Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur

Batu Caves is a limestone hill 13 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur.
I was there on a daily trip renting a taxi from Kuala Lumpur and have to bargain a lot to get a good price. There are also some public transport to get to Batu Caves.
The light was quite good outside but of course my Canon was forced to do miracles inside the cave where the light was really low coming down just from the opening of the ceiling.

Chinese settlers knew Batu Caves and in 1860 began excavating guano to fertilize their crops; Batu Caves anyway became famous only when the hills were recorded by English colonial authorities.

Wooden steps up to the temple were built in 1920 and have been replaced today by concrete steps; actually is quite a long way to the top, and also inside the main cave, but the scenario is really amazing.

The Batu Caves complex consists of three main caves and a few smaller ones. The biggest one has a 100 meters high ceiling, to reach it must climb 272 steps.

At the base of the hill are two more temples, both of which are full of nice colorful Hindu statues and paintings.

A 42.7 meters high statue of Lord Muruga was unveiled in January 2006, having taken 3 years to construct.
It is the tallest Lord Muruga statue in the world.

The site is also well known for its numerous macaque monkeys, which visitors feed. These monkeys can be quite territorial and dangerous biting people, particularly children.

Not far from Batu Caves there is the Forestry Research Institute Park, an interesting place that usually few tourist are going to visit.
Is possible to have a nice walk inside the park and climb a long canopy over the trees.
The heat and humidity inside the park’s jungle is terrible and I was completely soaked in five minutes.

NOTE:
- the images have been realized using a digital SLR Canon 450D, wait to load completely the page before click on the photos, be aware that it can take several seconds -
- Batu Caves pictures / Malaysia – portfolio © www.artphotoasia.net -