How to Get to Batu Caves from Kuala Lumpur

Batu Caves is one of the most famous Hindu shrines outside India and also one of Malaysia's most visited attractions. Located about 13 kilometres from the centre of Kuala Lumpur, these caves are noted for their underground mausoleums and the golden statue of Murugan, the God of War, which flanks the entrance to the shrine and welcomes visitors from a height of 43 metres.

Because of its proximity to Kuala Lumpur, you can get to Batu Caves in a number of ways, whether on an organised tour or travelling on your own by train, bus, taxi or even in a hired car, but whichever option you choose, you'll be able to partake in one of the best things to do in and around the Malaysian capital.

Visiting Batu Caves is one of the best things to do from Kuala Lumpur and one of the most outstanding alternatives is to do it on an organised private tour. These experiences can take you around the caves and also the National Mosque, which can hold around 15,000 people and is considered to be the largest in the country.

During this type of tour, you can also discover the golden statue of Murugan, the God of War, which stands at the entrance and is approximately 43 metres high. Inside Batu Caves you can also walk through the limestone caves, which are part of a network of four underground mausoleums that have been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Some of these organised tours also include a visit to the Thean Houn Temple, famous for its pagoda-style shrine, and the Chinatown Market, which worships the region's large Chinese community. Here you can not only experience the local culture, but also sample street food and buy handicrafts.

As a private tour, you are free to manage your own time and even make changes to the itinerary if any of the sites are not of interest to you or if you prefer to stay longer at some of the attractions on the circuit. These organised alternatives are also ideal if you plan to visit Kuala Lumpur with children or a family, as you will be able to have a minivan for your whole group.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 41 euros per person.
• Journeytime: about 4 hours.
• Advantages of this option: You will get to see one of Malaysia's most popular sites at your own pace and with a tailor-made itinerary.
• Disadvantages of this option: it can be a bit expensive compared to the other alternatives, which are usually very cheap.

Travelling by train from Kuala Lumpur to Batu Caves is both the traditional and the most economical way to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Batu Caves. As in the rest of Southeast Asia, the Malaysian railways are well developed, so you can find very effective services at good prices.

The train that will take you to the caves is the KTM Komuter train to Pulau Sebang station. Once you take the train from Kuala Lumpur station, you'll get off at Batu Caves and walk about three blocks to the Murugan statue that marks the entrance to the underground mausoleum. The train journey takes approximately 30 minutes and another advantage is that it offers great flexibility in terms of timetables.

The train journey from Kuala Lumpur to Batu Caves also passes through other nearby sites worth visiting, such as Sentul, an intermediate district in the Malaysian capital where you can find, among other attractions, the Performing Arts Centre, which is one of the most famous theatres in this destination and has a very particular architecture, which is why it is usually included in the tours of the best tours of Kuala Lumpur.

As this is the cheapest way to visit Batu Caves, you can get tickets for as little as 1 Euro each way.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 1 Euro per person per section.
• Journeytime: about 30 minutes.
• Advantages of this option: it is the cheapest alternative among all the available options and, in addition, it is a very efficient service, due to the development of the railway in Malaysia.
• Disadvantages of this option: It is the slowest alternative, although it offers a lot of flexibility in terms of timetables.

If you want to opt for a comfortable and cost-effective alternative, you can take a taxi to Batu Caves from Kuala Lumpur. Although this underground mausoleum is located in Gombak, north of the Malaysian capital, visitors often opt for this option, especially if they plan to visit this destination with children, family or a lot of luggage.

A taxi tour allows you to manage your own pace, choose your schedule flexibly and also plan an itinerary that can take you not only to Batu Caves and the Murugan Statue but also to Genting Highlands, the National Mosque, Thean Houn Temple, Chinatown and any other nearby sites you wish to include in your tour.

Taxis are usually available in the city centre, as well as in areas near the train and bus terminals. Also keep in mind that in Kuala Lumpur, as in the rest of Southeast Asia, haggling over prices is very popular, so it's advisable to agree on a fare with the driver before you get into the vehicle. This will help you avoid misunderstandings or high prices.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 6 euros.
• Journeytime: around 15 minutes.
• Advantages of this option: You can create your own itinerary and travel in comfort, which is ideal if you plan to visit Kuala Lumpur with children or a lot of luggage.
• Disadvantages of this option: You will need to coordinate the fare in advance, as haggling is popular in Malaysia.

Unlike other tourist sites, where the outskirts of major cities are accessible by bus, using the bus to visit Batu Caves from Kuala Lumpur, even though they are relatively close, is not very effective. Because there are no direct routes, you'll be forced to combine services, which can delay your journey and make it tiring.

