The Batu caves are situated in a limestone hill 13km to the north of Kuala Lumpur. This hill, which has a series of caves and cave temples, takes its name from the Sungai Batu river, which flows past it. The Orang Asli had been aware of the caves for a long time. However, they became famous only after they were discovered by the American Naturalist William Hornaday in 1878.
Of the various cave temples that make up the site, the largest and best known is the Temple or Cathedral Cave, so named because it houses several Hindu shrines beneath its 100m high ceiling. This cave is the focus of the yearly Hindu Thaipusam celebrations. Next to the caves there is a colony of macaque monkeys, who are not afraid of humans.
01 Main gate 02 Hindu temple 03 Flowers seller 04 Flowers 05 Malaysian Indian worshippers
06 Golden statue of Lord Murugan and staircase 07 Golden statue of Lord Murugan and staircase 08 Golden statue of Lord Murugan and staircase 09 Malaysian Indian worshippers 10 Gate and staircase 11 Golden statue of Lord Murugan
12 Golden statue of Lord Murugan 13 Golden statue of Lord Murugan 14 Gate and Hindu statues 15 Main staircase 16 Main staircase
17 Macaque monkey 18 Macaque monkey 19 Macaque monkey 20 Macaque monkey breastfeeding baby monkey 21 Staircase and upper gate 22 Hindu statue
23 Cave interior 24 Cave interior 25 Staircase inside the cave 26 Staircase inside the cave 27 Hindu shrine
28 Hindu temple 29 Panorama view of cave 30 Cave entrance 31 Hindu temple 32 Hindu temple roof with deities
33 Upper cave opening
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