Batu Caves is one of the premier tourist attractions of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. The caves consist of 3 larger caves and several smaller ones, penetrating into a huge limestone hill. The beauty of Batu Caves is that they’re very accessible from central Kuala Lumpur, just 11 km from the city. We visited Kuala Lumpur in August 2016 and took a family day trip to Batu Caves.

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Where are Batu Caves?

Batu Caves are a limestone hill that has a series of caves and cave temples. They are very accessible on the outskirts of Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur. The main cave is open to the public and has a magnificent 42m high golden statue at the front. This cave is one of the most popular Hindi shrines outside of India.

To access the cave you must climb a very steep flight of stairs 272 steps high, which takes you to an elevation of about 100m. Curiously they seem like very big steps by the time you reach the top. The ascending journey is very tiring, however the cute monkeys along the way will entice you to stop for a rest and a photo.

How to get to Batu Caves

We caught the train straight from our hotel to the Batu Caves complex. Our hotel was the Berjaya Times Square Hotel, which is conveniently located right on the monorail line. From there we caught the monorail to KL Sentral, the main train station of KL. There we had to change trains onto the KLM Comuter Line. The last stop on this line is Batu Caves.

AIt sounds easy, however changing from the monorail to KLM Comuter proved to be quite confusing. For starters it is about a 10 minute walk from one platform to the other, even though they are both in the KL Sentral Station. We had to cross a busy street, down stairs, up stairs and navigate through a busy shopping mall. None of this was clearly signed so it was quite puzzling the whole way. But we did find the next station without getting too lost. Alas we just missed the train by 5 minutes, and had to wait a whole hour for the next. The wait on the platform had little in the way modern conveniences, just a bland, old-fashioned train platform. Good thing it had shade because the weather was very hot.

Journey Time From Kuala Lumpur to Batu Caves:

What Google Maps say:

• • Walk Berjaya Times Square to Imbi Station: 5 minutes

• • Imbi station to KL Sentral on the monorail: 4 stops and 12 minutes

• • 4 minute walk

• • Komuter train to Batu Caves Station: 8 stops, 30 minutes

• • 5 minute walk to the cave

• Total: 56 minutes

What We Experienced

• • Walk Berjaya Times Square to Imbi Station: 5 minutes

• • Wait for the monorail: 10 minutes

• • Imbi station to KL Sentral on the monorail: 4 stops and 12 minutes

• • 10-15 minute walk after getting a little bit lost

• • Wait for the next train: 1 hour

• • Komuter train to Batu Caves Station: 8 stops, 30 minutes

• • Walk to the cave: 15 minutes with a few photo stops along the way

• Total: 2 hours 27 minutes

The cost was negligible, trains were so cheap that it’s not even worth adding up the fare.

What To See at Batu Caves

When you get to Batu Caves you will want to stop and marvel at the giant golden statue and take a few pictures. It is not exactly a historical relic, it was only finished in 2006. But it does look spectacular in photos, and is very popular on instagram.

The climb up the stairs was very hot and tiring. Because it’s located in an equatorial climate it was hot, humid and sweaty all the way. When you get to the top the view is awesome, however you will probably experience a smoggy haze which is not altogether photogenic. Then you enter the cave itself.

We were gob-smacked at the size of the cave, it is seriously big. In addition to the expansive floor area, the roof is extremely high. In fact they had a couple of chaps inside playing Hindi music and the acoustics of the cave were astounding. Finally you pass through the first cave, up some more stairs and enter the second cave.

The second cave is also seriously big but has no roof. It does have some religious temples and so on inside, you might even see some religious rituals taking place. You don’t really need to spend more than 20-30 minutes in the caves, there’s not a lot to see really.

What To Bring To Batu Caves

Whilst there are few eateries and restaurants, there are plenty of vendors selling cold drinks and snacks. Also the journey from the Batu Caves station to the cave itself is virtually lined with street vendors for the entire 10 minute walk. Above all I suggest travelling very light, as you will need to be nimble on your feed for the big stair climb ahead. Timewise, you need to allow about 4-5 hours for the round trip depending on how lucky you time the trains.

Time and Cost to Get to Batu Caves

We spent less than $10 for the whole family for the round trip, making it a very affordable day. Our next stop was a pre-booked climb to the top of Petronis Towers. You will have enough time for at least one more attraction on the day

Our Conclusion about Batu Caves

All things considered Batu Caves is a must see destination on your Kuala Lumpur holiday. If you decide to take an organised city tour, virtually all tours will stop at Batu Caves. Alternatively grab a GetYourGuide.com tour as shown below. If you want to take a self guided tour, Batu Caves is an easy and inexpensive option, especially if you decide to take the local trains. Overall Batu Caves are well worth the visit.

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