Batu Caves

Batu Caves is an unforgettable blend of culture, spirituality, and natural beauty. The towering golden statue of Lord Murugan immediately sets the tone, while the colourful staircase leading into the limestone caves creates a striking and almost cinematic first impression. The climb is rewarding — not just physically, but visually. Along the way, you get panoramic views of Kuala Lumpur’s outskirts, and inside the caves, the scale and atmosphere are genuinely awe-inspiring. The way sunlight filters through the cave openings gives the space a calm, sacred feeling that contrasts beautifully with the lively crowds outside. What makes Batu Caves special is how accessible yet meaningful it feels. You don’t need to be religious to appreciate its importance, history, and energy. The surrounding area also adds to the experience, with local stalls, nearby batik shops, and a strong sense of Malaysian culture. It can be busy and humid, but that’s part of the authenticity. Batu Caves doesn’t feel like a manufactured attraction — it feels alive, lived-in, and deeply rooted in tradition. Overall, Batu Caves is absolutely worth visiting. It’s one of those places that stays in your memory long after you leave — not just for how it looks, but for how it feels.

Booked a day trip to the one pf the most famous tourist attractions that is Batu cabes dedicated to Lord Vishnu. There’s a good number of stairs that need to be climbed to reach the temple 🛕 As a guide said, beware of the “gangsters with a tail” 🐵😂 on your way. Overall it’s an amazing experience 🩷

The Dark caves hasn't opened post pandemic so it is just now a visit to lord Murugan temple. It's very crowded and lots of people persuading visitors to buy this or that. The charm of visiting this place was a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Dark cave. Which isn't happening anymore.

Visited Batu Caves in Malaysia, and it was a truly memorable experience. The climb up the colorful steps was very enjoyable and energizing, with a vibrant atmosphere all around. Once at the top, the sight from the hill was absolutely beautiful, offering great views and a refreshing sense of calm. The caves themselves are mesmerizing, with their massive limestone formations creating a majestic and spiritual ambiance. The blend of natural beauty, cultural significance, and scenic views makes Batu Caves a must-visit attraction. It’s a wonderful place for sightseeing, photography, and experiencing Malaysia’s heritage all in one visit.

An impressive and unique place to visit in Kuala Lumpur. The giant golden Murugan statue and the colorful stairs are truly stunning. Climbing the steps is a bit tiring, but the view and the spiritual atmosphere inside the cave are worth it. A must-see spot for anyone visiting the city. Wear comfortable shoes.

The scenery and atmosphere is definitely worth checking out - with the stairs being a good way to burn off some of that tourist fat and otw down you can buy yourself some sweets (to keep the cycle going) 😂. On a serious note, the cave itself is marvellous, and the religious alters of Hinduism and their dedication to worshipping are astonishing and inspiring to see. Btw - BEWARE OF THE MONKEYS - they be snatching food left and right. A funny sight if you’re not the one being targeted 🙂.

Batu Caves was excellent to visit and very well maintained. The huge golden Murugan statue at the entrance is impressive, and the colorful steps make the place even more beautiful. The cave temple inside is peaceful and gives a spiritual feeling. The natural rock formations and the overall atmosphere are amazing. It is a must-visit attraction in Kuala Lumpur for both devotees and tourists. Overall, a great experience.

A must visit for everyone who travels to Kuala Lumpur. Caves that had been transformed into a beautiful temple and home of cute but naughty little monkeys. But I highly recommend to visit it in the early morning, we've been there at 8:45 AM and the moment we were about to leave it was suddenly very crowded. And be careful about the stairs, they are very steep and maybe for some people very exhausting. For going down I recommend to use the handrails.

11/08/24 - What an awesome place to go to. The caves were used as shelters by the indigenous Temuan people, a tribe of Orang Asli. Today the Batu Caves is one of the most important Hindu shrines outside of India. The caves are located about 1/2hr from downtown Kuala Lumpur. This was a site I was looking forward to seeing. At the base there's a 140' tall statue of Lord Murugan next to the stairs that go up 272 steps the Batu caves above. At first I was hesitant wondering if I could actually go the distance, but I thought I'm probably never going to be here again. If not now then when? The climb took some time but there is a landing every 17 steps w/16 landings along the ascent & descent. It is very hot & humid so I was sweating profusely by the time I reached the top. Along the way there are there are other worshippers, tourists & monkeys to work your way to the top & bottom. Is the climb worth it. I found it exhausting but rewarding to see the massive cave & temple @ the top. You can go even further into the cave & up more steps to yet another cave, but we were restricted by time.

Oh darn. I just read there are plans underway to build an escalator to the caves. If Jamie W and I had waited a few years, we wouldn't have had to climb the 212 steps to the Temple Cave entrance. However, it's part of the rustic charm of this attraction to tackle the well-worn stairs to mimic the pilgrimage that many Hindu worshippers take to come here. Of course, don't forget your hand sanitizer because macaque monkeys lick the handrails. I was kinda surprised the temples are just a little over a century old, though the steps came much later because it was expected that believers climb the steep hill. Each section of the steps was painted a different color lending a Disney/Vegas influence. The monkeys were indeed everywhere though not quite as aggressive as we expected. They mostly stared unless you can't help nosh on your roti snack. Then it becomes a Planet of the Apes confrontation. Once we got to the top, there was a large cavern with Marugan's six abodes carved and painted elaborately into the cave walls. The scale was quite impressive, and there were several ritual ceremonies underway. There's a second cavern 56 steps further up, and this holds the temple of Marugan's wife Sri Valli Deivanai. Hell, we needed the steps anyway since we were in a car ride from Penang for most of the day. It was also really hot and humid. Standing in front of the steps is a 140-foot gold-painted statue of the Hindu god Murugan (photo: https://yelp.to/Z38TFzVElD). It was erected only in 2006, and it's hard to miss since the restrooms are to the right of it and require RM50 (bring change). There are other caves to wander if you have the time, some requiring a fee, but the muggy weather motivated us to carry onto Kuala Lumpur. It's a worthwhile stop regardless even if you have to trade small-mouth with a grabby primate. RELATED - Interested in Malaysia? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3XtfnFc

