Batu Caves

Guests to the high limestone peak where the Batu Caves reside must first cross under the gaze of powerful Lord Murugan, who stands, cast in gold, guarding this ancient Tamil shrine on the far northern fringes of Kuala Lumpur. The iconic effigy of the deity is one of the tallest of its kind in the whole Hindu world, and heralds the entrance to one of the most important Hindu sites in Malaysia.

A climb up the 272 steps to the entrance of the main complex opens up to the colossal cavern of the so-called Cathedral Cave, vaulted with a high ceiling and spiked with dangling stalactites. As you dodge the packs of cheeky macaques that cluster around the exterior, push on to the Dark Cave, with its intriguing spider species, or head back to the Cave Villa, where cultural exhibits fuse Hindu poetry with mural art and more. End your tour with your Batu Caves tour guide with a meal at any of the rows of spice-scented curry houses, churning out vegetarian thali platters aplenty.