The best alternative is to take the 03 bus from Kuala Lumpur to Wisma Sime Darby and from there combine with the 173 bus to Padang Awan, a stop about ten streets away from the entrance to Batu Caves.

Please note that this journey will take approximately 50 minutes, although this will depend on the frequency of services, which are very varied. This could make for a short stay in Kuala Caves. If you plan to visit Kuala Lumpur in 2 days, here is a list of activities you might be interested in to make the most of your itinerary.

On the other hand, despite the proximity between Kuala Lumpur and Batu Caves, the Malaysian capital's hop-on-hop-off tour buses do not reach the underground mausoleum, although they will drop you off at some stops close to public transport bus departure points, such as the Petronas Towers or the Perdana Botanical Gardens.

Useful details

• Fare: approximately 2 euros per service per leg.
• Journeytime: about 50 minutes.
• Advantages of this option: You can use stops around some of Kuala Lumpur's main attractions as a starting point.
• Disadvantages of this option: You will have to combine services and depend on the frequency of buses.

Hiring a car in Kuala Lumpur to tour the city and its surroundings is not a very common alternative, but if you are one of the travellers who prefer this option, you can access an exclusive and flexible option that allows you to manage your own time, build an itinerary and include, in addition to the visit to Batu Caves, other stops in your itinerary.

Although traffic in Kuala Lumpur is much more orderly than in other major Southeast Asian cities, Malaysia's good rail services mean that a car is not strictly necessary to get between cities. However, if you plan to travel in a group or with a lot of luggage, you may want to consider taking a car if you're planning to travel in a group, as you won't have to carry luggage on public transport.

Also keep in mind that during the tour you can combine the car tours with the best tours in Kuala Lumpur, which will allow you to save time on transfers, since many of the attractions are located at very separate points.

If you want to use your rental car just to visit Batu Caves, you'll want to rent a car in the centre of Kuala Lumpur and take Highway 1, which will get you there in about 15 minutes via Jalan Ipoh and Sentul.

Useful details

• Price: car rental costs approximately 35 euros per day.
• Travel time: about 15 minutes.
• Advantages of this option: You will have the flexibility to combine the Batu Caves tours with transfers to Kuala Lumpur's best excursion sites.
• Disadvantages of this option: In some places in and around the centre of Kuala Lumpur you will find it very difficult to find parking, so you will have to opt for paid alternatives or stay away from the busiest places.

Batu Caves offers a unique experience all year round, but the best time to visit is when the weather is mild, during the dry season, and during festival dates. The dry season generally runs from March to October and is ideal for exploring the caves and enjoying the sights without the interruption of the fairly frequent rains.

During these months, the weather is more predictable and temperatures are more pleasant, making it easier to climb the 272 steps leading up to the main shrine, which is crowned by the 43-metre-high statue of Murugan, one of the mausoleum's main attractions.

If you are looking to enjoy the Thaipusam celebration, which usually takes place between January and February, this period may be the best time to visit Batu Caves. During this Hindu festival, the caves become the stage for sacred processions and rituals, giving you a unique cultural experience. However, bear in mind that this event attracts significant crowds, so the influx of tourists may be higher.

On the other hand, if you prefer to avoid the crowds and enjoy a quieter atmosphere, the months of November to February are recommended. Although it is the rainy season, the beauty of the caves in this humid environment and the moderate temperatures can compensate for the possibility of some rainfall, plus you can join one of Kuala Lumpur's best guided tours away from the crowds.

The answer, as in all cases, will depend on your travel conditions. If you have no budget constraints, a private organised tour is the best alternative, as not only will you have a personalised itinerary that allows you to tour Batu Caves at your own pace, but you will also be able to visit other nearby sites that are just as interesting as the underground mausoleum and the statue of Murugan.

On some organised tours, you can also enjoy Kuala Lumpur's cuisine, either at restaurants near Batu Caves or at street stalls in Chinatown.

However, if you don't want to compromise your budget and want to save money, but still opt for an efficient alternative, you can use the train or taxi alternatives. Both are very cost-effective and will get you to Batu Caves quickly and comfortably. If you're travelling in a group or with your family, a taxi may be a better alternative, but the train is a very traditional option.

On the other hand, unlike other cities where the bus is one of the best options, in Kuala Lumpur, at least to get to Batu Caves, this means of transport is not very comfortable, as there are no direct services, so you will have to waste time in combinations. The other option available is a rental car, which is flexible and convenient, but rare due to the cost and difficulty in finding parking.

The best of each of the alternatives to get to Batu Caves