Batu Caves
Batu Caves is a limestone hill that
has a series of caves and cave temples in Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia. It takes
its name from the Sungai Batu (Batu River), which flows past the hill and also
it is the tenth (Pattu in Tamil) limestone hill from Ampang. Batu Caves is also
the name of the nearby village.
The cave is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, and is dedicated to Lord Murugan. It is the focal point of Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia.
Batu Caves in short also referred as 10th Caves or Hill for Lord Muruga as there are six important holy shrines in India and four more in Malaysia. The three others in Malaysia are Kallumalai Temple in Ipoh, Tanneermalai Temple in Penang and Sannasimalai Temple in Melacca.
The cave is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, and is dedicated to Lord Murugan. It is the focal point of Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia.
Batu Caves in short also referred as 10th Caves or Hill for Lord Muruga as there are six important holy shrines in India and four more in Malaysia. The three others in Malaysia are Kallumalai Temple in Ipoh, Tanneermalai Temple in Penang and Sannasimalai Temple in Melacca.
The limestone forming Batu Caves is
said to be around 400 million years old. Some of the cave entrances were used
as shelters by the indigenous Temuan people (a tribe of Orang Asli).
Batu Caves was promoted as a place
of worship by K. Thamboosamy Pillai, an Indian trader. He was inspired by the
'vel'-shaped entrance of the main cave and was inspired to dedicate a temple to
Lord Murugan within the caves. In 1890, Pillai, who also founded the Sri
Mahamariamman Temple, Kuala Lumpur, installed the murti (consecrated statue) of
Sri Murugan Swami in what is today known as the Temple Cave. Since 1892, the
Thaipusam festival in the Tamil month of Thai (which falls in late
January/early February) has been celebrated there.
Wooden steps up to the Temple Cave were built in 1920 and have since been replaced by 272 concrete steps. Of the various cave temples that comprise the site, the largest and best known is the Temple Cave, so named because it houses several Hindu shrines beneath its high vaulted ceiling.
The Batu Caves serve as the focus of the Hindu community's yearly Thaipusam (Tamil: தைபூசம்) festival. They have become a pilgrimage site not only for Malaysian Hindus, but Hindus worldwide, from countries such as India, Australia and Singapore.
A procession begins in the wee hours of the morning on Thaipusam from the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Kuala Lumpur leading up to Batu Caves as a religious undertaking to Lord Muruga lasting eight hours. Devotees carry containers containing milk as offering to Lord Murugan either by hand or in huge decorated carriers on their shoulders called 'kavadi'.
The kavadi may be simple wooden arched semi-circular supports holding a carrier foisted with brass or clay pots of milk or huge, heavy ones which may rise up to two metres, built of bowed metal frames which hold long skewers, the sharpened end of which pierce the skin of the bearers torso. The kavadi is decorated with flowers and peacock feathers imported from India. Some kavadi may weigh as much as a hundred kilograms.
Wooden steps up to the Temple Cave were built in 1920 and have since been replaced by 272 concrete steps. Of the various cave temples that comprise the site, the largest and best known is the Temple Cave, so named because it houses several Hindu shrines beneath its high vaulted ceiling.
The Batu Caves serve as the focus of the Hindu community's yearly Thaipusam (Tamil: தைபூசம்) festival. They have become a pilgrimage site not only for Malaysian Hindus, but Hindus worldwide, from countries such as India, Australia and Singapore.
A procession begins in the wee hours of the morning on Thaipusam from the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Kuala Lumpur leading up to Batu Caves as a religious undertaking to Lord Muruga lasting eight hours. Devotees carry containers containing milk as offering to Lord Murugan either by hand or in huge decorated carriers on their shoulders called 'kavadi'.
The kavadi may be simple wooden arched semi-circular supports holding a carrier foisted with brass or clay pots of milk or huge, heavy ones which may rise up to two metres, built of bowed metal frames which hold long skewers, the sharpened end of which pierce the skin of the bearers torso. The kavadi is decorated with flowers and peacock feathers imported from India. Some kavadi may weigh as much as a hundred kilograms.
Getting
There
Batu Caves is easily reached by
commuter train at Batu Caves Komuter station from KL Sentral. Batu Caves may
also be reached by bus 11/11D from Bangkok Bank Terminus (Near to Puduraya
Terminus) or bus U6 from Titiwangsa.
Batu Caves is also easily reached by
private car or taxi.
For help
Aftabul Islam
Gulf Holidays Travels
Lot-07/85,
7th Floor, Berjaya Times Square,
No.-1, Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+8801755555590(BD)
+60189089643 (MY)
WhatsApp+Viber+Messenger+imo
+8801755555590
