· SOUTHEAST ASIA · MALAYSIA ·
How to Attend Thaipusam at the Batu Caves: a Guide
Scribbled by Claire ◊ 27 Feb 2025
This post contains everything you need to experience Thaipusam festival at the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, including some background information, how to behave and dress respectfully, transport options, when to arrive, how long you should stay, and what to expect, all based on our recent, incredible experience.
In February 2025, we attended the Tamil Festival of Thaipusam, held at the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur. This experience was one of the most profound of my life, despite having visited various cultural events all around the world.
The celebration, one of the most significant to the Tamil people, especially in Malaysia, is an experience I couldn’t really prepare for beforehand. It was a sensory overload, with the buzz of thousands of brightly clad worshippers, drummers, musicians, and encumbered devotees, all heading for one place – the elaborate Batu Caves.
It was also a bit of a wake-up call, to be honest, as I had no idea what to expect. Descriptions of immense crowds, distinctive scents and rhythmic vibrations really did not do full justice to the experience. For me, it went well beyond the visual. I could sense a loyalty, a community, a togetherness, and an absolute devotion that I have never witnessed anywhere else.
For more in-depth cultural information about what you might see, plus lots of photography, check out our corresponding post on Thaipusam photography.
IN THIS GUIDE //
Tamil festivities at Batu Caves
WHAT IS THAIPUSAM?
WHERE IS THAIPUSAM CELEBRATED?
– THAIPUSAM IN KUALA LUMPUR
THINGS TO NOTICE AT THAIPUSAM
WHEN IS THAIPUSAM HELD?
HOW TO GET TO BATU CAVES DURING THAIPUSAM
HOW BUSY IS THAIPUSAM AT BATU CAVES?
WHAT DAY TO ARRIVE FOR THAIPUSAM?
HOW LONG DO YOU NEED AT THAIPUSAM?
OUR EXPERIENCE OF THAIPUSAM AT BATU CAVES
IS THAIPUSAM SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN?
WHERE IS BEST TO STAY FOR THAIPUSAM?
FINAL THOUGHTS
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What is Thaipusam?
Thaipusam is an intensely colourful and animated three-night, four-day Tamil festival which honours the Hindu god, Lord Murugan. Lord Murugan is the son of Lord Shiva and the Goddess Parvati, and the brother of Ganesha. He is the god of war, victory and wisdom, and the patron deity of the Tamils.
The Thaipusam festival commemorates Lord Murugan’s victory over the demon Surapadman after a six-day long battle, using a divine spear-like weapon called ‘the Vel’, which means spear in Tamil, gifted from his mother Parvati.
This festival is for the devotees, who undertake great burdens, to show their dedication to Lord Murugan. This physical burden, more typical with men, often takes the form of carrying a huge weight on their shoulders, usually barefoot. These enormous decorative encumberments are called kavadis. Smaller kavadis include small metal containers of milk, carried atop of the head, called paal kudam.
The festival is the procession and pilgrimage of the devotees to the Batu Caves.
Where is Thaipusam Celebrated?
Thaipusam is celebrated in temples dedicated to Lord Murugan across the world, including Singapore, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, and further afield. In Malaysia, the largest festivities are held in Penang and Kuala Lumpur’s Batu Caves.
Thaipusam in Kuala Lumpur
Thaipusam is held in the Batu Caves in northern Kuala Lumpur. These Caves are a popular tourist destination in Malaysia, year-round, mostly due to the prominent colourful stairs and open-topped cave which attract visitors from around the world.
The cave became a Tamil pilgrimage site in 1891, when the local Hindu leader, K. Thamboosamy Pillay, built a shrine to Lord Murugan in the main chamber of the Batu Caves. Subsequently, Thaipusam has been held there every year, attracting many thousands of devotees. The actual temple at the caves was built later, in 1920.
THINGS TO NOTICE AT THAIPUSAM
Kavadi | a wood or metal structure worn by devotees during Thaipusam, looking something akin to an elaborate parasol or a semi-circle shape. It is worn on the shoulders, often secured around the waist with a bolted metal sheet for stability. They are often adorned with peacock feathers, red and yellow flowers, leaves and images of the lords and gods.
Paal kudam | a milk pot, often silver in colour, carried on the head by devotees as an act of burden. The milk is later used in a ritual bathing ceremony (Abhishekam) of an idol of Lord Murugan.
Vibhuthi | this is the holy ash collected from sacrificial fires. It is spread over the pierced sites on the body and other body parts of the devotees at Thaipusam. The ash can often be seen as a ‘Tripundra’, three lines on the forehead, and is a symbol of Shiva’s power.
Yellow paint | many of the devotees will have a yellowish paint on them, often on freshly shaved heads. This is a mixture of sandalwood and water and the yellow colour is the favoured colour of Lord Murugan. It has an added bonus of having a cooling effect on the skin.
Kavadi Aattam | the ‘burden dance’, used to offer gratitude to Lord Murugan, ask for forgiveness or to complete a vow. Devotees use the height of the kavadi as an extension of their body as they twirl, dip and dance, trying to control the extra weight.
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When is Thaipusam Held?
Thaipusam is celebrated on a slightly different date each year.
The name Thaipusam comes from the combination of ‘Thai’, the tenth month in the Tamil calendar, and ‘pusam’, which means ‘when the star is at its brightest/highest’. So, the celebrations are held during the full moon of the Tamil month of ‘Thai’. This falls between mid-January and mid-February in the Gregorian calendar.
So, in 2026, Thaipusam will be held around Sunday 1st February.
How to get to the Batu Caves During Thaipusam?
There are several ways to get to the Batu Caves for Thaipusam. Your decision will depend upon the time of day you visit and where you choose to stay overnight.
Trains | depending on where you are staying, taking the train will likely be the quickest, most efficient and most affordable way to get to the Batu Caves for Thaipusam. In 2025, trains to Batu Caves were free of charge!
We’ll attach a picture of the train schedule for Thaipusam 2025 for representative KTM Komuter train times and routes. The trains ran through the night and were very well signed.
Taxi | waiting times for taxis can be much higher during Thaipusam, with cancellations thrown in too, depending on the time of day you are planning on attending. If you decide to get a taxi, build in some extra time and consider using the taxi-app ‘Grab’, it’s the best.
Self-driving | with the large influx of tourists, parking will not be an easy affair at the Batu Caves. We would advise against driving there.
Bus | there are lots of local buses that traverse Kuala Lumpur, however not all go near the Batu Caves in its north. Depending on where you are staying, you may need to take multiple buses, which increases travel time. The buses which drop off nearest the Batu caves are the 171, 173, MPS1 and SmartMPS1. When taking buses in Kuala Lumpur, we use the bus routes on Google Maps to plan journeys (it’s pretty easy).
Walk | depending on where you start, you could always walk the pilgrimage route! It’ll take around four hours (more or less depending on your starting point!).
How Busy is Thaipusam at Batu Caves?
Thaipusam at the Batu Caves is busy – very, very busy. In Kuala Lumpur alone, every year more than a million people visit the Batu Caves as part of the Thaipusam celebrations.
In 2025, organisers had expected around 1.8-2 million devotees and visitors to attend.
Personally, although I’d read these huge numbers before arriving, it was still quite overwhelming (and I’ve been to a whole load of festivals of varying types!).
Despite the huge crowd volumes, there were never any giant queues for food, drinks or shops. Buying cold drinks, for example, never took more than a few minutes. There were also no queues for the (decent enough) bathrooms during our visit (that we saw).
Note | one comment we have is that the return trains to KL Sentral were absolutely heaving. There are loads of police and security doing crowd control, but it’s pretty exhausting and very packed. It’s also possible you’ll have to wait for several trains before getting a spot.
We arrived as a train was leaving in the middle of the day, so were front of a ‘queue’ for the next one (it was more like an unruly mob!). As more people arrived, the waiting area got busier, warmer and more densely packed, with people packing up towards the gates. When the next train arrived, people literally ran to the carriages and the police told us in advance which one to run towards!
Everyone was cordial and friendly, though.
What Day to Arrive For Thaipusam?
The celebrations for Thaipusam at the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur last for three nights, spread over four days.
Thaipusam technically begins at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple on Jalan Tun H S Lee, in Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown district. A silver chariot, housing statues of Lord Murugan and his consorts Theivana and Valli, leave in a procession for the Batu caves, roughly 15 kilometres away. The journey there takes around 16 hours. If you want to see the silver chariot as it leaves, the procession typically departs late evening two days before Thaipusam (times are confirmed nearer the day).
For an extra chance at seeing the chariot procession, it returns to the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple the day after Thaipusam.
If you want to visit on the same day that we did, then arrive the Batu Caves on the advertised Thaipusam day. In 2026, this will be Sunday 1st February.
