Batu Caves

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Batu caves lie a simple train ride taking less than half an hour ‘door to door’ from here.  They are the site of a Hindu temple and shrine and so the principal tourists here are Hindu and the food available is geared to their diet ie primarily vegetarian.  Some of them may not look to salubrious but the food is good.  Accompanying our Thali plate we had coconut water direct from the coconut with the top cut off.  These are obviously cut young whilst there is a lot of water inside.  The meat’ inside was so soft and scoopable, almost the sensation of a soft lychee.  You walk up 272 steps to get to the caves.  There are flat areas every so many steps so you don’t have to do them all in one go.

The first cave reached is the ‘Dark Cave.  Here we took the educational tour for 35RM taking about 45mins.  Provided with safety helmets worn backwards - not for style I hasten to add but rather for ease of visibility

At one point all torch lights were extinguished to experience TOTAL blackness. Even after allowing eyes to adjust, there was nothing.  Everything living in there was blind as there was nothing to see, so they weren’t disturbed by the flashlights

    Next steps lead up lead to the main Temple cave.  There is a lot of construction work being work being carried out here, building edifices around the deity status and shrines.  Visitors are asked to help carry materials to the upper cave .  The cave here opens out to the sky

  

Not to be missed is a cave off to the left when you leave the station.  At 5RM per person, it’s a great spectacle.