About 15 kilometres north of Kuala Lumpur is the most popular destination for visitors on the city’s outskirts, Batu Caves. But these are much more than a series of limestone caves in a hill overlooking Kuala Lumpur; it’s a sacred Hindu shrine and the focal point of the world’s largest Thaipusam celebrations. Access to the caves is by way of 272 steep steps climbing, past a golden statue of Lord Murugan, said (at over 40 metres high) to be the world’s tallest. Take some care about what you carry, especially food. The dozens of macaque monkeys on the way up are talented, aggressive and relentless thieves. Batu Caves can be reached on the old Ipoh Road or by travelling north west on the Middle Ring Road from the direction of Ampang.