Tourist spot but... guess you gotta do it once. 272 steps up. Colorful IG steps. Not for those with knee issues. It's a hike. There's nothing inside except a temple - if you want to pray. Be warned - men are allowed to wear shorts BUT women are NOT allow to show knees - so wear long pants. OTHERWISE you will be FORCED to buy a crappy sarong to cover you. How terrible. Lots of roaming monkeys. Don't keep food on you, they will get aggressive and snatch your stuff for food.

The batu caves has been on my bucket list since I knew it was a thing! On my recent Malaysia trip I made sure it was in the itinerary. It's so amazing to see in person and once you get to the very tippy top it's worth every step climbed!! I will say don't take anything you don't need because the monkeys can be aggressive, but for the most part if you don't bother them they won't bother you.

Beautiful cave and temple complex that's a required visit when in Kuala Lumpur. It's free to enter and explore. However, women are not allowed to reveal shoulders or legs. Prepare for this by bringing pants, leggings, or a sarong. Shoes aren't allowed in any of the temples, either. You can wear them into the caves just not in the buildings. Gift shops are in the caves and below. If you take a Grab here, ask to be dropped off just as you exit the highway. It's a three minute walk from there and you (and your driver) won't be stuck waiting for the incredibly slow jammed traffic. When you leave, walk to a nearby restaurant for a pickup to avoid waiting in the same traffic.

Can't visit Malaysia without visiting Batu caves Hindu Temple, it is a South Indian Temple for those of you who are wondering. Its a balmy 272 stair climb up. Be aware my female friends, you can not wear shorts or short skirts. Not to worry they sell cheap sarongs at the entrance. There are shops at the base with the usual souvenirs, food and coconut water, there is also a couple of shops at the top of the stairs with water and frozen treats. One thing I hated were tourists feeding the pigeons, causing hundreds to come picking for food and then some idiot tourist running through them to make them go into flights and causing havoc as they return to feed. There are also many monkeys running up and down the stairs. There are some locals trying to get yopu to feed them for photos ops. please don't do this, these are still wild animals. I saw one lady attempting to feed one and taking away the food as she was trying to get the best photo op and the monkey got so pissed he almost bit her hand off! Anyway, once toy get to the top the actual temple is inside the cave, remove your shoes to go inside the temple. There is another set of stairs, maybe 50 or so to get to the upper level, looks like a place where they do pujas and stuff. Well lit cave, still a very active prayer sight early in the morning and late at night. This is a must place to visit, will not be disappointed.

Yelp Review 2023 #98: It took us an hour from our hotel close to Petronas Twin Towers to get here via metro. It takes about 20-30 minutes by cab. There's a lot to see here. There are temples, vendors, statues, monkeys, and different smells. Prepare to be overly stimulated. There was a ceremony happening when we visited so it was loud. You'll see a huuuuuge gold statue of Murugan, a Hindu deity. The stairs leading up to the cave is very colorful. You have to pay a small fee to get to the cave. Women must be covered - no shorts, no shirt skirts. Guys get to wear whatever they want. Wear comfortable shoes because there are about 270+ steps. It gets really hot and humid anywhere in Southeast Asia. You get that gross feeling when you sweat. So, my advise is to get here early. This place opens at 7am. Beat the crowd. You don't want to be here after 11am when the sun is about to be right above burning you.

After contemplating where the Batu Caves ranks in religious sites in the infinite number of ones I've visited. I'd say this one is just unique because the temple is built in a cave. This is a bona fide cave. Like if Batman came flying out in the Bat mobile with thousands of bats flying by, I'd be surprised but not surprised. I've seen Hindu Temples with monkeys before, like in Nepal for example. In fact I've seen monkey infestation in numerous temples and places of worship. But Batu Caves has the smallest, least intimidating of the monkey species I've seen at these sights. Most temples have the larger sized "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" species that steal your soda and potato chips. These monkeys aren't concerned with the tourists. While the maintenance is lacking, this is a FREE tourist attraction which is rare these days. We can't walk in the Vatican for free. Finally the steps... A whole lot of steps. Did I say steps? 272 and you will feel every one of them, because the steps are the narrow steep kind. The kind that if you fall, you'll roll down all 272 of them and knock everyone out like bowling pins along the way. And there aren't any hand rails. So each step I took was with the greatest care. But on a positive note, the colored steps is very nice addition. I saw old photos before they colored the steps and this is a big improvement. So is the Batu Caves worth visiting. I say yes, it'll take an hour of your day and won't cost you anything except the ride to get there.

A go-to if you're visiting the Kuala Lumpur area! It's about a 20 minute drive (maybe less) from the city center and it is free admission. There are 272 steps to get to the very top. The steps can be mildly steep so this activity might not be for everybody. However, for those able-bodied, I would highly recommend! There are so many monkeys running around. Do be careful and don't get too close. Some visitors feed them but its best to steer clear and keep your belongings closed so they don't get potentially snatched! There's a coffee shop nearby where you can see the awesome teh tarik show where the tea experts mix their tea by pouring from carafe to carafe from great heights!

