Batu Caves

The limestone

The limestone is more than 400 million years old, but the caves are younger

The limestone formed more than 400 million years ago, but that age refers to the rock, not the caves. The caves are thought to have begun forming in the late Cretaceous or early Tertiary, 60-120 million years ago.

Early use

The Temuan sheltered here, and from the 1860s settlers dug guano

The caves were used as shelters by the indigenous Temuan people. In the 1860s Chinese settlers began excavating guano from the caves for use as fertiliser, and in 1878 the American naturalist William Hornaday visited.

A Hindu temple

K. Thamboosamy promoted the caves as a Hindu site, and the temple opened in 1891

K. Thamboosamy, an Indian Tamil trader, promoted the caves as a place of Hindu worship. A temple to Murugan was completed in 1891, and Thaipusam was first celebrated in 1892. The cave entrance resembles a vel, the spear of Murugan.

The steps

Wooden steps came in 1920, and 272 concrete steps replaced them in 1940

Pilgrims first had to climb the hill on foot, until wooden steps were installed in 1920. The wooden stairs began to deteriorate in the 1930s, and 272 concrete steps were built in 1940. In 2018 each set of steps was repainted in a different colour.

272concrete steps built in 1940

Thaipusam

The caves are the focal point of the yearly Thaipusam festival

Tamil Hindus celebrate Thaipusam each year at the caves. Devotees prepare by keeping clean, praying, following a vegetarian diet and fasting for 48 days. A procession starts at the Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Kuala Lumpur, with a silver chariot carrying idols of Murugan and his consorts Valli and Deivanai.