The city-state island of Singapore is one of the most popular destinations in South East Asia. Its developed, culturally rich and modern, making it an appealing destination for travellers all around the world. In many ways, it can be something of an introduction to Asia …
Kuala Lumpur is the capital city of Malaysia, a country broken up into two parts by the South China Sea. The capital is located on the Malaysian peninsular and is often referred to simply as KL. Its an extremely developed city with several iconic sites, …
Of all the things I did while visiting Kuala Lumpur, taking a trip to the Batu Caves was my favourite. Located a short drive to the north of the city centre to Selangor, these caves provide a combination of natural beauty and sacred Hindu shrines. Drawing pilgrims from all over the world for over 120 years, the Batu Caves have become one of the most iconic sights of Malaysia. While they are best known for the main Temple Cave, perched high above a massive staircase in the shadow of the world’s largest statue of Lord Murugan, there’s a lot more to see when visiting the Batu Caves. Allocate around 4 hours to make a trip out to get the most out of a trip to the caves.
The limestone caverns that have developed into the Batu Caves date back to prehistoric times over 400 million years ago. Originally inhabited by native peoples of the Bersisi and Temuan tribes, they were eventually discovered by Chinese settlers in 1860. It wasn’t until 1890 however that the caves became a place of Hindu worship, when an Indian trader named K Thamboosamy Pillai created a shrine to Lord Murugan after noticing the shape of the cave’s entrance.
Today, the Batu Caves are administered by Kuala Lumpur’s Sri Mahamariamman Temple and each year see thousands of Hindu worshippers flock to the shrines within during the Thaipusam religious festival in late January/early February. Dark Cave is an exception, serving as a natural reserve that until recently was administered by the Cave Management Group.
Batu Caves consists of the following sites, all of which I will cover in more detail below:
The Temple Cave is the main reason people come to the Batu Caves, and is often the only place at the caves that visitors have heard about before visiting. It is situated at the very top of a colourful 272 step staircase next to the gigantic Lord Murugan statue. Take a moment to appreciate the massive statue before ascending the stairs. The sheer size of this tribute to the Hindu God of War is mind blowing.
On your way up the staircase, you’ll encounter numerous (and I mean NUMEROUS) macaque monkeys. Make sure you keep an eye on your belongings as these critters are relentlessly persistent when it comes to grabbing your stuff in their quest for food. I swear I saw one actually unwrap a souvenir keychain from its packaging after taking it out of someone’s backpack! Obviously these are wild animals and shouldn’t be disrupted (you’ll see numerous signs telling you not to touch them), but be mindful of them as you’re heading up the stairs.
The Temple Cave is actually comprised of two interconnected caverns, both of which contain significant shrines. The second atrium up a (much) smaller staircase actually has no roof, so you can look out to the sky above. You can also look out at the Kuala Lumpur skyline from afar at the main Temple Cave entrance. Take a bit of time at Temple Cave to rest from the ascent and look on as worshippers pay their respects at the various shrines, including the temple of Valli Devanai (Lord Murugan’s wife).
One last note about the Temple Cave – being a place of worship, you’ll need to dress modestly. In particular, female travellers should make sure that shoulders and knees are covered. Sarongs are available for renting at the cave entrance if necessary.
I really enjoyed the Dark Cave, however its sadly no longer open to the public as of February 2019. The Dark Cave was located off a path near the top of the main Temple staircase could only be visited through guided tours of approximately 45-60 minutes. Unlike the rest of the caves, Dark Cave is not affiliated with the temples and instead showcases the natural side of the limestone caves in which the shrines have been constructed elsewhere.
I’m not sure what resulted in Dark Cave’s closure. It looks as though the company that conducted research and preservation of the ecosystem no longer running the cave as its website has now vanished. In any event, I’m glad I was able to visit Dark Cave when I did. Entering the cave with flashlights and hardhats, we were guided along a concrete path to see bats, spiders and other native species before reaching a chamber where the light crept in through a hole in the roof. All the while, our guide told us about the cave environment and pointed out numerous rock structures as we passed them. It was a very enjoyable experience that offered something different at Batu Caves.
The Cave Villa is a cultural centre of sorts that contains a two separate caves that you can explore. The Villa is located to the left of the giant staircase when facing the Temple Cave and costs RM15 to enter. As you make your way into the area, you’ll first come to the Sri Venkatchalapathi & Alamelu Temple and also a stage area where you can watch cultural dance performances on the hour.
