BATU CAVES - MALAYSIA

Batu Caves is a an iconic and popular tourist attraction in Selangor. 

Site of a Hindu temple and shrine, Batu Caves attracts thousands of worshippers and tourists, especially during the annual Hindu festival, Thaipusam.  

A limestone outcrop located just north of Kuala Lumpur, Batu Caves has three main caves featuring temples and Hindu shrines.  

Its main attraction is the large statue of the Hindu God at the entrance, besides a steep 272 climb up its steps to finally view the stunning skyline of the city centre.  

Monkeys frolic around the caves, and it is a popular spot for rock climbing enthusiasts. Paintings and scenes of Hindu Gods can also be seen in the Ramayana Cave. 

Rising almost 100 m above the ground, the Batu Caves temple complex consists of three main caves and a few smaller ones. The biggest, referred to as Cathedral Cave or Temple Cave, has a very high ceiling and features ornate Hindu shrines. To reach it, visitors must climb a steep flight of 272 steps.

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. This complex was renovated and opened as the Cave Villa in 2008. Many of the shrines relate the story of Lord Murugan's victory over the demon Soorapadam. An audio tour is available to visitors.

The Ramayana Cave is situated to the extreme left as one faces the sheer wall of the hill. On the way to the Ramayana Cave, there is a 50-foot (15 m) tall statue of Hanuman and a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman, devotee and aide of Lord Rama. The consecration ceremony of the temple was held in November 2001.

The Ramayana Cave depicts the story of Rama in a chronicle manner along the irregular walls of the cave.

A 42.7-metre (140 ft) high statue of Lord Murugan was unveiled in January 2006, having taken 3 years to construct. It is the tallest Lord Murugan statue in the world.

Ticket = Free Entry

CENTRAL MARKET - MALAYSIA

Central Market started off as a humble wet market in the heart of the city center back in the 1940s. It has evolved a great deal since then and now it stands firm as the landmark which symbolizes all the culture and heritage of our multi-racial country. You will immediately notice that the theme of the market is based solely on the various cultures in Malaysia. The shops here are divided based on the groups of races. Representing each of the races in Malaysia are the Straits Chinese, the Lorong Melayu and Lorong India.
There is also a street which represents the Baba and Nyonya community in the state of Malacca. The Central Market is full of stalls which sell handicrafts which are all locally made. You can purchase batik, songket, wood carvings, souvenirs, accessories and much more here. If you get tired or hungry in the midst of all the shopping, do not fret. There are myriads of eating places where you can dine at and take a rest. Once you have filled your stomach and taken the much needed rest, you can move on to the second floor. This floor mainly sells garments and has a few souvenir stalls. There are other activities at the Central Market which are usually held at the stage outside the market.
Art and cultural performances are held every now and then to attract visitors as well as to expose them to the uniqueness of our society. The latest addition to the market is the Annexe Gallery which exhibits contemporary works of our local artists. If you are looking for a place to put up for the night after a long day at the Central Market, there are many hotels in Kuala Lumpur. One of the nearest hotels which you can go to is the Ancasa Hotel & Spa Kuala Lumpur.

Central Market is a place you cannot miss. It is actually located in this building called the Pasar Seni. Pasar Seni has been around for a very long time. It was first established in 1888. Central Market is exactly at the side of Kasturi Walk at Pasar Seni. A short walking distance away, is the popular Chinatown (Petaling Street) of Kuala Lumpur. Central Market's location is so strategic that there is no way you can miss this place. Public transportation here connects the Central Market to all major attractions and hotels in Kuala Lumpur. In addition to that, The KL Sentral rail station is only 1.5 kilometers away from the market, thus providing easy access to the KL International Airport.