KL-BV-05: KUALA LUMPUR CITY TOUR AND BATU CAVES

Batu Caves is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside of India. Dedicated to the Hindu god of war, Murugan, it is the focal point of the Thaipusam festival in Malaysia.

Batu Caves are located in a limestone massif that is around 400 million years old and has many caves. As early as 1860, Chinese workers dug guano from caves in the fields to fertilize their gardens. The Limestone Mountains became famous when they were described by the American naturalist William Hornaday in 1878. An Indian merchant, K. Tambosamy, was inspired by the shape of the entrance to the main cave and wanted to build a temple to the god Murugan in the caves. In 1890, a shrine was established in the cave, and since 1892 the Thaipusam festival (in late January or early February) has been celebrated there.

272 steps lead to these impressive caves. At their foot is a 42.7 m tall statue of Murugan, currently the tallest in the world. It is made of 1,550 cubic meters of concrete and 250 tons of steel bars and covered with 300 liters of gold paint. Be careful because there are many macaques near the caves, which tend to be aggressive.

On the way back to the city, we will visit the Royal Selangor Pewter Factory, which is famous all over the world for its excellent pewter products, which are made by hand by the masters. The products contain 92-97% tin with a little copper added for strength, the highest international standard for tin. The factory was founded in 1885 when a Chinese from Shantou named Yong Koon came to Malaya, bringing a set of tools and a strong will to work. His mastery can be seen in person in his students, who will not only demonstrate their art, but also teach some techniques to the visitors.

• Independence Square, which played an important role in the country’s history: the British flag was lowered here and Malaysia’s independence was declared on August 31, 1957, so this square is also called Merdeka (Freedom) Square. The 100-meter flagpole is the tallest in the world. The field was once built by the British to play football, surrounded by the elite. The Royal Selangor Club (built in 1884 in a magnificent Tudor style), still visited by VIPs today. Membership is open to anyone who can afford it, of course. Also here is an older Anglican. Mary’s Church, one of the oldest churches in Malaysia, and the Abdul Samad Building, which used to house the State Secretariat.
• The Royal Palace (Istana Negara), at the gate of which it is possible to photograph the palace and take a picture of yourself with the palace guard. Its construction cost the country 203 million US dollars. Construction began in 2007, and in 2011 the king moved into the palace.
• The National Mosque, which is an example of modern Islamic architecture (admission free, special clothing issued free of charge). Immediately after gaining independence, it was decided to build a mosque, which was officially opened in 1965. The mosque was built on Venning Street, demolishing the church that had been there since 1922. The mosque can accommodate up to 15,000 people. It has an area of ​​53,000 m2 It was designed by British architect Howard Ashley with two Malayan architect advisors Hisham Albakri and Bahruddin Kasim.
• Batik center, where the process of making batik is demonstrated and an opportunity to buy a souvenir is offered.
• Thean Hou Chinese Temple, located on a hill with a great view of the city and the turtle pond. It is a small six-tiered temple dedicated to the goddess of the sea. The temple was completed in 1987, officially opened in 1989. Built by Chinese living in Malaysia, the property is owned by the Selangor Hainan Association.
   

The Petronas Twin Towers, with a height of 451.9 meters, are one of the main ornaments of the capital of Malaysia. Its designer is the Argentinian architect César Pelli. The sky bridge connecting the two towers is located on the 41st floor (tickets to the towers are not included in the tour). It is 88 stories of steel and glass decorated with Islamic motifs, reflecting the main religion of the country. Its construction was started in April 1994, and the first employees moved into the new premises already in January 1997. The building was officially opened by Prime Minister Mahazir bin Mohamad in August 1999.