Batu Caves
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Batu Caves is a limestone hill in Gombak district about 13 kilometres north of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia which has a series of caves and cave temples. It takes its name from the Sungai Batu or Batu River, which flows past the hill. Batu Caves is also the name of the nearby village.
Batu Caves is said to have been discovered by K. Thamboosamy an Indian trader in the 1800s. The 'Orang Asli' (local aboriginal tribes called Jakun) had been aware of the caves for a long time. However, they became famous only after it was discovered by the American Naturalist, William Hornaday in 1878.
Of the various cave temples that comprise the site, the largest and best known is the Temple or Cathedral Cave, so named because it houses several Hindu shrines beneath its 100 m vaulted ceiling.
These serve as the focus of the Hindu community's yearly Thaipusam (Tamil : தைபூசம்) festival. A procession begins at the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, KL and lasts eight hours. In 2006, the festival attracted more than 1.5 million pilgrims, making it one of the largest gatherings in history.<ref>http://www.snni.org/cgi-bin/snni2/list_item.cgi?archives/2003_01_19/malaysia/st1901_4.txt Smart News Network "Elephants Join This Year's Chariot Procession"</ref>
The caverns contain a diverse range of cave fauna, including some unique species, such as Liphistiidae spiders and Eonycteris fruit bats. The site is well known for its numerous macaque monkeys, which visitors feed, sometimes involuntarily. In order to maintain the cave's ecology, access is restricted. A private company is running tours to the caves. 
There are 272 steps that a visitor has to climb in order to access the temple at the summit of the hill. Many of the shrines relate the story of Lord Murugan's victory over Soorapadam. An audio tour is available to visitors. At the base of the hill are two more cave temples, Art Gallery Cave and Museum Cave, both of which are full of Hindu statues and paintings. A little below the Temple Cave is the Dark Cave, a two-kilometer network of relatively untouched caverns.
Contents |
[edit] Tourism
Many foreigners are making a beeline to Malaysia to fulfil their vows at the Batu Caves temple here, heralding a new wave of pilgrimage tourism in the country. Hindus are coming to Batu Caves on pilgrimage throughout the year and not just for Thaipusam.
“Batu Caves is now on the world map for Hindu pilgrims,” said Malaysian Hindu Sangam president A. Vaithilingam.
Image:Bantu Caves Malaysia 2006-02-11.jpg In 2006, the festival attracted more than 1.5 million pilgrims, making it one of the largest gatherings in history.<ref>http://www.snni.org/cgi-bin/snni2/list_item.cgi?archives/2003_01_19/malaysia/st1901_4.txt Smart News Network "Elephants Join This Year's Chariot Procession"</ref>
The 42.7m high statue of Lord Murugan shown in the top photo was unveiled in Jan 2006, having taken 3 years to construct.
[edit] Developments
The caves had been a target of the Al-Mau'nah sect bombings, but only minor damage was done.
A new RM515mil KTM Komuter rail extension from Sentul to Batu Caves is expected to be completed in May 2009.
[edit] References
- <references/>
- Batu Caves now on world map for Hindu pilgrims, The Star, November 23, 2006
[edit] External links
- Batu Caves Tour and Pictures
- Batu Caves
- Thaipusam at Batu Caves, Malaysia
- Who is Lord Murugan?
- History of Batu Caves
