Kuala Lumpur Malaysia gives travelers deep insights into the ancient limestone caves

Not far from Kuala Lumpur is a huge limestone massif that is interspersed with natural caves. Those interested in culture and nature will get their money’s worth in the north of the capital. Malaysia’s ancient limestone caves are rich in monumental temple complexes in addition to natural features and rare fauna.

The golden guardian of Kuala Lumpur

Even in front of the cave, the 42 meter high, golden statue of the Hindu deity Murugan awaits you, to whom many shrines in the cave are dedicated. He looks awe-inspiring over Kuala Lumpur and behind him it goes steeply uphill. In bright, colorful tones, 270 wide steps lead to the Batu Caves. The ascent can be strenuous, especially in hot weather, so the trip in the morning or evening sun is recommended. Regardless of the time, it never gets boring on the way, because from the steps you can wonderfully watch monkeys frolicking in the trees to the left and right. And once travelers have made the ascent, they get deep insights into the most beautiful limestone caves that Malaysia has to offer.

Dark Cave – not for the faint of heart

If you climb the colorful steps, you will also pass a junction that leads into the so-called Dark Caves. Only guided tours are offered through the deeper passages of the ancient limestone caves, simply because they are natural and pitch black. Travelers are given a safety helmet and flashlight and follow the cave guide into the darkness for rare and deep insights into the cave’s ecosystem. A tour takes between 20 and 45 minutes and goes almost two kilometers into the mountain. The guide informs you about the development of the cave, points to animals and special stone formations, such as large stalactites, from which water has been dripping continuously for millions of years. The sight of large insects and thousands of bats overhead is not for everyone, however.

The Batu Caves and their temples

The highlight of the excursion to the north of Kuala Lumpur are certainly the huge and extensive caves of the Batu Caves. Here you can penetrate deep into the mountain on your own at a height of approx. 100 meters and enjoy the artistic temples, shrines and altars. The cave becomes a particularly spiritual experience during prayer times in the morning hours. Because not only tourist travelers climb the mountain, but also believers and pilgrims from afar. Admission to the Batu Caves is free for everyone, however, given the religious site, there is a dress code. Legs and shoulders must be covered. So you not only get deep insights into ancient limestone caves, but also into the culture and religion of Malaysia. At the end of the Batu Caves, an open area awaits the traveler with a view of the sky and the surrounding tropical trees that grow close to the edge of the cave. This perspective of nature from far below is unique. If you want to learn more about the history of Hinduism, you can visit the Ramayana Cave. It is a sinus of the Batu Cave and a kind of small museum. There are many small and large figures, modeled on the Hindu religion, and tell the story of the local gods.