Entering the first cave to the left of the complex, you’ll enter a beautifully painted cavern with plaques and displays providing information about Hinduism. There’s a lot to take in and you’ll want to spend a bit of time here to learn about all the different deities and the roles they play in the Hindu faith. I actually visited the Cave Villa after the Ramayana Cave, and it kind of makes me wish I did them in reverse with the benefit of the information provided here.
As for the second cave, its time for the bad news and why I wasn’t entirely comfortable with visiting the Cave Villa. It starts out similar to the first cavern with bright pastel coloured limestone walls, however you’ll eventually make your way into a reptile exhibit. Here you’ll find animals such as snakes and iguanas caged up in tiny cases. They did not look cared for at all. I thought the “no photos” signs throughout the area kind of gave greater credence to my concerns of animal cruelty taking place. I’d strongly discourage paying for photos with the reptiles here because of that and I wish the other part of the Cave Villa was ticketed separately to this section in general, because you know part of your admission is funding this practice.
The last of the Batu Caves is located closest to the train station, by the turquoise statue of the Hindu God Hanuman. The Ramayana Cave costs RM5 to enter, and its well worth doing so. After passing the golden horse and carriage sculpture on display outside the cavern, you’ll enter a large (and considerably less crowded) limestone cavern dedicated to the story of Lord Rama.
Throughout the Ramayana Cave, you’ll find countless sculptures telling the story of Lord Rama, a significant story of the Hindu faith. While there’s not a huge amount of signage, which makes things a little difficult to follow, there’s no denying just how impressive the sculpted brightly coloured dioramas are among the cavern walls. The huge sleeping sculpture of Kumbhakarna is especially beautifully crafted and worth spending time admiring.
When visiting the Ramayana Cave, you can also ascend a very steep staircase at the rear of the cavern. Up here, you’ll not only see two phallus shaped linga, but you’ll also being able to take in views of the cave from high above. I’d say its worth the steep ascent if you’re able. Overall, the Ramayana Cave is well worth taking the time to see, especially considering most guests don’t seem to visit.
Even with the closure of Dark Cave, there’s still a lot to do at the Batu Caves, so make sure you dedicate a few hours to exploring all that the caves have to offer. When you’re finished taking in the above destinations, spend a bit of time shopping for local souvenirs or eating authentic Indian cuisine at the nearby stalls (Restoran Rani is a good choice by the way). There’s also some restrooms nearby but bear in mind you’ll have to pay a small fee to use them.
I definitely think a visit to the Batu Caves should be part of any trip to Kuala Lumpur, even if you have a relatively limited amount of time in the city. I hope this guide has inspired you to check them out.
So what do you think of the Batu Caves? Did you make it to Dark Cave before it closed like I did? What was your favourite of the caves? Let me know below.
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Singapore’s River Safari is located next to the Singapore Zoo and also administered by Wildlife Reserves Singapore. It is the first and only river themed wildlife park in all of Asia. The River Safari is situated upon 12 hectares on the Upper Selator Reservoir and is home to over 240 species of both land and aquatic animals.
While the River Safari is nowhere near as large as the Zoo next door, the park serves as a great add-on to a trip to Singapore Zoo, both due to the proximity of the attractions, and their relative distance from the rest of the city. If you’re interested in exploring Singapore’s wildlife parks in one day, head to the River Safari after spending a half day at Singapore Zoo, before finishing up at the Night Safari. The parks are literally all next door to each other.
The River Safari can be toured within around 2 hours. As mentioned above, it works best combined with a trip to the Singapore Zoo and/or Night Safari. Most of the exhibits in the River Safari are undercover, making it a good choice for the afternoon (Singapore showers and all that!).
The River Safari is made up of a number of zones, each representing different global river ecosystems. Unlike Singapore Zoo, your progression through the River Safari is quite linear, so you shouldn’t have much trouble seeing all of the exhibits. Lets now break down the areas of the River Safari one by one so that you can get an idea of what to expect when you visit.
You’ll enter the River Safari through the Rivers of the World trail. In this section of the park, you’ll walk past a number of fresh water exhibits, each representing a different river and its distinct biodiversity. This serves as a great introduction to the river ecosystem, highlighting the immense amount of life found under the water’s surface around the world.
