Among Malaysia’s natural gems, the Batu Caves may be the most awe-inspiring, although they remain an unknown destination to many western tourists. In the eastern world this limestone network of temples and 400-million-year-old caverns, located just 10 miles north of Kuala Lumpur, is hardly a secret; the caves, adorned by a 100-foot golden statue of a Hindu god, are the focal point of the Hindu festival of Thaipusam, which attracts over 1.5 million religious pilgrims every year. Malaysia’s Thaipusam festival is one of the largest annual gatherings anywhere on Earth, famed for its eight-hour procession that begins in Kuala Lumpur and culminates in a flight of 272 steps to the top of the Temple Cave. This arduous journey outdoes any stairmaster, as the participants engage ...
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