Day Trip to Batu Caves & Firefly

The Batu Caves in Malaysia are one of the most important Hindu religious sites outside of India and are a must-see once you tire of shopping and wandering Kuala Lumpur.

Just eight short miles north of the city, the Batu Caves are just one of the many interesting things to do around Kuala Lumpur. The caves attract around 5,000 visitors a day who come to climb the grueling 272 steps up to the caverns.

The Batu Caves are a focal point for Hindu Malaysians, particularly during Thaipusam: they house a 113-year-old temple, along with an interesting array of Hindu artwork and shrines.

Every year during the Hindu festival of Thaipusam, the Batu Caves attract more than a million devotees and spectators. The eight-hour procession of music and ceremony leaves offerings before a giant statue of Lord Murugan, the Hindu God of War.

What to Expect at the Batu Caves

Approaching the caves, the first thing you notice is a towering golden statue of Lord Murugan. Erected in 2006, this statue is the largest in the world dedicated to the deity and stands guard to the 272 leg-burning steps that lead up to the cave entrances.

As you make your way up the steps, you will undoubtedly be entertained by a tribe of monkeys that feed off the steady stream of tourists. You may take pictures, but pay attention to your belongings!

Resting points along the stairs provide nice views of the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur.

Some Things to Know Before Visiting the Batu Caves

Admission to Batu Caves is free.

The caves are open all year from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

The area is not very handicap-accessible, so senior travelers may have difficulty getting up the stairs to the entrances.

The wild caves are very muddy; bring a change of clothes if you plan to take any of the spelunking tours.

There are stalls and restaurants offering Indian food outside the entrance of the Batu Caves.

At Melawati Hill (Monkey Hill) at this area you may experience the nice view of Kuala Selangor and can explore the Fort Altingsburg, the Royal Mausoleum and the legendary 100 steps leading to the fabled execution block. You also can encounter with the silver-leaf monkeys at this spot. The silvery lutung is a medium-sized monkey with a long, non-prehensile tail. It has grey-tipped, dark brown or black fur, giving it a uniform silvery appearance. Unlike some related species, there are no paler markings on the face or body, except for a patch of whitish hair on the groin of females. A crest of fur runs along the top of the head, and the hair on the cheeks is long, often obscuring the ears. The hands and feet are hairless, with dark coloured skin, and have opposable thumbs and toes. Females range from 46 to 51 centimetres (18 to 20 in) in head-body length, with an average weight of 5.7 kilograms (13 lb) and a tail length of 67 to 75 centimetres (26 to 30 in). Males are slightly larger, from 50 to 58 centimetres (20 to 23 in) in length, with an average weight of 6.6 kilograms (15 lb) and a tail length of 67 to 75 centimetres (26 to 30 in). Like other langurs, the silvery lutung has a large three-chambered stomach to digest the cellulose found in its herbivorous diet. This allows for fermentation of food, and has some similarities with the stomach of ruminants. The intestine is unusually long, even compared to those of other langurs, and has a number of pouches along its length, which carry out further fermentation of plant matter. The teeth have grinding ridges and other modifications to allow the more efficient processing of tough leaves.

We will be leaving to Pasir Penambang or the fisherman village for you to go with a boat ride for firefly tour and later can have a dinner at the seafood restaurant by the river of Kuala Selangor. After finish the dinner the main attraction is to go with a motor boat along the Kuala Selangor River to see or watch the fireflies at the mangrove area. Fireflies, locally-known as ‘kelip kelip’, are perhaps Kuala Selangor’s biggest attraction. Emitting bright light from its abdomen, this bug tends to favour mangrove swamp areas. During the night, they can be seen illuminating the mangrove trees lining the riverbanks, while they feed on the leaves' nectar.