B is for Batu Caves

B is for Batu Caves.

When in Kuala Lumpur, capital city of Malaysia, (KL for short), chances are your guided tour itinerary would include a visit to the Batu Caves.

Batu Caves is a limestone hill that has a series of caves and cave temples (Hindu) located on the fringe of the city center in Gombak, Selangor. In fact, it is along the stretch of MRR2 (Middle Ring Road 2, one of a number of highways in the Klang Valley). It is visible from the highway itself. That's how easily accessible it is.

Rising almost 100m above the ground, the Batu Caves temple complex consists of three main caves and a few smaller ones. The limestone forming Batu Caves is said to be around 400 million years old.. Wikipedia. 272 concrete steps up will take you to the main Temple Caves.

Standing at 42.7 m (140 ft) high, the world's tallest statue of Murugan, a Hindu deity, is located outside Batu Caves.

The main temple of Murugan
Tip:
If you don't mind crowds or want to soak in some local culture, time your visit to Batu Caves to during Thaipusam, a Hindu festival that can see thousands making it to the caves either as devotees or plain visitors for a life-time experience. I kid you not. Kavadi-carriers are indeed a sight to behold.


Image source: Wikipedia

Thaipusam in Kuala Lumpur

Source: Tourism Malaysia

Were you caught up in a traffic crawl yesterday or even this morning/today? The reason could be road closure and/or traffic diversion to facilitate the procession of the Silver Chariot from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Jalan Tun H.S Lee to Batu Caves. This is in conjunction with Thaipusam, which is tomorrow, February 9.

Kuala Lumpur roads were closed from 10pm yesterday, February 7. The chariot began it's procession from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Jalan Tun H.S Lee, Kuala Lumpur and is expected to arrive in Batu Caves at 2pm on Wednesday, i.e. this afternoon.

The 13 affected roads are Jalan Tun H.S Lee, Jalan Sultan, Jalan Pudu, Jalan Tun Perak, Lebuh Ampang, Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Jalan Dang Wangi, Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Ipoh, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Ipoh Batu 15 and Jalan Batu Caves.

If you happen to be around the route, stop to take in the sights. The chariot does stop along the route for devotees to worship as well as for breaking of coconuts. It's quite a site to watch and the Silver Chariot is really a beautiful thing to see, certainly an extraordinary subject for photo-snaps.

The breaking of the coconut, in Hinduism, symbolises the breaking of the ego, and that anyone who wants to be spiritual or divine needs to first get rid of the ego. Devotees break coconuts from one to as many as thousands. In Penang, devotees have been advised to break just one. one will suffice. They have been encouraged to donate the money to charitable causes instead.

The roads will be closed again from 4pm on Feb 10 to 2am on February 11 as the procession returns from Batu Caves to the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple.

This time, 14 roads will be closed and they are Jalan Batu Caves, Jalan Ipoh Batu 15, Jalan Pekeliling, Jalan Ipoh, Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Dang Wangi, Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Jalan Ampang, Lebuh Ampang, Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Pudu, Lorong Pudu (roundabout), Jalan Cheng Lock and Jalan Tun H.S. Lee.

Here's the map of the route courtesy of The Star..

If you have read about a fourth staircase being constructed, it was built to ease congestion in Batu Caves.

Devotees carrying paal kudam will use the first staircase and kavadi bearers will use the second staircase.

The third and the fourth staircases are for devotees coming down from the temple,” he said.

Devotees have been advised to make way for kavadi bearers during the festival, and only traditional kavadi would be permitted.

272-step Batu Caves - Wikipedia
Old picture, no 4th staircase yet.

Happy Thaipusam!


More about Thaipusam:
- Thaipusam – A divine Hindu celebration - Tourism Malaysia
- Thaipusam - Wikipedia

Today is Thaipusam

This year, Thaipusam is celebrated today, January 17. Thaipusam is a Hindu festival that is celebrated on a large scale especially in Penang and in Kuala Lumpur. In Kuala Lumpur, the action is at the Batu Caves.

As in previous years, Batu Caves play host to thousands, mostly devotees although tourists with cameras and camcorders make up a good percentage of the teeming crowd. The weather is great today (as in no rain with mild sunshine) for a visit to this once-a-year event though you would have to put up with the crowd (everywhere you turn), the sights (kavadi-carriers) and smells (of food, flowers and incense) of such a gargantuan event. Frankly, this could be a once-a-lifetime kind of experience.

However, if you are not participating and do not want to be caught in the horrendous traffic jam, stay away from the Gombak/Sentul area or anywhere near Batu Caves.

If you are heading there anyway and need help with its location, this map may be useful.


View Larger Map

Image source: Wikipedia

Thaipusam 2013 at Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur

Tomorrow is Thaipusam. Temple officials expect a turnout of 1.6 million people at Batu Caves this year.

If you are living near Batu Caves, you will be able to watch the fireworks display tonight at midnight. The 15-minute fireworks display will be one of the highlights of the celebration this weekend.

The silver chariot carrying the sta­tue of Lord Muruga made its annual 15km journey, leaving the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Jalan Bandar at 12.30am this afternoon arriving at Batu Caves at 2.30pm this afternoon.

Some 150,000 devotees followed the procession and thousands more lined the route holding trays of offerings and smashing coconuts along its path.

Devotees and visitors were advised to refrain from wearing too much jewellery and to secure their belongings.

An information and com­p­laints counter has been open­ed near the temple entrance.

Musical troupes help devotees on their journey to the temple. Here is a troupe in practice.

The Akini Periya Gandhi Amman Urumee Melam group practising for the big day at Batu Caves. — By S.S. KANESAN / The Star
Thaipusam isn’t just about hooks or music — it’s a journey of faith. This article provides a good insight into Thaipusam.

Happy Thaipusam!

Celebrating Thaipusam in Kuala Lumpur - Feb 7 2012

Oh gosh, he seems to be everywhere of late or am I being overly sensitive to his presence at every little function? Or perhaps the general election is imminent?

He, is none other than our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. In this image in The Star, he was officiating the Thaipusam celebration at Batu Caves. Beside him is his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

Hindus celebrate Thaipusam today Devotees and tourists throng Batu Caves for Thaipusam.

Day of devotion - A sea of people flooded Batu Caves early Tuesday to celebrate Thaipusam, a day of thanksgiving and paying penance for Lord Muruga. -FAIHAN GHANI/The Star