Expected 2026 Schedule for Thaipusam:
Jan 30th | chariot leaves from Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur
Jan 31st | chariot arrives at Batu Caves
Feb 1st | day of Thaipusam
Feb 2nd | chariot returns back to Sri Maha Mariamman Temple
HOW LONG DO YOU NEED AT THAIPUSAM?
You can spend as long as you’d like at Thaipusam! There are no tickets or timed events, so you can turn up, watch or follow the procession, then leave. To get a feel for the devotees and appreciate their experience a little, we would recommend at least a few hours.
There are restaurants, snack vendors, shops, and more, to explore as well as observe the procession.
We spent around nine-ten hours at Thaipusam, predominantly because we are photographers, and also wanted enough time to hang out, talk with people and explore the area. We chose to arrive several hours before sunrise, so we could watch the procession as day broke.
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Our Experience of Thaipusam at Batu Caves
We arrived around 5am, several hours before the sun rose (7.30am in February), after catching a nearly empty train to the caves from KL Sentral.
The Batu Caves train station is literally next to the caves, so you don’t even have to walk far to reach the event.
An Early Morning Assault on My Senses
From the moment we stepped off the train, the chaotic flurry began. The colourfully lit paths were lined with vendors, selling everything from glimmering bangles and vibrant fabrics to local food and fruity beverages. There were huge marquees adjacent to the train station with seating, bookshops, furniture stores and rest areas.
Weaving between the milling crowds, we spotted men sat under blueish synthetic lights, their heads being shaved to the distant sounds of drumming. I jumped from the sudden squeal of a Tannoy overhead, while concentrating on the rhythmic chanting I could hear from just beyond my gaze.
The atmosphere felt unnaturally energetic for 5am and my bleary eyes were not quite accustomed to it. Bats circled overhead and the undistinguishable aromas of snacks and spices baffled my drowsy brain. Although the sky was pitch black, the commotion and almost burning gleam of the floodlights made me feel like I’d walked into a different time zone (or maybe an alternative reality).
Tip | I feel like arriving during the night was the best choice. It was the most animated time – the crowds were charged, the artificial lighting provided a festival ambiance and the processions were louder than later in the day. We also saw zero other people who appeared to be foreign tourists for the first two hours.
Pilgrims and Processions
Arriving at the main thoroughfare, we had our first eye-opening glimpse of the kavadi-ladened pilgrims, their supportive drummer teams, and the 272 famous colourful stairs.
A ribbon of yellow slowly ascended the distant floodlit steps, dotted with large peacock feather-adorned structures swaying slightly from left to right. This snake-shaped trail of human devotion was a grand, astonishing sight.
What we didn’t comprehend at the time was that this parade of beautifully adorned worshippers goes on, for hours and hours. I mean, I knew it would from the information I’d read, but to see it continue endlessly, ceaselessly continue was a sight that I couldn’t take my eyes off.
We stood by the side of the road, in varying locations, just watching.
Good Vibrations
The passion and intensity of the kavadi carriers and their troupes left me in astonishment. The dancing, singing, and this overwhelming kind of rhythmic drumming – it was something I’d never heard before. The drums had a kind of digeridoo sound, almost. I can’t think of another way to describe the tonal peculiarity – but I loved the vibrations. Also, these percussionists are mega-talented – I can totally appreciate how they would be motivating and valuable to their kavadi-bearing fellows.
Before I even checked the time, a vaguely pink colour was creeping across the horizon. Soon the low sun illuminated the faces of the procession heading towards the Batu Caves gate. It was a magical moment for me.
Temperatures were still quite cool, and we rested on the roadside, under large trees, with lots of families and kids with balloons. It was perpetually crowded, but we could always find somewhere to take a break.
The rest of our day at Thaipusam was spent drifting about, between patches of shade and food stalls, finishing the afternoon by lying on the floor near the restaurants in the east of the temple complex (this seemed to be *the* area for a nap!).
I’m not really a wordy person (definitely more of a photographer) so we’ve detailed some of the more distinctive features of this festival on our related Thaipusam photography post. Head on over there if you’re interested in learning more about our experience of this mesmerising day.
IS THAIPUSAM SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN?
Thaipusam is sort of suitable for children!
It’s hot, hectic and loud, so if you have a particularly young child or one that is sensitive to certain sensory experiences, maybe don’t bring them. It’s also a festival with a lot of body piercings, some of which may be too graphic for a small child.
I’d be careful of losing a child in the crowd, too – not for their safety, as such, but just for the insane hassle that it would be trying to find them again! (I’ve heard of adults ‘Airtagging’ their younger kids in large crowds so they’re easier to find – Thaipusam would be a great place to try that out!).