As you explore the Rivers of the World, you’ll travel to the following destinations:
Continuing on from the Yangtze River, the next part of the River Safari keeps the focus on China. The Giant Panda Forest is probably the most popular exhibit at the River Safari. Inside this bio-dome is the largest Panda exhibit in South East Asia, and is home to a pair of the critically endangered Giant Pandas. Named Kai Kia and Jia Jia, these two Pandas are on loan from the Chinese government (as I discovered all Giant Pandas in zoos around the world are) and are incredibly popular among guests to the Safari. The climate controlled bamboo forest in which you’ll find the two Giant Pandas lazing around is also home to the tree-dwelling Red Pandas. Spend some time admiring these beautiful animals here (and take a break from the humid air outside in the process).
Outside the Panda Exhibit, you can also get a quick bite at the Mama Panda Kitchen before continuing your journey along the river.
As you say goodbye to the Pandas, you’ll cross the river to the Boat Plaza. Here you can take a moment to relax and board a boat for a quick (15 minute) cruise out onto the Upper Seletar Reservoir. There’s no extra charge to go on this cruise and its a good way to break up your time exploring the animal exhibits at the River Safari. You might even get a view at the back of some of the exhibits at the Singapore Zoo next door before cruising out further to become immersed in the scenic environment of natural beauty.
On busy days, you may need to time your arrival here, but I was able to pretty much walk onto the boat rather than stand in line.
If one boat ride wasn’t enough for you, the River Safari has a second one. This one isn’t included in your admission, but tickets are only an extra $5.00 SGD (adults) and can be purchased at Boat Plaza. This attraction is actually like a theme park ride in that you board a boat and are swept along a track, symbolising a journey along the Amazon River. There’s a few short drops but its very tame. From your boat, you’ll see the jungle come to life around you as you pass enclosures of animals native to the world’s largest river, including jaguars, tapirs, capybaras and flamingos. You’ll have to look carefully to see some of the animals as they camouflage with the surroundings as your boat moves past, but that’s all part of the adventure.
The Amazon River Quest is a lot of fun and adds a unique element of exploration to the River Safari. Don’t miss it when you visit. Its well worth the additional cost.
The Squirrel Monkey Forest is a large walk-through dedicated to the most populous monkey in the Amazon rainforest. These highly curious monkeys spend most of their lives in the rainforest canopy, but as you explore this exhibit you’ll get up close and personal with them as they roam around you. If you time your visit right, you might be able to join a guided walk with a zookeeper around the enclosure to learn more about these active creatures.
The last part of the River Safari takes you away from the tree-tops to the submerged forest floor of the Amazon. The Amazon river is flooded for six months of the year, resulting in up to ten metres of water covering the forest floor. This unique ecosystem is replicated here in the world’s largest freshwater aquarium exhibit.
While venturing through this exhibit, you’ll see species such as the red bellied piranha, electric eel, arapaima (largest freshwater fish in South America) and giant river otter. The highlight though is undoubtedly the gigantic manatees. Also known as sea cows, these herbivorous marine mammals can weigh around 600kg and feed on sea plants and mangrove leaves for six to eight hours a day. The manatee has an incredibly complex digestive system (taking about a week to digest a single meal), with the creatures intestines giving it its bloated appearance.
If you really want to splurge, you can even take the Manatee Mania tour ($118 SGD per adult) for a chance to really get up close with these incredible animals, however the main exhibit that you’ll go through when finishing up your River Safari experience provides a large area where you can sit and admire them from afar.
While I didn’t get the chance to see it during my visit, the River Safari also hosts the Once Upon a River Story presentation multiple times a day. This show highlights the important relationship that the animals living in river ecosystems have with their aquatic environment and provides opportunities to get an up-close look at some of these animals in the process. The show generally runs at 11.30AM and 4.30AM each day and is located near Boat Plaza.
After visiting the River Safari, its inevitable that you will compare it to the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari. If you don’t have time to do all three of these attractions, this is definitely the one to skip. With that said, I still enjoyed my visit. The River Safari provides a unique mix between a zoo and aquarium and I can’t say I’ve been to a wildlife park like this one before. As I’ve said multiple times in this post, I view the River Safari as an ‘add-on’ to the Singapore Zoo experience. I wouldn’t make the trip out to the city’s outer reaches just for the River Safari, but along with the other attractions here, its a great way to spend part of your day. Besides, pandas and manatees are awesome. Now, grab a coffee out front and head over to the Night Safari.
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