Travel isn’t complete without a little bit of sightseeing, and the Batu Caves is one of the most famous spots to go for a trip outside of the main Kuala Lumpur area. The Batu Caves is a series of limestone caves home to Hindu shrines. These sit within the cave atop a colourful flight of 272 steps, making it a popular location for photos from all angles.

That being said, it is important to be careful while at the Batu Caves. Firstly, it is a religious ground, meaning precaution must be taken to maintain respect for others who may be there to worship or pray. This means dressing appropriately; wear skirts or pants long enough to cover the knees, and if climbing to the top of the stairs, proper shoes.

Secondly, refrain from interacting with the monkeys. They may be cute, but they’re wild, and that often means health and safety hazards. It’s really best not to risk getting sick and ruin a holiday just for that Insta update.

Also be careful of the heat! As a Southeast Asian country, Malaysia is hot. Make sure to be prepared for it. We recommend taking an umbrella to reduce exposure to the sun. It’s a common sight to see amongst the Malaysian aunties as they don’t want to tan, but it’s also very effective in keeping cool in the relentless heat.

Getting There

The Batu Caves are accessible by several modes of transportation. The one we recommend most is the train, as it is fairly quick and cost-effective. At only around RM2.5-3 (US$0.75) for a one-way trip from KL Sentral, it’ll barely put a dent in your budget. The biggest warning is the frequency of the train, as they only leave for and return from the Batu Caves around once an hour. These details updated in late 2018, reducing the frequency from previous years, so it’s best to check the train website for details and to plan your trip around the departure times of the train, as you don’t want to be stuck waiting.

Keep in mind some trains that leave the Batu Caves do not return to KL Sentral, but terminate a few stations from the Caves.

Alternatively, you can take a Grab, the Southeast Asian equivalent of ridesharing app Uber. Going by Grab from the main Kuala Lumpur area will only set you back around RM15-20 (US$5) one way, though of course this depends on the demand and availability of Grab drivers in your area. However, it is also significantly faster, and of course, there’s no waiting for a train!

In the Area

We hadn’t expected too many vendors outside the caves except perhaps the occasional snack cart selling water at inflated prices, but there are a fair number of establishments lining the short path from the train station to the bottom of the Batu Cave stairs. However, it’s not overwhelming or cluttered, giving you a decent selection of things to eat as well as souvenirs.

Also unsurprisingly, there is always a good number of people around as well. It’s good to go early in the morning to avoid the peak temperatures as well as a crowd of tourists.

The Batu Caves

As mentioned, the entrance to the caves sit at the top of 272 concrete steps. Each are painted colours of the rainbow which makes for a stunning front-on view (once more, if you can avoid the other tourists trying to capture the same shot!). These are very sturdy, even steps, making for an easy climb if you disregard the distance.

It is cooler inside the caves, as it is shady, and the high entrance allows for some airflow, preventing it from becoming stuffy. There are a few steps going down to the main chamber, throughout which there are small shrines at which people pray or worship. For this reason, we recommend refraining from taking photos of the shrines for aesthetic reasons out of respect, and most certainly do not photograph people who are in the middle of prayer.

At the back of the chamber there is another couple of flights of stairs to a higher platform that houses another shrine. These stairs are more uneven and steeper, so please be careful if you are looking to climb them!

Despite all the warnings, it makes for an interesting location to come out to for a break from all the shopping and eating in Kuala Lumpur. Unless you’re a very avid photographer or keen for the perfect shot for your profile picture, it requires no more than a couple of hours, making it a nice half-day trip from the city.

Batu Caves
Gombak, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia