Hindu temple in Malaysia: a glass palace. Temples Kuala Lumpur Hindu Temple Complex Batu Cave
Malaysia, a hospitable country in Southeast Asia, annually welcomes many tourists from all over the world. This state, in addition to its natural resources, is also famous for its historical and archaeological monuments. Malaysia is quite safe. The temperature remains uniformly high all year round. But when planning a visit to this country, you should take into account the rainy season. The western part is best visited from late November to February, and the eastern part from May to September.
Many historical monuments, temples and mosques can be seen in Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Fans of water activities and beach holidays will find the Langkawi archipelago and the Malay part of the island of Borneo. The mountain resorts of Malaysia will delight both lovers of natural attractions and connoisseurs of modern entertainment in the form of casinos, attractions and night discos. In addition to traditional souvenirs - figurines and keychains - wooden, tin and copper products, silk and batik, seasonings, various equipment, as well as jewelry made of precious metals are brought from Malaysia.
The best hotels and inns at affordable prices.
from 500 rubles/day
What to see in Malaysia?
The most interesting and beautiful places, photographs and brief descriptions.
The capital of Malaysia is famous for its many attractions. Architectural monuments, parks, Chinatown and a Malaysian village right in the city center. Kuala Lumpur has plenty to keep its guests entertained. The most popular of the capital's districts are the Central Historical Quarter and the shopping and entertainment Golden Triangle.
The building that is rightly called the symbol of Malaysia is the famous Petronas Towers. Since completion in 1998, these towers have been considered the tallest “twin” buildings in the world. Petronas Towers is open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays. During the excursion, tourists will learn about the history of construction, will be able to visit the observation deck located on the 86th floor, and also walk along the bridge between the towers.
One of the main shopping and entertainment areas of the capital. Bukit Bintang is also called the Golden Triangle because it is located at the border of three busy city streets. A variety of local shops, cafes and restaurants, hotels and nightclubs guarantee the area the attention of guests of the capital.
The Menara TV Tower can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. This building, the construction of which was completed in 1996, is also called the “Garden of Light” for its original lighting, which can be admired at night. The observation deck of the Menara TV Tower offers beautiful views of the city.
In 1963, the largest state historical and cultural museum in the country was founded in the capital of Malaysia. Externally, the building resembles a traditional Malaysian house, and the exhibition includes a collection of coins, bladed weapons, hats and clothing, jewelry and musical instruments.
In 1910, when Malaysia was still a British colony, a railway station was built in Kuala Lumpur, combining Indo-Saracenic and neo-Moorish styles of architecture. In the early 2000s, only commuter services remained on the schedule of the Old Station, and after another reconstruction, the Museum of Railway Transport was opened here.
A huge park complex, which includes many thematic natural formations, is located in the center of the capital. Here you can visit the butterfly park, which houses an entomological museum. The Orchid and Hibiscus Garden sells seedlings and flowering plant specimens on weekends. The local Bird Park hosts bird shows twice a day, and there is a Deer Park near the lake. The botanical garden's planetarium contains an entire floor where you can play with interactive exhibits.
The National Mosque Negara was built in 1965 and can accommodate up to eight thousand people. The idea of building such a national building, symbolizing the country's independence, arose in 1957. And it was brought to life by architects from England and Malaysia. Near the mosque there is a mausoleum where famous Malaysian political figures are buried.
The oldest mosque in Kuala Lumpur, opened in 1909, is located at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers. Until 1965, Masjid Jameh was the main mosque of the city. This sophisticated Moorish-style structure is considered a popular landmark in Kuala Lumpur.
One of the most famous tourist sites in the capital is the royal palace Istana Negara. This building was erected by a Chinese millionaire in 1928 and was then called the Big House. Since then, the palace has been both a magnificent Japanese residence and a modest officers' dining room. Currently, the Istana Negara palace is used for royal ceremonies.
A very original Snake Temple can be visited in Penang, Malaysia. The building was erected in 1850 and, as legend has it, since then snakes from all over the area have been crawling into the temple. Temple servants claim that the snakes are “neutralized” by the sacred smoke, but for additional safety, poison is collected from all reptiles in the building.
In 1897, the construction of the “Moorish” palace of Sultan Abdul-Samad was completed. In the center of the building there is a 43-meter clock tower, which makes the structure similar to the English Big Ben. The palace now houses the Ministry of Culture, and the area in front of the building is used for various events.
Near the town of Ipo at the beginning of the 20th century, local planter William Kelly Smith began building a mansion. But he was not destined to finish the work - after the First World War, most of the workers and Smith himself died of illness. There are legends that Kelly Castle has many secret rooms, underground tunnels and passages. But in fact, there is only one tunnel, and it connects the mansion with a nearby Hindu temple.
Kek Lok Si Temple is considered one of the largest Buddhist temple complexes in Malaysia. Its construction took place at the end of the 19th century. Most often, tourists visit here the Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas and the statue of the Chinese goddess Guan Yin, who is responsible for mercy. Not far from the temple there are several cafes and souvenir shops.
One of the oldest Hindu temples in the capital is located on the outskirts of Chinatown. The façade of the building is designed in the style of southern Indian palaces. Its central door tower, Raja Gopuram, which appeared in 1968, invariably attracts the attention of tourists with its colorful sculptures. Inside Sri Mahamariamman is kept a silver chariot which is used during the Thaipusam celebrations.
A small island in the South China Sea. Tourists consider it one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Transparent water attracts beach lovers, and the local underwater world attracts diving and snorkeling enthusiasts. The village of Tekek, the capital of the island, is equipped with all the necessary tourist infrastructure. On the island of Tioman you can stay in a comfortable hotel or rent an individual chalet.
The Langkawi archipelago is located in the northwest of the country. Its white beaches are very beautiful and also very rich in magnesium, which makes them extremely useful in the treatment of bronchitis, osteochondrosis and rheumatism. In Langkawi you can visit snake and crocodile farms, relax on a black beach with volcanic sand, go to the aquarium or go diving.
One of the most popular attractions in Malaysia is the Batu Caves, located near Kuala Lumpur. The staircase leading to the caves is decorated with a huge statue of Murugan, and nearby there is a temple dedicated to this deity. Batu consists of 7 small and 3 large caves. There is an additional fee to enter the Art Gallery Cave, which features paintings and statues.
The mountain is the fourth highest in Southeast Asia. It is located in the national park of the same name in eastern Malaysia. On the last Saturday and Sunday of October, an original competition is held here - the world mountain race, the participants of which must climb to the 4095-meter peak as quickly as possible and also quickly descend.
Malaysia's famous Taman Negara National Park is located on the Malacca Peninsula. This park is home to leopards, tapirs, rhinoceroses, Malaysian bears, deer, wild boars, tigers, elephants and more than 300 species of birds. There is a hotel where you can stay for a couple of days, and within the park there are several temporary shelters for those who want to spend the night in the tropics.
Gunung Mulu National Park, located in the east of the country, is famous for its grandiose caves, rainforests and karst formations. The world's largest grotto, Sarawak, is worth a visit in the Gunung Mulu Caves. Also popular among tourists are the Deer Cave and the Cave of Clear Waters. You can get here by water or by helicopter.
In 1974, a national park was founded in the Malaysian part of Borneo, the main attraction of which is Niah Cave. Traces of Homo sapiens, who lived in the Stone Age, were discovered here. The age of Niah Cave is about 37-42 thousand years, its walls are decorated with rock paintings. Before starting to explore the cave, tourists must register and pay the entrance fee.
One of the largest Malaysian mountain resorts. The best time to visit these places is from March to September, when trekkers can easily climb the equipped paths to the peaks of Cameron Highlands. Tourists often visit the local tea plantation, where they observe the production and processing of tea. Cameron Highlands is also home to strawberry and bee farms, where you can purchase fresh produce at low prices.
The lake is located on one of the islands of the Langkawi archipelago. It is very popular among tourists and local residents. This is a very beautiful body of water, which is surrounded by rocks and lush jungle. According to legend, childless couples who visit the Lake of the Pregnant Virgin will receive hope for a speedy replenishment of the family.
One of the best places for walks and picnics, the mountain is in the very center of the island near Georgetown. At the end of the 19th century, a funicular was built to climb the mountain, and now you can reach the top of Penang Hill in just 12 minutes. At the top you can visit a botanical garden, an owl museum, a mosque and a restaurant overlooking the island.
In the mountains northeast of Kuala Lumpur lies the popular entertainment complex Genting Highlands. This amusement park is divided into outdoor and indoor areas, each of which consists of state-of-the-art attractions. And the closed area also includes a variety of entertainment using computer technology.
One of the most beautiful and unforgettable places in Langkawi. The seven rapids of this rather powerful waterfall form seven clear lakes, in which you can swim if you wish. There is a fairly long staircase leading to the Seven Wells, the steps of which can be slippery in wet weather. The jungle surrounding the stairs is home to many monkeys, so you will have to watch your bags, backpacks and cameras very closely.
The two peaks of Mount Gunung are connected by the unusually beautiful Langkawi Sky Bridge, which seems to be floating in the air. To climb this 150-meter structure, you need to use two cable cars, which takes about 20 minutes. The sky bridge offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, lush tropics and the distant sea.
As it turns out, there are quite a lot of attractions in Kuala Lumpur, so you can not only transfer from one plane to another and walk around the airport, but also spend several days here.
For the second half of the week we stayed with Joanna - she is a student and has less free time, so she was happy to show us the city. Another couchsurfer came to visit her - an Indonesian from the island of Java, so the four of us walked around the city 
Batu Caves
This is a Hindu rock temple - the largest and most beautiful cave complex dedicated to Indian culture in Malaysia 
The temple is not a museum, but an active one - and although there seem to be more tourists here than parishioners, religious services are also held 
There is nowhere near the temple without monkeys; here they are generally very aggressive - they attack people (especially children and women) and take away what they think is edible 
Joanna’s healthy male grabbed onto the bag, and at our swings he only bared his fangs, with difficulty we drove him away 
Chinatown
Somewhere here, apparently, they sew branded clothes 
Ate Chinese food 
Or Malay - their cuisine is so mixed up that it’s difficult to make out what is what 
We didn’t see the Indian quarter in Kuala Lumpur, but we found an Indian restaurant where we happily ate our favorite dosa (a popular dish in Kuala Lumpur) 
Yes, we remember Indian cuisine with great pleasure.
As for local cuisine, it is most often represented by these street eateries where you can have lunch or just drink a glass of freshly squeezed juice 
and fast food, of course, is everywhere too 
Menara TV Tower
This is another famous attraction in Kuala Lumpur, competing in height with Petronas and inferior to the “twins” by only 31 meters (its height is 421 m). It can also be seen from almost anywhere in the city. 
there is an observation deck at the top, which you can climb to by paying an entrance fee of 40 ringgit or ordering dinner for 200 ringgit per person 
Ethnographical museum
This is not a very popular place in Kuala Lumpur - an attraction that few people get to. The museum displays a large exhibition of ancient doors 
exhibits showing national clothes 
weaving craft 
It turns out that Malaysia also once had pedicabs 
Taman Tasik Perdana ("Central Lake Park")
The largest park, which is located near KL Central, i.e. almost in the center of Kuala Lumpur. There are attractions inside for every taste - an orchid park, a butterfly park, a national mosque, a museum of Islamic art, and it’s just a pleasure to walk around the park itself 
Near the bird park - a huge area fenced off with a fence and a closed mesh on top - we met an interesting woman who was feeding papaya to the monkeys 
She comes to a certain place every day, the monkeys already recognize her car and expect food - she feeds them about 20 papayas per day. Here they are more well-mannered, they don’t snatch food, but carefully take it from their hands or catch a thrown piece on the fly. 
There is also a small zoo here, which houses a deer mouse - either a mouse on deer legs, or a deer the size of a mouse 
In principle, everything is clearly written about them here :) 
In addition to mouse deer, there are also full-sized deer here, apparently living nearby for contrast. 
Masjid Jamek
One of the largest and most beautiful mosques in Kuala Lumpur, a landmark that is definitely worth a visit, especially since it is located in the very center of the city 
Anyone can enter, but women (and men wearing particularly short shorts) must wear a veil (robe) and hijab (head covering) 
Only Muslims are allowed into some areas of the mosque - they are delimited, so it’s difficult to make a mistake 
Muslims, at least in Malaysia, are very calm, good-natured and, contrary to popular belief, not aggressive.
In general, Malaysia is a Muslim country, and Islam is the state religion. It is home to 61% Muslims, 20% Buddhists, 9% Christians and 6% Hindus.
Muslim female police officers even wear a hijab while on duty - religion is more important than work 
As for Muslim clothing, the rules here are apparently not as strict as is commonly thought - although girls are dressed in it from an early age 
Many women, especially young people, wear bright, colorful and even patterned hijabs.
Independence Square (Dataran Merdeka)
Unfortunately, the square was closed due to a rally being held the day before, so we were only able to look at it from the outside 
Just like the building of Sultan Abdul-Samad. This building once housed the Supreme Court of Malaysia, and now the Ministry of Culture 
So we took a walk around 
many lanterns are decorated with cheerful flowers 
looked at the vinaigrette of architectural styles 
and the golden building - there must be some kind of bank inside =) 
A muddy river flows nearby 
with walls painted with funny pictures 
In total, we spent more than a week in Kuala Lumpur - after Sri Lanka, it was very comfortable to be in civilized “European” Asia with air conditioning in houses, trains, buses and ubiquitous Wi-Fi, which can be found even in the subway.
And you can relax here even on the street 
We also made the necessary preparations for further travel in Indonesia, namely, we received a social visa from the Malaysian Indonesian consulate, which allows us to stay in the country without leaving for up to 6 months; we will write more about this separately.
Most tourists who find themselves in Malaysia limit themselves to Kuala Lumpur - attractions that are located in the city and its immediate surroundings.
And we decided to go around the mainland of the country, the Malacca Peninsula - as it turned out, there is also a lot of interesting things here.
in Kuala Lumpur
Thean Hou Temple is a Kuala Lumpur landmark that should be included in all Malaysia travel guides' "must see" list. Impressive Chinese-style roofs with dragons and phoenix birds, rich carvings and imposing columns, bright colors and traditional paper lanterns - there is a lot to see and photograph at Tian Hou Temple.
1 | Rules of conduct at Tian Hou Temple:
Tian Hou Temple was opened in 1989 and since then has been an important temple for the Chinese of Kuala Lumpur (who make up 43% of the city's population). Here, at Thean Hou Temple, local residents come to pray to their most revered goddesses and protectors.
There are no special requirements for clothing (everything is within the bounds of decency). Before entering the prayer hall (on the 3rd floor), you must take off your shoes. In church you need to speak as quietly as possible so as not to disturb those praying. You cannot take pictures with your back to the statues or copying their pose and gestures - this is a sign of disrespect.
Prayer hall at Tian Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) 2 | What and where is in the Tian Hou Temple:
Tian Hou temple is one of the largest Chinese temples in Malaysia and includes 6 levels:
- at ground level you can have a snack and buy Chinese-style souvenirs - there are cafes, shops and souvenir shops,
- hall for special events (mainly weddings),
- office and educational center of the Chinese community of Kuala Lumpur,
- the temple itself or prayer hall,
- and 6. levels are Chinese-style turrets with bells on the ceiling and beautiful views of the city of Kuala Lumpur.
The temple's ornate turrets offer beautiful views of Kuala Lumpur 3 | Goddesses - Bodhisattvas in the Tian Hou Temple:
The prayer hall is easy to find by following the signs (go through the main entrance of the temple, turn left and go up the stairs). Inside the temple there are three altars with Chinese goddesses - Bodhisattvas:
- Guan Yin- the goddess of mercy, who is revered everywhere and her statue can be found in many Chinese and Buddhist temples around the world.
- Shui Wei Sheng Niang- goddess of the coastline and patroness of the coastal regions of China.
- Thean Hou- The Queen and Empress of Heaven is in the center of the temple, surrounded by smaller Buddhist and Taoist statues. Goddess Tian Hou is the patroness and protector of sailors and fishermen. The temple is dedicated to this goddess.
Statue of Goddess Shui Wei Sheng Niang 
Statue of the Goddess of Mercy Guanyin 
Altar and statue of the main goddess of the temple - Bothisattva Tian Hou 4 | Interesting details inside Thean Hou Temple:
- On the entrance doors to the prayer hall, two assistants of the goddess Tian Hou are depicted - the gods of the sea and the guards of the entrance to the temple Qianli Yan and Shun Feng Er. If you are observant, you will see their figurines on the altar in front of the statue of the goddess Tian Hou.
- The richly decorated ceiling of the temple and the formidable Chinese dragons entwining the columns are incredibly beautiful.
- Oracles or divination sticks are found near the altars of the goddesses. Focusing on your question, you need to shake the glass with the chopsticks until one of the sticks is higher than all of them (or falls out of the glass). Then you need to get the divination from the box with the number corresponding to the number on the dropped stick. The prophecies are written in Chinese and English.
God of the sea and guardian of doors 
Fortune telling sticks and numbered boxes 5 | Walk around Thean Hou Temple:
- After passing through the round arch to the right of the prayer hall, you can stroll through a small shady courtyard and see another statue of the goddess Guanyin.
- To the left of the temple is a corner with free books and CDs in English and Chinese.
- Steps down to the left of the prayer hall lead to a turtle pond.
- Closer to the temple gates there are statues of the 12 animals of the Chinese horoscope.
- A smiling old man with a staff Yue Lao is the god of marriage and love in Chinese mythology. He holds in his hands a book where it is written down who is destined to marry and with whom. This old man appears in the light of the moon and binds the future husband and wife with silk ribbons so that nothing and nothing can interfere with their marriage.
- Just before leaving the temple grounds, surrounded by fish ponds and a waterfall, there is a statue of the goddess of mercy Guanyin (in total there are three statues of this goddess in the Tian Hou Temple).
Statue of the God of Marriage and Love Yue Lao 6 | How to get to Tian Hou Temple:
Save this article as a keepsake on Pinterest The most beautiful Chinese temple in Kuala Lumpur is open from 8 am to 10 pm. It is located far from tourist routes and is not accessible by any type of public transport.
The best option to get to the temple is a taxi. From KL Sentral station, an Uber taxi will cost approximately 6 MYR (Malaysian ringgit).
You can save money and walk from the metro: 2.4 km across the bridge over the Jalan Syed Putra highway and further downhill up the hill through residential areas. Considering that there is nothing interesting along the road and the area is almost deserted, I would not recommend walking.
The most convenient way to see the Tian Hou Temple and other attractions is with a Russian-speaking guide.
The Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Hindu Temple is a unique religious building located in the city of Johor Bahru in southern Malaysia. Its patterned interiors in the shimmer of light resemble the changing mosaic of a kaleidoscope. It is considered the oldest temple in the city: the main building was built in 1922.
The modern history of the unusual Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman temple begins in 2008. As a result of the reconstruction, the façade and interior of the building were lined with glass mosaics. In total, 500 thousand pieces of multi-colored glass were required to decorate the temple - red, yellow, blue, green, blue and light blue. More than one million dollars received as donations from parishioners were spent on large-scale reconstruction. The work was completed in October 2009. And six months later, the temple, more reminiscent of a shining palace, was included in the Malaysian Book of Records as the first and only glass temple in the world.
Tourists are allowed to enter the Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Temple from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm daily except Mondays. Upon entering, you must take off your shoes and leave your shoes on a special area. The entrance is free.
In addition to the Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Temple, Johor Bahru has other interesting attractions. Among them are the royal palace museum of Sultan Abu Bakar, mosques, Buddhist temples, Roman Catholic churches, zoos, amusement parks and open-air museums. Malaysian Legoland is located 25 kilometers southwest of Johor Bahru, in the town of Nusajaya.
Johor Bahru is a popular tourist destination. Despite the large number of hotels and guest houses, on weekends and peak dates, accommodation here should be booked in advance. Due to the large number of tourists arriving from Singapore, during festivals and holidays, finding a free room in hotels in the city can be problematic.