This was the highlight of our 3-day stay in Kuala Lumpur. We took a direct train from KL Sentral (clean, easy, safe, and cheap) to the final station, Batu Caves. It took about 30 minutes to reach. The caves actually have 4 attractions, but the primary one is the Hindu temple that is inside of the caves that you reach about climbing the 250+ steps). There are 16 banks of steps with 17 steps each. (Or, was it 17x16)?

It's well worth the trip to get here, we took a taxi but you can easily get here by using their clean and efficient metro. We were warned that there are a lot of steps to get to the top, we laughed at this warning because we hike a lot so it's easy peasy for us. Bring some raw peanuts if you like feeding monkeys. Great spot for photos but the only thing that turned me off was the litter around this beautiful cave.

The history of this cave is pretty impressive. Supposedly 400 million years old, I didn't really see any markings that would indicate. As such. It's the four stacks of staircases are relatively well maintained considering the continuous infiltration of water through the rock surface of off the places of worship at the top of the stairs. The monkeys were not in meeting us Midway at the staircase, as it was a bit warm and they were all hiding within the cave. They seem to be less inquisitive with the people, as I was expecting. To being at one of those monkey temples and India or Thailand where they run up and steal things from you directly. Of course, don't bring water or food, or they will assume that you might have something of interest and they will come and take a closer look. After 272 steps to the cave entrance, you will need to go down a set of stairs to the first major place of worship. Remember you will have to take your shoes off. If you want to go in and get a blessing. There's another place of worship that is up another flight of stairs. The back portion of the cave. On your way out, you may notice a set of stairs that lead into another cave that is blocked off with a fence. That is by invite only by the ministry of something or another and it's completely dark. This cave is purely for exploration and I believe it's 2 km in. Nevertheless, I didn't go there. Other reviewers have provided wonderful photos, so I'm not adding more to it.

Be careful of the savages that want more than just your food lol highly recommend this attraction as a tourist. It stinks a little but that's because the pigeons are all over and the leaking water. Regardless you must visit! Don't forget to go around the corner and see the art gallery - there's more than just the main cave here to check out and it's all so beautiful

Beautiful temple in KL. Make sure your in a great health in order to completed the 270+steps of stairs to the top. I came here in a shared group of tour and we're here about an hour therefore I did not had an enough times to explore the whole area. Make sure you were long pants or skirt otherwise you are asked to pay 15MYR for a cloth to cover your half bottom area. There were no monkeys when we were there in the morning due to the foggy weather. I think the monkeys come out when it is sunny weather. They sells toys, drinks and snacks so don't worry about getting hungry. This is the only famous worship in KL.

On arrival we met a golden statue, Our guide informed us it was gold paint . But it was a beautiful sight. People from all over the world came to climb up to the temple . It was a ceremony in temple at the time . As you walk 200+ steps you encounter water handlers asking men to help carry water up, monkeys sitting eating or just observing the people. The monkeys eat all day because offering are brought up to the temple. It was a beautiful view once you reached the top . And well worth the climb. If you still have strength I'm your legs tackle the last 30+ steps , my people claim was picturesque. I slowly made my way down the middle, no rail I just didn't want to come face to face with a monkey perched on the rail. And coming down was easy and no breaks were needed.

These limestone caves are said to be over 400 million years old and are dedicated to the Lord Murugan, Hindu god of war. Just 25 minutes drive from downtown, it's free admission. The caves feel immense once you're up there. Recommend leaving KL after 9 and/or getting back before 5 to avoid traffic!

Impressive ancient site in KL. Good for photos and morning visit. Best of all, it's free!

When I think of Malaysia, two places that come to my mind. Batu Caves and twin towers. To access Batu Caves, there are many tour company available for a day trip bus tour from downtown KL. I opted for cheaper option and took a train from KL Sentral station. No need to change trains. Batu Caves station is the final station, it will be hard to get lost getting here as long as you take a correct train. Just a few RM each way, train ride was comfortable. Wear something to cover your body (legs and arms) or rent one at the bottom of the stairs. I anticipated longer stair climb but 272 steps were not too bad at all. They are painted in a pretty color and interesting to see from the bottom too. Free admission and it was very impressive even for those without Hindu background. Watch out for the monkeys. They are many especially at the bottom. I watched one of them eat banana very well. Monkey knows how to peal bananas. I was told monkeys could take your bags especially if you have food inside. I kept enough distance with monkeys not to intimate them. I am not sure if I was more intimidated by them or not. I managed to take selfies with one of the monkeys but my smile looked a bit tense... Food seems a bit overpriced but coconut drinks after climbing stairs felt refreshing.

