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Experience the Wonders of Thaipusam in Malaysia’s Batu Caves
Published by Jonathan Vaas, Writer
Country: Malaysia 
The Experience
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 in various acts of devotion while carrying various types of “kavadi,” or burdens, all the way to the top. The burdens range from pitchers of milk to portable altars decorated with peacock feathers; the altars are attached to each devotee through dozens of body piercings, and can measure six feet high and up to 200 pounds. Thaipusam is not for the faint of heart, as fire walking and flagellation are also practiced, though participants claim to enter a trance that renders them unable to feel pain or even bleed. In recent years, daring tourists and pilgrims of other faiths have also participated in the challenging climb to the Temple Cave as kavadi-bearers. Although the festival of Thaipusam is the most popular time to visit, the Batu Caves are a can’t-miss destination any time of the year, offering a distinctively Hindu experience, boasting picturesque temples, colorful wooden sculptures and the Hindu worshipers dressed in their eye-catching sarongs.
When to Go to Thaipusam
The Thaipusam festival takes place in the Tamil month of Thai, which falls in late January/early February. Admission is free, but getting there is not. The easiest method of transportation is by taxi; arrange for your driver to wait for you at Batu Caves to bring you back to Kuala Lumpur, which is cheaper than getting a different taxi later.
Public transportation is also an option. From Golden Triangle you can reach the Batu Caves by public bus (11 and 11d), which can be boarded at the Puduraya Bus Terminal. Tourists can also take the KTM commuter train from KL Sentral station to the Sentul Station.
Public transportation is also an option. From Golden Triangle you can reach the Batu Caves by public bus (11 and 11d), which can be boarded at the Puduraya Bus Terminal. Tourists can also take the KTM commuter train from KL Sentral station to the Sentul Station.
Odds n' Ends
Tourists will find a few shops and restaurants near the parking area that serve authentic South Indian food at very reasonable prices. The area also features lots of side attractions, including rock climbing and exploring Cave Villa and Dark Cave. Lastly, watch out for the monkeys—they make for good photographs, but they’ll steal your munchies and handbags if they get the chance!
Want a Guide?
- Roam Bangkok to Singapore - GAPAdventures.com
- With three world class cities to explore, stunning beaches, cool hill stations, colourful and fun bazaars and all the spicy, yet delicious, street food you can handle, this journey gives you a great insight to a unique and diverse part of the world.
Places to Stay Nearby
Search over 900,000 global hotel deals from over 30 merchants. Book via Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Booking.com, Priceline and the websites of popular hotel chains.
Located in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, My Home Hotel is situated at No.66 Jalan Usahawan 7 Setapak. Other notable landmarks Batu Caves, Planetarium Negara and Masjid ... 5 miles away
$75 MYR+
Located on the north side of Kuala Lumpur's City centre, the Bestotel City Centre in Kuala Lumpur is within 15 kilometres from Bangsar, China town ... 5 miles away
$84 MYR+
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More Experiences Nearby
- Learn About The Unique Culture of Baba Nonya in Malacca Town, Malaysia
- If you're interested in the unique fusion of cultures that makes up the population of Malaysia, there's no better stop on your trip to the peninsula than the town of Malacca. Located along the Straits of Malacca, Malacca Town (also known as Melaka) is a World Heritage Site that gathers together historical shophouses and colonial architecture dating from the 15th- to 16th-century Straits Settlements. In particular, the unique culture of the Peranakans, or Baba Nonya, is better represented in Malacca than possibly anywhere else in the world. Malacca is well suited for exploration on foot. Stroll down Jonker's Walk in ...83 miles away.
While You're There - Tours and Trips Nearby
Spend a very special day at the Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary on a private tour you'll never forget. This truly exciting experience takes you to ...7.69 miles away via Kuala Lumpur.
$100+
See Kuala Lumpur's famous attractions, old and new, on a comprehensive, eight-hour day tour. You'll see the contrasting sights of Kuala Lumpur's Indo-Moorish architecture and ...7.69 miles away via Kuala Lumpur.
$71+
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Books and DVDs
- Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei Travel Guide - LonelyPlanet.com
- Visitors have been coming to the felicitous tropical crescent of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei for over 1000 years so you'd be forgiven for thinking that there's little new to discover in the region.
- Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2009: 850 Trends, Destinations, Journeys & Experiences for the Year Ahead
- A Year of Festivals: How to Have the Time of Your Life (Paperback)
Elsewhere on the Web
- Thaipusam - About.com
- Thaipusam is an important festival observed by the Hindus of southern India during the Tamil month of Thai (January - February).
- Thai Pusam
- Thai Pusam is another festival in which people enjoy themselves to the hilt in rich pageantry. Palani is one of the most exciting pilgrim cities of India, in the immediate post-harvest season of the ten-day Thai Pusam festival in the Periyanâyaki Temple
- Thaipusam - Wikipedia.org
- Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan/Feb).
- Batu Caves - TravelMalaysiaGuide.com
- The huge Batu Caves are the best well known attraction near Kuala Lumpur; just 13km north of the capital, a short distance off the Ipoh road.
Media References
- Thaipusam - BBC,com (television)
- The Hindu festival of Thaipusam is about faith, endurance and penance.
- Singapore: Thaipusam Walk - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
- Adorned in fruit, hooks, and steel rods, a Singaporean sets off on his Thaipusam walk through the city.
- Singapore: Know Before You Go - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
- Adorned in fruit, hooks, and steel rods, a Singaporean sets off on his Thaipusam walk through the city.
- WHAT'S DOING IN; Singapore (newspaper)
- At the mouth of the Singapore River, long the forsaken appendix of a financial district that locked down at the end of each working day, two new landmarks herald the transformation.
- Thaipusam - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
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Language Guides
Malay 
,
Mandarin
are some of the languages spoken in Malaysia. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!
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