps above ground. From the top, you can enjoy a fabulous city skyline. The two other caves, the Art Gallery and Museum, are located at the bottom of the hill. Inside these caves you will find various Hindu idols and artwork. Check out the well-lit Ramayana Cave for the Hindu epic Ramayana narrated with a number of illustrations.

The caves are not only famous for their religious and cultural significance. There are 170 routes especially for rock climbing.  Beware of the wild monkeys roaming the caves however – they are not as friendly as they look!