Batu Caves

Lying just north of Kuala Lumpur not far from Temple Park are the Batu Caves, another visually enchanting natural marvel. Carved out of limestone, these meticulously sculpted caverns are sacred Hindu shrines. Nevertheless, visitors are allowed to visit daily. Inside you’ll find a Hindu Temple, as well as an art gallery featuring mythological Hindu statues. Discovered in 1878, the Batu Caves are part of a large limestone outcrop and house several items of religious significance to Hindus. An exhausting, 272-step climb, during which scores of cute but aggressive monkeys beckon for munchies, brings you to the Temple Cave, which features a Shrine to Lord Subramania, a Hindu deity. Inside this cave it is dark, damp, cool and a little eerie, but nonetheless spectacular. If the climb up is too daunting, The Museum Cave on the ground level has bright paintings of Hindu gods and other mythical figures. Real coconuts are sold at the bottom of the steps, too, as a refreshing treat after the climb up and down.

The most fascinating time to visit the Batu Caves is during the festival of Thaipusam, which usually falls in January or February. This remarkable festival features hundreds of Hindu devotees who make a journey from a river near the bottom of the steps up to the Temple Cave carrying on their shoulders "kavadis," huge, half-wheel-like structures which are hooked into the devotees' skin. Some devotees also pierce their tongues and cheeks with sharp skewers. This is done to reflect gratitude for blessings received or penance for past sins. It is an awesome, if not gruesome, sight.