Ever since I was a kid I wanted to be like Batman and run "To The Bat cave!". So when I heard KL had Batu Caves, I was like Hmmmm... Not sure when bats got the "u" but I learned that in Malaysia the word Batu means "rock" and this was named after the giant rock of marble. Confusing isn't it considering these marble caves features these blood sucking flying birds aka bats also? LOL. When you first get here, you are immediately wowed by the giant golden statue and the iconic red and white stairs leading into the cave. I was more intrigued by the monkeys and kept looking up to see if I was gonna get gouged by a bat during the moments of intrigue on these little fuzzy guys that are all over the stairs. I thought the stairs was gonna be a treacherous climb but there was enough out of shape people in front of you to slow down your pace that you'll unlikely be winded. Besides I'm from San Jose and used to climbing the Communication Hill stairs and even had a burst of energy at the end like I was Rocky Balboa wanting to bust up and pump my fist when I got to the top like I was gonna fight Apollo Creed in the cave or something. Once on top, you immediately notice how wet the ground is. Indonesia is quite humid and there is quite a bit of water dripping down from the ceiling of the caves so the ground is constantly wet. Maybe this is why Batman wore boots? There is a small shop for souvenirs on the right and a temple worshipping area to the left but you have to take your shoes off. Did I remind you the floor is wet? Uh....ill pass. The thought of nasty foot fungus grosses me out and if i'm not doing this at the gym why would i do it here? You go up another 50-60 steps and you reach the center of the cave where it's quite lit. Not lit as in happening, but lit as in bright because the cave is now open to the environment above you. The view above is quite spectacular and I can only imagine how awesome the view would be if you flew a drone from above. This is where you'll most likely see the bats flying around. There are also monkeys here so while you're busy looking up be sure to be on the lookout for monkeys around you in case you have something they wanna snatch. I saw this lady offer a monkey some food then started screaming when the monkey started pulling on her skirt lol. As you exit, you can marvel at the spectacular view from atop the stairs. You can also opt to the dark cave tour about halfway down to the right where you can pay a small fee and explore the caves in total darkness. There are plenty of vendors at the bottom where you can buy snacks, drinks, or fresh cracked coconut juice for cheap. The streets leading up to this place was lined with some of the most beautiful strings of flowers even prettier than Leis and super fragrant used for worshipping. If you were to bring one of these floral beauties back to the states to your girl I'm sure she'd be worshipping you. At least for the next hour.

This is a must do visit if you are in Kuala Lumpur and are looking for a short trip from the city. A large gold Lord Murugan statue , Hindu God of War, is located at the base of a 272 step climb to the top. After huffing and puffing up the colorful steps which has 16 levels and 17 steps to each level (trust me, my wife counted the steps - she's an accountant, ha ha), you'll get to the limestone Batu Cave entrance. This is not a small entrance but a massive cathedral like entrance. Once inside, you'll enter the first of many large sections, a temple exists further in on another level as you keep climbing more stairs in the cave. You might as well keep climbing since you have climbed the initial 272 steps. The temple like the stairs are colorful and contrast well with the gray cave background. One thing, watch out for aggressive monkeys as they will snatch things hanging from your pockets or things in your hands. Say good bye to the IPhone if your not careful. Careful walking back down as it seems steeper. Also saw devotees carrying materials to the top with items balanced on their heads. Ouch.

This was definitely one of my favorite attractions in Kuala Lumpur. This cave has been used as a Hindu temple since the late 1800s. At the front of the cave is a huge 42 meter tall statue of the Hindu god of war, Murugan. Both the statue and the limestone cave are impressive. To enter the cave, you must go up 272 steps. When we came, I was surprised to find that the steps had all been recently painted in multiple, bright colors. This was only done in August 2018, and actually gave the entrance a more majestic look. The area outside the entrance also has some snack shops and souvenir stores. This place is easily accessible from the KL city center by train, or a cheap and quick taxi ride so don't miss it.

The Batu Caves are one of the must-do tourist attractions in KL. Take the subway there. It's extremely fast, cheap, and easy, but Batu Caves is also the name of a nearby village, so don't get it confused. There's a market you walk through to get to the site, and once you arrive, you're stupefied by this humongous statue of Murugan, the Hindu god of war, which was actually brought in from Thailand. Why we're glorifying war, who knows. But I do know it'd be dope to be here for the Hindu festival of Thaipusam (late January/early February). Some history for ya: Some of the cave entrances were used as shelters by the indigenous Temuan people (a tribe of Orang Asli). As early as 1860, Chinese settlers began excavating guano for fertilizing their vegetable patches. Then an Indian trader started promoting it as a place of worship. The limestone forming Batu Caves is said to be around 400 million years old. To get up to the caves, you need to climb 272 steps. The caves are extremely cool to check out. Do NOT make eye contact with, feed, or touch the monkeys. They are absolutely vicious, starved, and violent. Also, if you're into rock climbing, you have 160 different rock climbing routes here!

Wonderful experience! Definitely the highlight of our Kuala Lumpur trip! We took a train that took us directly from KL to Batu Caves. Entrance to the main cave/temple is free, however there is a small fee to access the other caves (around $2 USD). You can also donate to many of the shrines found inside of the temples and be properly blessed by the Hindu monks. I recommend going early (before 9 am) because as soon as 9 am hits, ALL the tour buses start arriving and putting a damper on enjoying the temple in peace. We arrived at 8:30 am and found that it was just enough time to check out the main temple and snap a few great pics without the crowds. Lots of monkeys running around, watch your food and cell phone! The temple and caves are magnificent and I truly feel humbled from the experience.

This was one of my favorite things to see while in Malaysia. We arrived at the site by our private guided tour and we started to hike the steps which are a total of 272. I had no problems but our tour guide and my husband struggled at times. The steps were a lot and also narrow in some parts. People (tourist) walk all over the steps and take stupid selfies along the way. They will also take pictures of people on the other side of the steps and honestly it is hard to do this because it would require for other people to stop and wait. Sometimes I did to be a nice human being and other time not so much. I would recommend coming here early morning to help beat the humidity and heat. Down at the bottom, you can grab a refreshing coconut or watermelon to cool off after your climb.

This is a must see when you're in Kuala Lumpur. Amazing views and the statues are beautiful. But be mindful of the steep stairway to the caves. It will make you feel like you're about to fall over! Nonetheless, you have to come here for the experience.