How to get there
Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Temple is located on Jalan Ungku Puan, in central Johor Bahru. The city is located 326 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. You can get there via the North-South toll highway. Travel time is three hours.
The closest airport to Johor Bahru is Senai Airport, located 24 kilometers northwest of the city. It receives domestic flights from cities in eastern and western Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuanton, Kuching, Sibu and Penang Island. You can get from Senai Airport from Johor Bahru by Causeway Link buses. Routes go directly to the train station and bus terminals. Travel time is about an hour. Bus route schedules and fares can be found on the official Causeway Link website.
You can get to Johor Bahru from the suburban area of Singapore Woodlands (Woodlands MRT station; travel time from the center is 45 minutes). The distance between them is 13 kilometers. Johor Bahru and Singapore are connected by the Strait of Johor, through which a dam and two bridges are built. It is prohibited to cross them on foot. During rush hours, it is best to use the less crowded Second Link bridge.
The most convenient way to get from Singapore to Johor Bahru is by minibus or Causeway Link bus (routes CW1-CW6). They run several times a day. Crossing the border takes about an hour, not counting travel time: at checkpoints, passengers leave the bus with their belongings, undergo a check by migration services, and then board another bus and continue the journey. Be careful: you will have to drag things from bus to bus several times, so count on your strength. In Johor Bahru, buses from Singapore arrive and depart from Kotaraya II Bus Terminal.
Bus services connect Johor Bahru to other cities in Malaysia. Flights depart from the Larkin bus terminal, located five kilometers from the city center. In Kuala Lumpur, buses and minibuses operate from dawn to midnight. Tickets can usually be purchased on the day of departure, excluding weekends and holidays. The bus terminal is open 24 hours a day.
Location
The Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Temple is located in the city of Johor Bahru, in the Sultanate of Jahor, in the south, near the border with.
The Sri Mahamariamman Hindu Temple was founded in 1873 in the Chinatown area; in 1968 the temple was reconstructed and the Raja Gopuram tower was completed. It is the main temple for Hindus in Malaysia. Near Pasar Seni MRT Station, Jalan Tun H S Lee.
The temple is open to visitors: 6.00-12.00 and 16.00-21.00.
Chan See Shu Yuen Temple
Malaysia's main Buddhist temple was opened in 1906 in the Chinatown area. It is designed in the ancient Chinese Kwang-Tung architectural style, with walls decorated with paintings depicting historical scenes.
Visiting hours: 8.00-16.00
Orthodox Church of St. Mary - St Mary’s Syrian Orthodox Church
St Mary's Syrian Orthodox Church, the only Orthodox church in Malaysia, is located in the Brickfields area. 
Since Malaysia is a multinational and multi-religious country, different nationalities and religions coexist peacefully in it, there are many religious sites in the city - here are mosques, like the previously mentioned Masjid Jamek and Masjid Negara, and the Masjid Wilajah Persekutuan mosque, the two-story Masjid Usamah Bin Zaid in Wangsa Maju area, Yayasan Al-Bukhary near the Hang Tuah monorail station, As-Syakirin Mosque in KLCC Park.
And also there is the Chinese Catholic Church of the Holy Rosary, made in an unusual Chinese Gothic style, the Lutheran Evangelical Church, the Hindu temples of Sri Kandanswamy - Sri Kandaswamy on Jalan Scott and the Sri Lankan Hindu Temple - Sri Lankan, the Buddhist temple of Maha Vihara - Maha Vihara. Holy Rosary Church - Church of the Holy Rosary in Brickfields, built in 1903, St. John's Cathedral next to Masjid Jamek Station and Zion Lutheran Church - Zionist Lutheran Church opened in 1924.
Hindu temple complex Batu Cave - Batu Cave
The Batu Caves became known to the world in 1878, when they were discovered and described by the American naturalist W. Gornedey. They are located in the Gombak area, near the river from which Sungai Batu takes its name, at a distance of just over 10 kilometers from the center of Kuala Lumpur. Researchers suggest that the age of the limestone caves exceeds 400 million years. They consist of three large caves and several small ones. The most famous is the Temple Cave, which houses a Hindu temple. During the Hindu festival of Thaipusam, over a million pilgrims come here.