Having said that, loads of kids were at this festival with their families, so it’s totally down to your individual child. Some kids were also taking part in the processions, carrying their own paal kudam (milk pot) up to the caves. We even saw a few young boys wearing their own, larger kavadis.
Thaipusam is colourful, animated, overtly hospitable and the people there generally love kids, so it could be amazing – I don’t have kids, though, so it’s hard for me to know.
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WHERE IS BEST TO STAY FOR THAIPUSAM?
For Thaipusam in Kuala Lumpur, we’d recommend staying anywhere on the main train line up to the caves – this just removes confusion and saves time early in the morning.
We stayed within a very short walking distance of KL Sentral for several nights around Thaipusam. This deliberate choice meant we would have easy access to the main train station for transport to the festival.
It was an impeccable decision – the area is adjacent to a huge mall and the Brickfields area of Kuala Lumpur, which is known for its outstanding, affordable Indian food (of which we ate a lot).
We had some points to use up, so stayed at the Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral adjacent to the station. The rooms are huge and quiet, everything works perfectly, and the beds are lovely – exactly what you’d expect from an Aloft hotel. The staff were also helpful with our planning and the breakfast buffet was magical (I ate even more Indian food). We reckon it’s an absolute bargain for the price and convenience.
We’d recommend this hotel, or somewhere near it, if you are looking for somewhere in the area.
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RELATED | 15 PHOTOGRAPHY SPOTS IN PENANG
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thaipusam at the Batu Caves free to attend?
Yes, Thaipusam at Batu Caves is free to attend.
Where else is Thaipusam celebrated?
It is celebrated worldwide, but particularly in Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and southern India.
In Malaysia, other notable Thaipusam celebrations happen in Penang, Maran, Sungai Petani and Ipoh.
Is there a dress code for Thaipusam?
No, but dress respectfully – it’s a religious, spiritual journey for people and rocking up in a skimpy crop top and short-shorts would not be cool. Also, be aware of any images on your clothing, too.
It’s best to cover your shoulders and knees.
Also, yellow/orange is an auspicious colour for Lord Murugan, so choosing these tones will help you blend in!
How many people attend Thaipusam at the Batu Caves?
It is expected that more than a million people will attend Thaipusam at the Batu Caves each year.
Do you have to be Tamil/Hindu to attend Thaipusam?
No, you do not have to be of faith to attend Thaipusam. However, always be mindful that you are a guest in somebody else’s culture. Don’t get in the way and *always* treat people with respect. Show interest, humility and gratitude for the opportunity to be welcomed into somebody else’s world.
What time should you arrive at the Batu Caves for Thaipusam?
You can arrive whenever you want, however we really recommend arriving a few hours before dawn. Most tourists, media outlets and photographers turned up around 7am.
When is Thaipusam at the Batu Caves in 2026?
The main celebration of Thaipusam in 2026 will be on Sunday the 1st February.
Are the piercings particularly graphic during Thaipusam at the Batu Caves?
No, there is nothing that I would consider particularly graphic or uncomfortable to look at.
Lots of cultures around the world embrace piercing and mortification, and this is no different.
Final Thoughts – Thaipusam at the Batu Caves
We hope this summary of our time at Batu Caves’ Thaipusam is helpful for planning your trip to this astonishing display of devotion and dedication.
It might sound a bit trite, but I was mildly emotional (also, loud noises make me cry!). We found Thaipusam quite poignant – in particular, that it highlighted huge disparities between the lack of community in the United Kingdom (where we come from) and the support, bond and the power of faith displayed by the Tamil people of Kuala Lumpur. It’s worth witnessing and learning something from.
I also gained loads of information about Hindu gods and traditions as part of this trip, which I’m super grateful about! Especially since it’s a religion I’ve not been overly exposed to in the past. We are also very appreciative to have had such a lovely welcome into a space where we were very clearly visitors and observers.
Don’t forget to check out our Thaipusam photography post for more in-depth information, and if you’re travelling elsewhere in Malaysia, have a look at our three-day Penang itinerary or a street art wander around Ipoh.
We hope that if you visit Thaipusam, you gain as much out of it as we did!
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Thank you, Claire + Nick
I’m laughing becuase I’m an Indian visiting Batu Caves Thaipusam 2026 for the first time and your blog was more informative than the official pages. The info I needed was scattered all over in different sources but yours had all the answers I needed. Thank you