Yes, there is a remarkable 140 foot golden statue of Murugan. Well-deserved, because he was a god, after all. It's amazing to see it from all angles. That said, my favorite things about the Batu Caves: 1. The monkeys. These little macaque bastards are wrestling, humping, and running all over the place, and they are alternately adorable, hilarious, annoying, infuriating, and tiresome. Shout out to the one who stole someone's ice cream cone and sat on a pillar, licking away. 2. The signs that say, "No Smoking" and also "No Exercise." It's a balanced perspective that forbids unhealthy and healthy behavior alike. 3. The startlingly dramatic and awe-inspiring limestone cliffs. 400 million years old, the striking sight of these imposing caves trump any man-made object, including the statue. I've said it before: This is the kind of place that makes you understand what Frank Lloyd Wright was talking about when he said, "I believe in God, I just spell it 'N-A-T-U-R-E.'" 4. Ever wonder how they transport all the water they have for sale at the top of the 272 steps? We saw a man carefully carrying three cases stacked on his head, all the way up. The rest of us are panting and sweating bullets just standing there...this guy is a hero.

If you are in Kuala Lumpur, I would recommend this as a must see landmark. I was fortunate enough to visit here as part of a tour- visiting this site made my whole vacation! I loved the vibrant colors and how climbing the steps to the cave temple, made it that much more fulfilling. I was not expecting a temple at the end of the steps and I was pleasantly surprised. The temple is set inside of a beautiful cave that I would expect to see from a Planet Earth documentary. I found myself looking up in awe up at the beauty that was surrounding me. It was even more delightful seeing some monkeys walking around stealing tourists' food. There is a cute little area with local shops filled with gifts and local foods to try right outside of the steps. The whole area is a little dirty however, just be prepared for some litter that is scattered across the landscape, especially inside the cave. Out of all the things I have seen in Malaysia so far, Batu Caves is definitely the most impressive and enjoyable experience.

This place is nothing short or awesome. Okay, the stairs actually leading up to the caves are quite step, and incredibly long, and are also swarming with pesky monkeys, but once you reach the top it is certainly worth it. Basically it is a Hindu Temple built inside a huge cave complex. However, the catch is that since it is a sacred site, you aren't actually supposed to wear shorts inside, and since it is Malaysia, wearing anything but shorts is a nightmare. You can get a sarong, but the catch is, once again, that they only distribute them at the bottom of the stairs, so if you realise that you are dressed a little immodestly, you have to go all the way back down, get the sarong, and come all the way back, once again dodging the monkeys on both trips.

Batu caves should be on your list of things to do in Kuala Lumpur for sure! We took Grab from our downtown hotel and it cost about $8 US to get there and then only $4 to get back downtown. Supposedly you can get there on public transport but when Grab or Uber is so cheap that is definitely the best and most convenient way to get there. We arrived on a weekday around 9:30am and it was not very crowded but it was definitely picking up as we were leaving around 10:30Am. Highly recommend going early to beat the heat, as the climb up those stairs is steep. It is free to enter the caves and enjoy the monkeys following you up the stairs. Hold on tight to your belongings!! There are a few snack stands around but I did not notice any bathrooms.

It will be hot. It will be humid. You will sweat buckets in the brutal heat. But if you're visiting Kuala Lumpur, you must experience the Hindu temple and outdoor site that is Batu Caves. Climb up the 272 steps. Look around the souvenir stands and religious altars. Marvel at the natural cave. Take in the monkeys and roosters as they roam about the place. Don't attempt to touch them, though. Climb down the 272 steps. Be careful, they are steep. Explore the grounds... more temples and religious statues. Take your time. Not good to rush about in this heat. Thirsty? Hungry? Food and beverage sellers abound. Remember to hydrate -- bottled water is readily available, as is coconut juice (move aside Zico, fresh coconut is soooooo much better).

The Batu cave might sound very touristy, but it's well worth the visit. And even our local cousins haven't been back for 10+ year had a good time visiting while showing us around. Especially after they have repainted the stairs and the statues around. It is one of the most colorful and accessible cave I have been to. I am not sure how you would get to this place without a car. I have read some reviews here, and I have seen public transportation in Kuala Lumpur, it is not transportation friendly through public trains and buses. So best way to get here is either have a car or just call for grabs ( the Malaysia version of uber) . But once you arrived, there are plenty parkings, and it is immediately a short walk to the entrance/ the bottom of the 270+ stairs up to the indian temple in the cave. Attire : for both men and women you will need bottom long enough to cover your knees, if not they will ask you to rent their sarong to wrap around your wait before going up . It is very inexpensive and with asked for a small amount for deposit. Or else going up the temple is completely free of charge. The stairs are quite steep , but it's very fun to look and the colored stairs in such a steep slope, and just great for pictures as well. We stopped and sat on the stairs for a few pictures before we proceed further up. And be warned that there are lots of monkey. They are very alert with drinks in bottles. And maybe small bags of snacks. That's what I see them picking up from people around me. Or else they are not trained to steal your glasses, bags or phones , like some other places in the world in return of paying someone to retrieve it for you. So it's just wild life that they want food and drink. If you don't want your personal bottle to be stolen, just put them away inside your backpack or so, and only drink them when you get to the top. The view up all the stairs and finally inside the cave is stunning. It's breathtaking to see man-made architects intergrade with nature stone formations and resonates. You get to enjoy the details of the temple that was built and also the serenity of the scenic cave, well worth the 270+ stairs up. I would say the whole experience takes about 1-2 hours depends how fit and who you are traveling with. It is kids friendly, just take a bit more time for them to go up and down the stairs. It is very safe and all paths are paved. That what I like about it. And I can't believe it is quite within reach from the city. Highly recommend for those who are looking for things to do near Kuala Lumpur.

Batu Caves is definitely a cool experience. Literally. The cave is damp and cold. I flew in from Vietnam for a change of scenery. To be perfectly frank, I had no clue what KL had to offer. As I looked around the map, I saw the Batu Cave advertising. I guess you can say I only went to KL to see this cave. So what's it like? If you like walking up stairs, this is the place to go. Batu isn't disabled friendly so if you have any leg injury or disability, avoid climbing up the cave, but it's still worth the visit. There are tons of monkeys roaming around so always be cautious. The entrance fee for the cave itself is reasonable. Check it out! I had fun and made my trip to Malaysia worth it.

