Batu Caves

A fascinating and spiritual place. Just climbing the steps is a remarkable experience, but watch out for the monkeys. One almost got my purse! Be sure to also visit the temple at the bottom of the stairs. The carvings and decor are an explosion of color and iconography of Hinduism.

Get ready to climb 272 steps! Try to climb in a zigzag pattern to avoid knee troubles, I used that trick to climb up. Be careful with the monkeys, just don't keep anything fancy or eye catching with you as they'll snatch it. They took something edible from my bag as it was kept in the bottle rack so it was easy for them to snatch it. Don't worry as they're harmless. You'll find many tourists screaming upon seeing monkeys doing their snatching things but in reality they're harmless. Upon climbing halfway, just turn back and you'll get the idea about how huge the statue is, as it may not appear huge before climbing. There's no place for dustbins on the way so keep the plastics and all with you on climbing. And be careful if you're going on rainy days. take an umbrella with you, the stores downstairs may charge high prices for an umbrella. And as it's a hilltop, rain can come first anytime unexpected. The steps can get slippery so make sure you wear shoes with good grip. Be careful with the steps on rainy days. Happy climbing!

A Site of Incredible Potential, but in Desperate Need of Care and Respect Batu Caves is truly a breathtaking and historically significant site, rich in culture and natural beauty. However, our recent visit left us deeply saddened by the state of neglect and overwhelming litter. It seems a festival may have recently taken place, which could explain some of the mess, but the sheer amount of rubbish scattered everywhere—on the stairs, in the caves, and even carried by monkeys up the cliffside—was shocking. The stairway, which should be a grand ascent to this sacred site, was slippery, covered in dirt, and littered with waste, making it not only unpleasant but also hazardous. The smell in some areas was unbearable, further detracting from the experience. It was disheartening to see so many visitors treating this place with such little respect, discarding trash as if it were of no consequence. Another puzzling sight was the massive number of abandoned shoes left behind. While I fully respect cultural traditions, I can’t help but wonder about the environmental impact of so many discarded shoes, most of which will likely end up in landfills. I understand that Batu Caves is a free-entry site, and that managing large crowds is challenging. However, I sincerely urge the authorities responsible for its upkeep to reflect on whether enough is being done to protect and preserve this extraordinary place. Implementing a modest visitor fee could help fund better maintenance, waste management, and educational efforts to instill a greater sense of responsibility among visitors. Batu Caves has the potential to be an awe-inspiring experience, but without urgent action, its beauty is at risk of being overshadowed by neglect. I sincerely hope the management and visitors alike take greater care to ensure this iconic site remains a treasure for future generations.

It’s a very popular touristic attraction and a fully operating temple at the same time. Come early, to catch some beautiful light and avoid crowds. Be respectful, you need to have your knees and shoulders covered. Try some food in one of the small restaurants on the side, and don’t forget to get a few of sweet treats (even though it’s an absolute sugar coma 😅😂)

So overall, if you go early in the morning, you will have the opportunity to get some great photos and selfies in. There are some nice photogenic spots. Beyond that, the attraction is filthy, washrooms pay for service and disgusting, and inside the top cave area and entrance, the site smells and reeks of piss and shit. Sadly, the monkeys in the area are constantly fed, so they are super aggressive and grab pants, food, and any other item not tied down. Keep an eye on your kids and any belongings. The site is overun with tours and tourists, and they have unfortunately commercialized the whole experience in that you would never appreciate it as a holy site of any significance. Easy to get to and out of thanks to Grab accessibility and the public rail service both, which are reliable. Take the train easily from anywhere in K.L. Clean, air conditioned, easy to navigate, and reliable. The last leg, though, does not run as frequently, so check your arrival and departure times to maximize your day. Tip : If you hustle, you can see everything between one train to the next. Vendors are cheap by the train station for water and snacks, so there is no need to bring them from home, and there are some convenience type stores inside. No fee to get in yet be careful as touts try to drive you left at the train station entrance into the pay to visit museum. Once visited, never again. Visitors from Canada.

I loved the Batu Cafes, there’s beautiful temples, wildlife and experiences all around the base of the stairs. If you’re not keen on small spaces, I recommend sticking to the main path up the stairs but if you’re okay with caves, I recommend exploring the dark caves. There’s an entry fee but it really is a nice experience. At the base of the stairs there’s a temple which I only saw from the outside but was very beautiful, and around the base of the stairs there’s a lot of other caves and art galleries to explore. We went to one with folk dancing, art galleries, reptile and bird exhibits and fish feeding plus a board walk over the water. All in all, a great experience that I recommend.

Well worth the effort to visit, try and visit early in the morning before it gets busy and hot. Be very cautious if the steps are wet as they can be very slippery, especially when descending. Generally there is a traffic jam outside the temple gates so can be a little challenging finding your Grab taxi, just have to be a little patient 😊 There is no charge to enter this temple.

Beautiful place. Stairs were not a problem at all for strong man like me. I rush up while wife panting had to stop and wait for her often. Many monkeys but they are used to humans, and will leave you alone unless provoked. We came by here on a Friday morning so not too crowded. There is a dress code, but saw quite a few people enter without adhering to it. Maybe dress code only applies for the temples. There is food sold inside and outside the compound. It’s a little far out but well worth it, easy to get to by KTM. However be sure to check KTM timetable, or you may end up waiting around for 30 min like me.