4th Day 2007-12-12 WED - Batu Caves of Hindu Gods
Batu Caves is thirteen kilometres (seven miles) north of Kuala Lumpur.
The caves are sacred place for the Hindu's in Malaysia. This limestone caves system consist of three main caves and a number of smaller ones. They were discovered in 1892. The caves are huge. They spiral up and up, with open jags in the ceiling letting in light and birds.
From town centre tourists can reach the Batu Caves by taxi or public bus (11 and 11d). The public busses can be boarded at the Pudu Raya Bus Terminal in Kuala Lumpur. There are more steps to continue inside the cave. Once inside, we find a blend of light and shade, together with the sacred atmosphere created by the smoke of incense
How we got there :
We took taxi between Citus Hotel and Batu Caves. The going fare was Rm20.00 while returning was charged Rm25.00
Monkeys and pigeons at Batu Caves
Monkey untamed and yet tamed with the presence of visitors walking up and down Batu Caves 272 steps, most of them are just loitering around. Some cunning ones would do a trick or two to steal peanuts, while others waited to be feed by generous visitors. They are everywhere. Some hisses at people . Some mommies with the babies hanging off them.
Pigeons swamp the courtyard of the temple. The generously fed flocks of pigeons are tame and they give way to passing visitors graciously.
There's a small curio store and a couple of stalls that sells things including a place to buy drinks.
We arrived around 11:00am and the previous night was a rainy night so the heat wasn't a matter and the climb up was a lot easier than I expected. The climb down might be a little unnerving, the stairs are quite steep. While we were inside the caves, we were not aware it rained outside. Only when we leave the caves to realize we have to walk down a watery wet 272 steps.
Take lots of pictures as there's a lot to see in the cave and out of the cave. The Hindu art is fantastic.
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| Beneath the Status of Lord Muruga.... |
....are happy children feeding pigeons.
Children feeding pigeons at the square in front Lord Muruga. Thousand pigeons here! These pigeons are not really scared of people. These birds walk on the ground steadily.
Few other families also buying bread crumbs and seed grain from the nearby stalls to feed the pigeons. Rm 1.00 each pack.
“Feeding pigeons” has become an activity on its own at Batu Caves among the children. Each child spreading grains on the ground, competing who could attract the biggest flock of pigeons around.
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| Temple Cave - The largest cave of Batu Caves system |
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Temple Cave is the main tourist attraction at Batu Caves. Usually the only cave that the visitors see -- after climbing the 272 stairs. After that they descend the 272 stairs and left for home, not knowing there are more to explore in the area.
Temple Cave (Cathedral Cave) is the largest cave at 400 meters long and 100 meters high. This is the cave every visitor reached after the staircase with 272 steps. It is a sacred place for the Hindu.
In the cave, the annual Hindu Thaipusam festival celebrated. Last year (2006) the festival had 1.5 million participants.
Temple Cave (Cathedral Cave) is the largest cave at 400 meters long and 100 meters high. This is the cave every visitor reached after the staircase with 272 steps. It is a sacred place for the Hindu.
In the cave, the annual Hindu Thaipusam festival celebrated. Last year (2006) the festival had 1.5 million participants.
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| 272 steps to Gods |
Climbing the grueling 272 steps up to the caverns each day are thousands of visitors from all corners. This Batu Caves are important Hindu religious sites outside of India.
Eight miles north of Kuala Lumpur City, Batu Caves attract thousands of visitors a day to climb the grueling 272 steps up to the caverns.
The Caves are a focal point for Hindu Malaysians during Thaipusam. In the caves house a 113-year-old temple, with an interesting array of Hindu artworks and shrines.
Every year during the Hindu festival of Thaipusam, the Batu Caves attract more than a million devotees and spectators. An eight-hour procession of music and ceremony leaves offerings before a giant statue of Lord Murugan, the Hindu God of War.
Approaching the caves, the first thing visitor see is a towering golden statue of Lord Murugan completed in 2006, this statue is the largest in the world dedicated to the deity Murugan.
Load Muruan stands guard to the 272 leg-burning steps that lead up to the cave entrances. Before making the 272 steps, very often Hindu devotees shave their heads bald as a symbol of humility and atonement.
We climbed 272 steps to top. According legend for each step you take you are forgiven a sin. If you have less than 272 sins committed, you can have your future sins forgiven. I like this legend.
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Looking down from the caves entrance
Resting points along the stairs provide nice views of
the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur. |
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| BEFORE and AFTER |
BEFORE and AFTER
My hairs are too long and began to feel uncomfortable. Time to have a hair cut and there is a ANDY'S saloon right in the compound of Batu Caves entrance. I heard Hindu devotees from all over Malaysia like to have a hair cut in Batu Caves. A good place for myself a hair cut too ? I went...
"How much for cutting hair?....." I asked"Rm 12 cutting, Rm 10 shaving ....""OK Rm 10..." In haste I selected the economy one. I am a budget traveller.
.......................the Hindu barber obviously regards me as another devotee. He is such an expert barber that in less then 5 minutes......he changed my outlook.
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After Batu Caves we return to Citus Hotel where we left our luggage since morning checked out from Swiss Inn. For the next 3 nights we will stay here. The room is spacious with a view of the magnificent world famous Twin Towers.
Citus Hotel has good view from our room. Just 5 minutes walk to LRT stations and a shopping mall near by.
During checking in, I asked to have room with good view and the counter staff did not disappointed me by giving me a room in high floor with excellent view on Petronas Towers. Its room 1007.
During checking in, I asked to have room with good view and the counter staff did not disappointed me by giving me a room in high floor with excellent view on Petronas Towers. Its room 1007.
Citus Hotel is a good experience for my family because good location, excellent breakfast (a massive choice of different food:), a great pool just for only me and my daughter. (we went at late evening when no one else is using the pool)
After checking in the Citus Hotel late afternoon we left the 2 children to catch up sleep in the room while 2 of us took the LRT to China Town to buy some children cloths before picking up our laundry we left for washing the previous day.
It was almost 7:30 pm and the Petaling Street Night Market already crowded. Those stalls selling in the middle of the road need to bargain hard. As Shirley did not like to argue over price for small things we chose to buy from the shops with price tag. We found PUSAT PAKAIAN HARI-HARI Shop No: 95 at Jalan Petaling has large verity of children items. Alone with some children clothing's I bought a school bag for Yin for Rm 18.90. This is a trolley school beg with 2 rollers, a favourite among the small school children back home.
A few shop away the PAKAIAN EKONOMI KAWANKU Shop No: 99 is a similar shop also with large verity of economy clothing's. We bought a few item from that shop last afternoon.
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| Evening, Night and Dawn |
The above 3 photos were
taken on my first day and last day at Citus Hotel room 1007 at tree different
time of the day evening, night and dawn.
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