TempleFree entry

Batu Caves

#10of 10 places to visit in Kuala LumpurKuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Also known as Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple · Batu Caves Temple

Quick answer

Opening hours: 06:00–21:00 and 07:00–21:00 and 17:00–18:00. Entry is free. Allow 2 hrs. Best time: 07:00 - 09:00.

Updated 18 September 2026 · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · 4 min read

Get directionsOfficial site

Photo: Chainwit. / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Opening hours: 06:00–18:00; Temple complex commonly listed as daily 06:00-21:00, with one source giving 07:00-21:00; Ramayana Cave and Cave Villa typically close earlier, around 17:00-18:00. Verify at the site.
Entry fee: Free
Time needed: 2 hrs
Best time of day: 07:00 - 09:00
Best months: Jan – Feb, Jun – Aug
Address: Batu Caves, Gombak, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia

About Batu Caves

Batu Caves is a limestone hill about 13 km north of Kuala Lumpur, formed more than 400 million years ago and rising roughly 325 metres, and its Temple Cave houses the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple dedicated to Murugan. A 42.7-metre gold statue of Murugan, unveiled in January 2006, stands at the foot of 272 concrete steps built in 1940 and painted in rainbow colours in 2018. Entry to the Temple Cave is free, as of 2026, and the climb takes 10 to 20 minutes.

Best time of day: 07:00 - 09:00. Before the heat, the crowds and the most active monkeys.

Batu Caves timings

Opening hours: 06:00–18:00; Mon–Sun 06:00–21:00 and 07:00–21:00 and 17:00–18:00; Temple complex commonly listed as daily 06:00-21:00, with one source giving 07:00-21:00; Ramayana Cave and Cave Villa typically close earlier, around 17:00-18:00. Verify at the site.
Closed on: Open every day

Mon–Sun	06:00–21:00 and 07:00–21:00 and 17:00–18:00

Good to know: Thaipusam, usually in late January or February, brings large crowds and a procession that starts the night before; check the annual date.

Opening hours compiled from malaysia.travel and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Batu Caves ticket price

Entry fees for Batu Caves
Ticket	Price
Standard ticket	Free
Concession (student / senior)	Free
Children	Free

Batu Caves' Temple Cave has no entry fee, as of 2026. Side attractions charge separately, and sources conflict on Ramayana Cave (RM5 adult in one source, RM15 in another) and Cave Villa (about RM15 adult), so verify at the site. Sarong hire or purchase for those who need one costs roughly RM5-15 depending on the seller, and the Dark Cave is by separately booked guided tour only.

Prices compiled from malaysia.travel and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Best time to visit Batu Caves

Quiet
Moderate
Busy
Very busy

06:30 - 09:00
Early ClimbBest time to go
Worshippers and joggers use the steps in cooler air, with fewer monkeys and no queue at the shrine.
Quiet
09:00 - 12:00
Tour Buses
Tour buses and school trips arrive, and the 272 steps fill with slow-moving visitors.
Busy
12:00 - 16:00
Midday Heat
The steps are hot and crowded, macaques are most active, and the sarong queue is longest.
Very busy
16:00 - 21:00
Evening Prayer
Devotees dominate as the light softens and the temple prepares for evening prayers.
Moderate

History of Batu Caves

Batu Caves became a Hindu pilgrimage site in the 1890s, when the temple in the main cave was founded and dedicated to Murugan, the god of war and victory worshipped especially by the Tamil community. The temple has drawn devotees for more than a century, and in 1940 the 272 concrete steps were built, following a proposal first made in the 1930s. The limestone is over 400 million years old, and the steep cliff face rises above a wide cave chamber with a high vaulted roof.

Batu Caves added its 42.7-metre gold Murugan statue in January 2006, among the tallest Murugan statues in the world, and the steps were repainted in rainbow colours in 2018. Thaipusam, the festival in late January or February, draws hundreds of thousands of devotees, and the Silver Chariot procession leaves the Kuala Lumpur temple the night before. Side caves include the Ramayana Cave with painted scenes and the Dark Cave, a protected cave reached by guided tour.

Rules & etiquette at Batu Caves

Batu Caves enforces a modest dress code in the Temple Cave: shoulders and knees must be covered for men and women. Visitors in shorts or sleeveless tops are asked to rent or buy a sarong near the steps, and the price varies by seller, so carry cash. Shoes are removed at the top before entering the shrine area.

Batu Caves has a large population of long-tailed macaques that grab food from hands, open bags and pockets without warning, so visitors should keep food sealed and hold phones and cameras firmly. Feeding the monkeys is discouraged, and plastic bags attract them. Stay quiet in the shrine, avoid pointing feet at the deity and wait behind worshippers making offerings. The Dark Cave admits visitors only by separately booked guided tour, and photographs of devotees should be taken with permission.

Tips for visiting Batu Caves

1
Batu Caves is best reached by KTM Komuter from KL Sentral, which costs about RM2.60 one way and takes roughly 30 to 35 minutes, as of 2026; e-hailing cars cost about RM25-40 depending on traffic. Arrive between 07:00 and 09:00, since the 272 steps are slow and exposed after 10:00 and macaques are less active early in the day.
2
Batu Caves' Temple Cave is free, but Ramayana Cave and Cave Villa charge, and prices differ between sources, so ask at the counters before paying. Carry a small bag with water only and a sarong or covered clothing, and skip the food. Thaipusam brings very large crowds and road closures, so avoid the days around it unless attending. Allow about two hours in total, then return to the city for lunch, since the site alone rarely needs longer.

How to reach Batu Caves

The red star is Batu Caves; the numbered pins are the 8 nearest places in our guides, each showing its rank in its city. Tap a pin for details.

Batu Caves, Gombak, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor, MalaysiaDirections in Google Maps

From KL Sentral
13 km · 30-35 min
About RM2.60 one way, per a third-party guide; verify current fare
From KLCC
13 km · 30-50 min
About RM25-40 by e-hailing, varying with traffic
From Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)
68 km · 80-100 min
About RM55 by KLIA Ekspres plus about RM2.60 by KTM; verify current fares

Nearest airport

From Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), roughly 65-70 km away, via KLIA Ekspres to KL Sentral then KTM Komuter.

Nearest station

From Batu Caves KTM Komuter station, at the foot of the site.

Batu Caves FAQs

Is Batu Caves free to enter?

Yes. The Temple Cave at Batu Caves is free, as of 2026. Side attractions such as Ramayana Cave and Cave Villa charge their own fees, and sources disagree on the exact prices.

What should I wear to Batu Caves?

Cover shoulders and knees. Visitors in shorts or sleeveless tops must rent or buy a sarong at the base of the steps, usually costing about RM5-15.

How many steps are there at Batu Caves?

There are 272 steps up to the Temple Cave. They were built in 1940 and painted in rainbow colours in 2018, and the climb takes 10 to 20 minutes.

How do I get to Batu Caves from Kuala Lumpur?

Take the KTM Komuter from KL Sentral to Batu Caves station, about 30 to 35 minutes and roughly RM2.60 one way, per a third-party guide. E-hailing costs about RM25-40.

Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records, and published only after the checks in How we write these guides. Nobody from Traveliac has visited this place. Last updated 18 September 2026. How we rank and check places