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Kuala Lumpur is a melting pot of Malay, Indian and Chinese which creates a unique and all-star blend of cultures, religions and beautiful temples. The 3 most beautiful and must-see temples in Kuala Lumper are Wilayah Mosque, the Batu Caves and Thean Hou Temple. This is perfect because these 3 temples represent 3 of the main religions in Malaysia – Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. And all these temples in Kuala Lumpur are free to visit, so get your culture on and enjoy the architecture of these beautiful temples.
THE 3 MOST BEAUTIFUL TEMPLES IN KUALA LUMPUR
WILAYAH MOSQUE (aka WILAYAH MASJID)
You should definitely explore at least one mosque while you’re visiting Malaysia because Islam is the dominant religion, so it’s beneficial to learn about the religion and culture. And the mosques are exceptionally stunning.
Inspired by the Blue Mosque in Istanbul in Turkey, the architecture of Wilayah Mosque is a photographer’s dream.
Completed in 2000, this mosque can hold up to 17,000 people for prayer.
Wilayah Mosque is open to everyone, but doesn’t seem to be a well-known attraction, so if you’re lucky, it’ll be fairly empty for you to explore and enjoy.
A tour of the mosque is mandatory, but it’s free. The volunteers who give the tours are so lovely and friendly. Cloaks are provided for coverage and shoes must be removed.
I visited Wilayah Mosque via a very cheap Grab (Asian Uber) on my way to the Batu Caves, as they are both out of the city centre. Enter the mosque from Entrance B, where you can get coverings and a tour guide.
If you want to admire another beautiful mosque, check out Masjid Negara, which is the national mosque of Malaysia, near the Botanical Garden in Kuala Lumpur.
THE BATU CAVES
One of the most iconic sights in Kuala Lumpur is the 100 year old Batu Caves, which is the famous Hindu temple with the rainbow stairs. Behind the 15m (50ft) golden statue of Hanuman is a limestone hill that has a series of caves with temples built inside them. It’s one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside of India.
With 272 stairs to climb to enter the caves, it’s a little workout in the heat.
The Batu Caves are one of the most popular and well-known sights and temples in Kuala Lumpur, so it’s always busy.
It’s free to visit, so watch out for scammers selling fake tickets outside the caves. And watch out for the monkeys inside the caves. Sure, monkeys are cute, but they can be sinister and vicious as hell, as well as carry rabies and steal your belongings (including your bag and phone). So keep this in mind when you think they’re cute and want to pet, feed and take selfies with them. Do not eat around monkeys as they can become aggressive and they will steal your food..
The Batu Caves are located about 16km from the city centre, so you can take the train or a Grab.
THEAN HOU TEMPLE
Thean Hou Temple is the most beautiful Chinese temple I have ever seen and it’s one of my favorite places in Kuala Lumpur. I was lucky to visit near the end of Chinese New Year celebrations, which was extra special.
This ornate and picturesque 6-tiered Chinese temple blends Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.
Thean Hou was built by Kuala Lumpur’s Hainanese community, who were traditionally fishermen from the island of Hainan in China. The temple is dedicated to Thean Hou (Tian Hou), the Heavenly Mother, who protects the fishermen when they’re at sea.
Visit before sunset so you can see the temple during the day, at sunset, and then after dark with all the pretty lanterns.
The temple also has a nice view of Kuala Lumpur. It’s located near Little India (Brickfields) and the easiest way to get there is via Grab.
WHAT TO WEAR
Dress modestly at temples. Men and women must have their shoulders and knees covered while visiting temples. This means shorts are not acceptable for men or women. Women must avoid low cut and backless tops. However, at the mosques, women must be covered from head to ankle, meaning long sleeves, long pants or skirt, and hair must be covered. Both at Wilayah Mosque and the Batu Caves, they offer coverings for you to wear.
However, there isn’t a dress code at Thean Hou Temple. I was wearing shorts and a tank top, as were many others, but there weren’t any coverings to borrow.
MORE INFORMATION ON TRAVELING SOUTHEAST ASIA
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO KUALA LUMPUR ON A BUDGET
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO TO MALAYSIA
14 FUN FREE THINGS TO DO IN KUALA LUMPUR
SOUTHEAST ASIA – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
