About Batu Caves
The statue comes first: Murugan, a Hindu deity, all in gold, about 43 meters tall, unveiled in 2006. Behind him, 272 steps, painted in different colors in 2018, climb to the Temple Cave, a hall with a very high ceiling and shrines. The temple has been here since 1891, and Thaipusam, which draws hundreds of thousands of worshippers between January and February, has been held here since 1892.
The long-tailed macaques live on the staircase and can spot a snack bag from far away: keep your food stowed and don't feed anyone. There is a dress code with knees covered, and visitors in shorts can rent a sarong at the foot of the stairs. At the base, the Ramayana Cave, with scenes from the epic and a 15-meter Hanuman at the entrance, charges a separate admission fee.
