Page 128 - Travel + Leisure India & South Asia (January 2020)
P. 128
A statue of Lord
Murugan stands
guard beside the
rainbow steps of
Batu Caves.
I AM ON THE FINAL DAY OF MY TRIP,
ON A CRUISE IN LANGKAWI,
watching the setting sun paint the sky in different attraction has three main caves featuring temples and Hindu
hues—there’s the familiar golden orange and an shrines. My fellow travellers and I scan the majestic statue of
astonishing blue, a colour that one doesn’t usually Lord Murugan that stands tall at the entrance and exchange
associate with sunsets. As I soak up the dreamy surprised glances. An imposing facade embellished with
concoction of the gorgeous dusk, delectable food, statues of Hindu deities, against the picturesque backdrop of a
and Ricky Martin’s Livin’ La Vida Loca, I realise my limestone mountain, makes Batu Caves look like they’re right
camaraderie with this magical land is a few hours out of a postcard. A set of 272 rainbow-coloured steps, next
from its culmination. And I invariably find myself to the Murugan statue, take you to the Sri Velayuthar Temple
looking back at my time in Malaysia. on top, where a similar facade, though humbler in size, greets
It began in the city of towering skyscrapers: you. Even if you’re not spiritual, the view of the cityscape from
Kuala Lumpur. Any itinerary of the bustling capital the temple is worth the climb. If you’re a vegetarian navigating
city is incomplete without a visit to Batu Caves. Malaysia, you must grab a dosa at one of the many food stalls SHUTTERSTOCK
A limestone hill in Selangor, this iconic tourist in the temple complex; vegetarian fare is not easy to find in the
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