I can clearly see how significant of a religious and cultural place this is for the local people. But from a pure tourist standpoint, this place fell short of expectations. The caves are reachable by ~20-30 min train from KL city center, and they're great in that "admission" to the caves are free. You take a long set of stairs up to the top of the caves, and you'll see dozens of monkeys along the way. The primary reason our visit was a bit disappointing was the amount of construction taking the place. While some of it looked like standard maintenance, other parts were clearly in the process of making the place more touristy, adding shops inside the caves it seemed. There were also incredibly loud ceremonial religious rituals taking place. I don't mean to demean these at all, but it also made for a repetitive and loud sensory experience that made it difficult to take in the caves. Hopefully once all the construction is finished, this place will be easier to enjoy!

I got there with a train from KL Sentral station for about 5.30RM round trip. It's basically a big cave/indian temple and you can get in for free but donations are encouraged. After spending months visiting Southeast Asia I would say that this place is nothing crazy but the massive statues at the entrance are pretty impressive. If you are in Kuala Lumpur got there to visit it only takes a few hours. Of course you can buy souvenirs and snacks.

So this was one of my favorite things to do in KL, but before you embark on this epic cave quest, some things should be noted: 1) hire a private car. You really don't want to be tied to a tour group for this one. 2) use the internet beforehand and you'll know all you need to know about caves. 3) It is hot and humid!!! It is muggy in parts of the caves. 4) the climb is going to take between 10-15 min, and it will be crowded. 5) the caverns are like a small city with food and drink stands and toilets so no need to worry. 6) Halfway up you will encounter monkeys!! Be warned, they are not cute, but rather they are thieves capable of stealing your stuff or maybe giving you vicious bite.. And of course there is always the potential for some good old poo slinging. Again, this place is by far one of the best sights in Malaysia, and it is certainly worth the visit.

Worth the trip, (just outside the city) it has such beautiful views, beautiful Hindu temple, the stairs are a bit steep and make sure to wear runners or hiking shoes! P.S. Monkeys are pretty friendly and might try and steal your water bottles!

Fun! Tips : take the bus to get there, the light rail transit is easy to use. Remember this is a Muslim country so you might off looks if you are a woman dressed inappropriately. I liked the cave tour. Watch out the monkeys are aggressive. So if you want to feed them don't try to hand feed. I saw one girl have a monkey run up her leg and snatch the bag . It made me laugh

This is a must do, even tho I only give it 3 stars. Why I score a 3 is because it was so many people, really loud music, and the trainstation was the dumbest! They had to let everyone out before they could let anyone in to the train and it was so crouded. But its really easy and fast taking the train tho In the batu cave area there were so many monkeys, so cute but I think you should be a little restricted so they dont bite. Up to the cave there is a loooong stairway, many people past out on their way up because of the heat and no wather I guess. If you want to go up the stairs you have to take your shoes off. But its wet up there so its your choice.

So we had very high expectations for the Batu Caves but we were a bit underwhelmed by the actual visit. Don't get me wrong, the caves were interesting and beautiful but once you get up there, there isn't that much to see. There was a large group of people there to actually attend the temple in the cave which was interesting to watch for a few minutes. Other than a few other statues and some souvenir stands, that was about it. We also went to the dark cave but chose not to pay for the tour as they were rather vague about what we would see in the dark cave. Seemed a little odd to us that they couldn't tell us what to expect. The climb up the stairs is also rather treacherous and the monkeys are everywhere and not the least bit afraid of people. Yes, they are cute but be warned that they will crawl on you and grab at you if you are carrying food and/or water bottles so best to leave all that at home. We were there for prolly 45 minutes total. About as long as it took to drive there. Glad we got to see it I suppose but wouldn't go back.

Easy and quick trip out of KL city center. It's worth the visit, but I don't think it's a must-do for every tourist if you are constrained on time. Two options to get there: - Take a taxi. On Grab, we priced it out to 22 RM ($5.50 USD) one way from where we were staying near the Dang Wangi station. Pretty good for a 30 min ride! - Take public transportation. We opted for this, but it ended up taking about 1 hr 30 min door-to-door due to construction. We had to take the subway from Dang Wangi to KL Sentral (2 RM/$0.50 USD). There usually is a KMUTER train that is direct from KL Sentral to Batu Caves. However, there is currently construction or something going on, so as of Feb 2018, you have to take a bus from KL Sentral to the Sentul station (free, about 25 min ride). From Sentul, you take the subway direct to Batu Caves (2.30 RM/~$0.50 USD, runs every 40 mins, about 15 min ride). It's easier than it sounds, but there's a lot of waiting around time. There are 4 main caves in the area. When getting off the subway, the caves in order that you run into are: Ramayana Cave- 5 RM Cave Villa- unknown fee Dark Cave- 35 RM guided tour Temple Cave (main cave)- free I would recommend going as early as you can, because the humidity gets worse and worse as the day progresses. Also, I would recommend starting at the Temple Cave at the end and working your way back to the subway station. Knock out those 272 steps early! Keep in mind that the caves are a religious site, so that means no shorts (only enforced for women). They have garments you can rent for 5 RM (includes 2 RM deposit). Also, the rules say no shoes, but the majority of people were wearing shoes since it's a lot to walk without shoes and most of the area was wet. Bring water (in a bag, so the monkeys don't see it)! As you climb the Temple Cave, watch out for all the monkeys mentioned in other reviews. They are really aggressive and will sit on the railings just watching who has food available for them to steal. Also, when inside the cave, watch out for a guy who walks around offering monkey food. I saw a few tourists take his offer as he guided them on feeding the pigeons and monkeys, and as the tourists were leaving, he badgered them for 5 RM. Of course, if you want to feed the monkeys (even though the signs say don't), take the guy up on his offer. We skipped the Dark Cave and Cave Villa, but stopped by Ramayana Cave. With far fewer tourists, it was an easy attraction. It's kind of like a theme park with little scenes built out depicting the life of Rama. The cave itself isn't as spectacular as the Temple Cave, but the stuff inside is pretty interesting. We spent close to 2 hrs here going at a slow pace and only visiting 2 caves. I think we were done after about 1 hr due to the humidity, but we had to wait the 40 mins for the next subway.

