BATU CAVES IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR HINDU SHRINES OUTSIDE INDIA, DEDICATED TO LORD MURUGAN. IT IS THE FOCAL POINT OF HINDU FESTIVAL OF THAIPUSAM IN MALAYSIA. IT IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE 10TH CAVES OR HILL FOR LORD MURUGA AS IT IS ONE OF THE TEN MOST IMPORTANT SHRINES IN INDIA AND MALAYSIA. THE LORD MURUGAN STATUE AT THE FOOT OF BATU CAVES IS THE SECOND TALLEST HINDU DEITY STATUE IN THE WORLD WITH A HEROIC HEIGHT OF 42.7 METRES (140 FT.).

TEMPLER PARK IS LOCATED JUST AFTER KANCHING RECREATIONAL FOREST IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING FROM RAWANG TOWARDS KUALA LUMPUR TRUNK ROAD. THIS PARK IS ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE FOR A TIME OF RECREATION FOR THE LOCALS ESPECIALLY DURING THE WEEKENDS. IT HAS AN AREA OF ABOUT 1200 HECTARES AND IS ABOUT 7 KM AWAY FROM THE TOWN OF RAWANG. THIS PARK WAS NAMED AFTER SIR GERALD TEMPLER WHO WAS THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER TO MALAYA IN THE 1950S. THIS PLACE IS GOOD FOR JUNGLE HIKING, PICNIC AND DIPPING YOURSELVES IN THE POOL AT THE BASE OF THE PARK. DO NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH FACILITIES OR MAINTENANCE. BASIC TOILET AND BATHING FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE PLACE WHERE YOU PARK YOUR CARS. HIKING UP TO THE POOL TAKES ABOUT 15 MINUTES. IF YOU ARE ADVENTUROUS, YOU MAY WANT TO HIKE A FURTHER 40 MINUTES TO THE WATERFALLS.

SRI SHAKTI TEMPLE IS THE ONLY TEMPLE IN THE WORLD WHERE MANIFESTATIONS OF ALL 51 SHAKTISARE INSTALLED. CONSCIOUSLY INTERSPERSED WITHIN THIS SPACE ARE 96 CARVED PILLARS THAT DEPICT THE 96 UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF HINDUISM. ENCIRCLED BY A HUGE DECORATIVE WALL, ENTRANCE INTO THE TEMPLE IS VIA A MAGNIFICENT RAJA GOPURAM. SOARING TO A HEIGHT OF 74 FEET, THE 5-TIERED RAJA GOPURAM IS A PROUD PROCLAMATION OF THE ARCHITECTURAL TREASURES WITHIN. THE TEMPLE’S MAIN ENTRANCE COMPRISES 18-FOOT HIGH SCULPTURED GRANITE FRAMES WEIGHING UP TO 4 TONNES, CARVED BY SKILLED CRAFTSMEN FROM THE ANCIENT CITY OF MAHABALIPURAM IN TAMILNADU, INDIA.

THE LIGHTHOUSE IS LOCATED AT THE HIGHEST POINT OF BUKIT MELAWATI WHERE VISITORS CAN ENJOY THE PANORAMIC VIEWS OF THE STRAITS OF MALACCA. IT WAS BUILT IN 1907 AND STARTED TO SERVE FOR NAVIGATION PURPOSES SINCE 1910. DUE TO ITS STRATEGIC LOCATION, IT WAS ALSO USED TO MONITOR THE STRAIT OF MALACCA. IT WAS NAMED AFTER A DUTCH GENERAL AND WAS WIDELY USED DURING THE BRITISH COLONIAL PERIOD.

THIS SITE IS PRESERVED WITH THE ORIGINAL FOUNDATION STONES, CANNONS AS WELL AS A FABLED EXECUTION BLOCK. VISITORS CAN ENJOY A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE COASTLINE FROM THE HILL.

KUALA SELANGOR IS A SMALL COASTAL VILLAGE NORTHWEST OF KUALA LUMPUR. ON THIS RIVER YOU CAN SPOT THE FAMOUS FIREFLIES (KELIP-KELIP IN BAHASA MELAYU) DURING EVENINGS/NIGHTS. THE FIREFLIES ALL ARE FOUND ON THE MANGROVE TREE SPECIES CALLED BEREMBANG. IT IS SAID THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST FIREFLY COLONIES IN THE WORLD. FIREFLIES ARE ALSO KNOWN 'LIGHTNING BUGS' AND THEY SHINE BRIGHTLY AT THE NIGHT TO ATTRACT A SUITABLE PARTNER. APPARENTLY, THEY ARE ABLE TO SHINE DURING THE DAY TOO BUT HUMANS THEN CANNOT SEE IT. THEY ARE ONLY SEEN AT NIGHT IN AND ALONG THE 'BEREMBANG' TREES ALONG THE SELANGOR RIVER. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF NICE RESTAURANTS WHERE THEY MAINLY SERVE FRESH SEAFOOD. RESTORAN KUALA SELANGOR IS WHERE WE ENJOYED A VERY NICE LOCAL MEAL AT PASIR PENAMBANG.