This is the Murugan deity statue at the entrance of the Batu Caves -  a big Hindu shrines that was built in a cave.  In Malay, the word “Batu” means stone, it means it is the cave of stones.  It is located in Gombak district, 13 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur.

This is the Murugan deity statue and the long and tall staircases.  In order to get into the caves on the hill, we have to climb up 272 steps of the staircases.

This is the legs of the deity from the side view while we were standing on the staircases.

If you have never been there, can you imagine how tall is the staircases.

Colin and SiewPeng at the entrance of Batu Caves.

We came here by bus from our hotel and it cost us RM 2.50  per person per way.  Total for a return trip cost us only RM10.  We have asked how much the taxi costs, the taxi coupon at the hotel lobby would charge us RM 45 per trip, not including charges for waiting time and return trip.  We have saved at least half of a hundred ringgit.

 We were not cheated by the taxi again.  Taxi coupon should be banned and the use of meter should be enforced instead.

However, the bus did not stop right in front of Batu Caves, it stopped at one of the hidden street across the road where we had to walk about 10 minutes.  That was still acceptable.  While we took the bus to return to KL city, we just have to wait at a bus stop not far from the entrance of Batu Caves.

Well, now look at the following 3 pictures.   Can you notice the differences?

#1.

#2.

#3.

These three pictures were taken at a different height.  Take note on the horizon.  Picture #1 was taken while we were just starting to climb up the staircases, that is why the Murugan deity statue is taller than the horizon; whereas picture #3 is taken while we almost reached the cave entrance on top of the staircases, that is why the horizon and the scenery are above the head of the Murugan deity statue.

About 30 steps height, I looked down and took this photo.

I believe this tourist spot is properly and well planned because there is a big car park and a wide area in front of the entrance to let visitors take photos from the best angle of the huge golden colour statue.  Otherwise, I cannot imagine what it would look like when the believers celebrating their Hindu festival such as Thaipusam.  I have seen the photo of Batu Caves during Thaipusam, the staircases are full of people, and people are like ants.  Once you start going up, I don’t think you can come down half way.

This area was full of people walking here and there, stopping and talking the photo of Murugan deity statue.  While we were standing taking photos of ourselves, we could also see a lot of birds stopping beside us.

We did not go into this park next to the cave, but just looked at it from far away when we stood on the staircases, because it was quite late on a Sunday afternoon, and we were afraid that we could not catch a bus to go back to the city.  To go into this park, there is an entrance fee for it.  Next time, we will come earlier and take longer time to visit this park.

This was a very thin piece of cone-shaped thosai ( a South Indian cuisine, also know as Dosa)which cost me RM3.

Before we left Batu Caves, we walked around the shops selling souvenirs and Indian restaurants.  We dropped by one of the restaurants and had some food, because we had not taken our lunch yet.  I had thosai, and SiewPeng had her Chapati.

We were served with a small bucket of dahl on our table.

My thosai was served with addition pastes - coconut milk (Santan).

There are at least 2 or 3 types of soup to eat with our meal, but when one of the waiters put them on our table, his colleague or supervisor asked him to take them away, because we have told that guy that we are vegetarians and do not take any garlic and onion.  :)

Next, I will show you a series of Batu Caves posts.  I still have quite a lot of photos yet to be processed.