Batu Caves

Nestled within a 400-million-year-old limestone hill, Batu is a series of caves just 13 kilometres north of Kuala Lumpur and one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage sites outside of India. The main temple is set within the ‘Temple Cave’, the largest cavern, with soaring 100 metre ceilings and ornate shrines and alters. Built in the 1920s, the entrance to Temple Cave is particularly famous, a flight of 272 colourfully painted stairs guarded by a 43-metre golden statue of Murugan, the Hindu God of War. Other caves include Dark Cave, a two-kilometre-long untouched cave system, and Ramayana Cave, where you’ll find psychedelic dioramas and statues that depict the epic story of Hindu god Rama.

Surrounded by lush jungle, while you’re at the caves keep an eye out for troops of long-tailed macaques who can, on occasion, be a bit cheeky!