REVIEWER # 47 Another great adventure to do when I Kuala Lumpur! Make sure you take the 25 min drive out here to do this! Batu Caves is a Hindu religious temple in caves. I was taken away with the world's tallest statue of Murugan, a Hindu deity, located outside Batu Caves and the large amount of stairs that takes you to a series of caves and temples that are housed within a beautiful limestone mountain. They consist of 3 main caves and a number of smaller ones. Once you approach the entrance, you will see tons of hand stone statues of Hindu Gods, on the stairs, in the main entrance, everywhere! Batu Cave is known for the large amount of stairs you have to walk up in order to get into the caves. You must climb 272 stairs and on top of that you have to be around wild type monkeys that seem to snatch anything out of your hand that consist of good (trust me, I was a victim of it!) The monkeys also tend to drag everything out of the trash bins, so it isn't the cleanest place. Alas, after climbing the 272 stairs up, you will enter into Batu Caves, and there you have to climb more stairs to see additional Hindu Gods statues. I had the lovely opportunity of meeting nice people that assisted me in feeding the monkeys, which was such a fantastic experience! Lots of side attractions that include Cave Villa and Dark Cave exploration plus rock climbing. In addition, I was able to snap tons of photos of cynomolgus monkeys. The best part about this attraction?? It's free!

Batu Caves is a cool tourist spot and hindu tempe built in and around part of a cave network. We hiked up the long steps, avoided the crazy monkeys, made it to the top, then came down and toured the tempe and receiving a hindu blessing and I even got the red dot on my forehead to prove it. On the other side of the mountain is a really cool rock climbing park that we spent a couple of days climbing too!

One of the reasons why I decided to visit KL can be attributed to the Batu Caves. A Facebook friend years ago posted about this site, which made me consider visiting it someday in the future. I think many other international tourists also have the same reason of seeing the Batu Caves and Petronas Towers for visiting KL. While there are private tours available to visit Batu Caves, it is just as easy to reach this site via public transportation. KTM Komuter has a station in short walking distance away from the entrance of the Batu Caves. You can take KTM from KL Sentral to Batu Caves which is the northern terminus station of the Port Klang Line for only RM2. Trains run every half hour. Upon entering the complex, I saw numerous statues and temple structures along the way. There were also a number of macaques (monkeys) roaming about as you will see them everywhere here. They look innocent, but be cautious around them. They are particularly known to get rambunctious around tourists who are carrying food around. After walking a bit further in, you will encounter a huge staircase to head inside the Batu Caves. At the bottom of the staircase is the famous statue of Murugan. Upon walking up the steps, expect the trek upward to be a bit arduous. You might get winded and need a moment to catch your breath. Be careful when walking up as I thought these steps were a bit short in length. Also watch for the macaques as you will see them mulling about the staircase. After reaching the top and entering the caves, you walk downward into the cave and walk up another staircase to reach the last part of the cave. There you will find a few temple structures along with a few smaller size statues inside the cave walls that look they were almost carved from the rock. The inside of the cave has a dinky feel to it with water falling down from the top of the caves and the humid Malaysian air around. As this is a religious site, be mindful of the rules. The main one being to wear appropriate clothing which means covering up. Shorts are frowned upon here. There are other obvious rules here like no chewing tobacco and smoking. If you are entering any of the temple structures, make sure to remove shoes. Speaking of shoes, wear some sensible ones if you are heading up the staircase. If you are looking for a meal at the complex, there are a few convenience stores and eateries near the bottom of the caves staircase. But it probably would be better to go back to KL to eat if you are looking for more options. My thoughts overall on Batu Caves is that my visit here was just okay. I like the temple statues and appreciate the natural beauty of the caves, but it is not the cleanest place to visit and there isn't a whole lot to see here. It is also quite humid walking about here and you will sweat profusely. That said, I still think it is worth a visit if you have never been here. Though I wouldn't visit on a return trip to KL since it is so far out from the city to get to.

I loved these caves! A must see if you are in KL, Malaysia. Here are some of my tips after visiting: -If you are a girl, wear leggings or pants. This is still a religious area and they require girls that are wearing shorts to be covered up. They make you "rent" a cover up for $5 MYR, and when you return it they give you back $2 MYR. So basically, it costs $3 MYR for a cover up. -There are MONKEYS everywhere!!! Be cautious with your belongings because these monkeys are SMART. If they see you opening your bag they will chase after you (they assume you have food or water in your bag). Don't make the mistake of drinking water or eating snacks while walking up the caves because there WILL be 10 monkeys chasing after you and are not afraid to jump on you until you give them your food or water. -The stairs are not too bad, maybe about a 10-15 minute walk up, but probably quicker because lets be honest... you will be running away from the monkeys (haha)! There were also roosters at the top of the caves and lots of pigeons everywhere. -I do not recommend the dark cave tour. It's 35 MYR where a tour guide takes you deeper into the caves. They claim you can possibly see bats and all these various spiders, snakes and insects. However, it is too dark to see the bats because they don't want you to disturb them in their natural habitat. You can hear the bats though, but if you don't go into the caves you can hear them outside as well. They provide a helmet and a flash light and a tour guide with a group of others, goes with you. They claim the tour is 45 minutes, but it actually took an hour.

Batu Caves is just a short taxi ride from the capital of Malaysia! Since I was exhausted from traveling from Bangkok I got a taxi ride to this attraction. Most taxis will also offer round trip service so they'll wait for you at the parking lot! But if you wanna save more ringgit take the train and Batu Caves is the last stop! Anyway, once here the big golden statue was incredible! This is a reigious site so make sure you follow appropriate clothing and rules! There are 272 steps that leads you to the cave! Easy peazy, but requires some rest stops specially when it's super hot! Along the way, there are plenty of monkeys! They're used to humans, but be careful with your belongings like cameras, phones, hats, and etc! There's no entrance fee to get up, but there is one part of the cave where you have to pay an entrance fee! From the top you can also see a nice view of the city on the walk back down! This is a must do when coming to Kuala Lumpur. There are also restaurants and eateries at the bottom of the attraction near the parking lot! Don't forget to grab some souvenirs as well!

Temples and religious sights are part of the fabric of Asia. Being such a popular Hindu religious sight outside of India, it is a worthy spot to visit if you find yourself in Kuala Lumpur. I was a little limited on time, but really was able to knock out my visit to the Batu Caves in an hour (I did not go into the Dark Cave, I did not eat lunch at the site and I am in great shape to get to the top of the 272 steps with no problem and quickly). From my hotel in the heart of the city near the Petronas Twin Towers, I took a cab by myself about 30 minutes (traffic pending) and felt safe in doing so. It cost roughly $30 ringgits to get out there. My cab driver offered to wait, which then tacked on an additional $20 ringgits (so round trip and waiting for me to walk around the Batu Caves was a total cab cost of $80 ringgits). There is no cost to hoof up the steps and see the cave and Hindu prayer sight, but there is a cost if you go into the "Dark Cave" experience (which signs estimated takes about 45 minutes). The Dark Cave evidently highlights the life of a cave and the creatures that occupy the space (these limestone that forms these caves are estimated to be around 400,000 million years old). The caves really are remarkable and no photograph really properly reveals the vastness of this cavernous space. I was glad I went. There are souvenir shops all over to buy a little trinket to commemorate your visit, but also fresh coconuts and beautiful flower arrangements as well.

Came here as it was a 'must see' in reviews. About 20 ringgit form centre by Grab taxi. Easy to get there and around 100 steps up to the caves which are very high. It is free to get in, there are monkeys around who will take any food and pillage food bags, so be careful. There are temples inside the caves and the bottom 3 metres has been painted so it looks less natural than otherwise it would so less enchanting than I expected

Malaysia Review #2 Being another one of those "spots to visit while in Kuala Lumpur", we get a taxi and head off to Batu Caves, or the "bat caves". Unfortunately I didn't see Batman, Robin, the Bat-Mobile or any of their "Bat-Gear". LOL But seriously..... We arrive and see this sign, we made it! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/batu-caves-batu-caves?select=tBh757ZfvNDGuKOVaEwp1w This is a Hindu Temple and people do pray here, so appropriate respect and quiet are in order. We walk around to the entry area and pass a few shops selling a variety of gifts and trinkets. As we walk, we see this teeny tiny little gold statue standing guard at the base of the stairs. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/batu-caves-batu-caves?select=SAjwjeiTcG4Ab65jIq6wuA Entry is free so we continue toward the stairs and start the climb to the top. Be ready for a work out, because there are two hundred and seventy two steps to the top! As you climb step by step, you'll see wild monkeys on the steps, hand rail or nearby and no doubt they are looking for something to eat. It's probably best not to feed them or encourage them. Once you're at the top and out of breath, you can walk around in the very large cave and check everything out (another temple, a gift cart, etc). Then, keep walking through the cave and you'll find another 50 steps up to the "natural courtyard" that is open to the heavens above. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/batu-caves-batu-caves?select=kIlm8fPvD85W8fsKa2MMpg As it's called "Bat Caves", we got the impression there was a good chance we would see bats. However, no such luck. We were a bit disappointed by this. None flying, hanging, sleeping or whatever else bats do. But HEY, it is free and they do have a money back guarantee! *wink* OVERALL: Batu Caves is still a very unique place and well worth a visit when you're in Kuala Lumpur. You'll be rewarded with a great city view, unique sculptures, nice people, a little exercise (320+ steps, remember?) and if you're lucky, you might see a few bats too.

A definite must in KL. It's pretty easy to get to. We just used the Grab app to get a taxi, around RM 18. It gets pretty busy at the caves with tourists but you also have to watch out for the monkeys hanging around. There are literally hundreds and they will take your bag especially if you have food or drinks--be warned! If you're a woman wearing shorts they will rent you a sarong to go up the caves. The caves are cool, there's tons of walking and stairs. There's also the dark cave on the way down if you want to try to see bats (we didn't do this one). At the bottom there's a place called cave villa that cost RM 15 and was pretty cool. Lots more caves to go through along with a reptile conservatory which was cool, we got to see hundreds of baby cobras. At cave villa you can also get your photo taken with parrots which was fun. I'd recommend stopping by cave villa. There's also another cave further down that cost RM 5 and had a long flight of stairs that led to nothing at the top, definitely anti climatic, wouldn't really say visiting that last cave by the bus stop is a must. Overall, the Batu Caves was awesome and a must when in KL.