Thaipusam at Batu Caves at a glance
Thaipusam is a Tamil Hindu festival in honour of Murugan. At Batu Caves the devotion centres on the Sri Subramaniar Swamy shrine in the Temple Cave, which is reached by 272 steps. The last festival here fell on 1 February 2026.
For 2027 the public holiday for Thaipusam is Friday, 22 January. The temple's programme for 2027 is announced closer to the day, so treat the holiday as the anchor for your dates. If you want a guided visit outside the festival, see the Batu Caves tours.
Kavadi and offerings
What devotees carry, and why it is faith and not a show.
Kavadi
A Kavadi is a ritual burden or offering that a devotee carries. It is an act of devotion to Murugan.
Milk pots
Many devotees carry pots of milk as offerings instead. Both are part of the same festival.
Piercings
Not every devotee practises body piercing. Many take part without it, so do not expect it and do not ask about it.
Murugan
The festival honours the god of the main shrine. The statue at the foot of the stairs belongs to the same place of worship.
The Murugan statue →Our pick: a Batu Caves visit with hotel pickup
The festival draws large crowds, so a car from your hotel takes some of the logistics off your plate. Ask whether the tour runs on the festival days before you book.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Batu Caves tours and day trips
Trips from Kuala Lumpur to Batu Caves, with live prices and availability.
The procession from Kuala Lumpur in 2026
The route and the traffic windows announced for 2026.
In 2026 the procession travelled from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Dhevasthanam on Jalan Tun H. S. Lee in Kuala Lumpur to the Sri Subramaniar Swamy temple in Batu Caves. These were announced traffic windows, not the time any one person spends walking.
| Leg | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| To Batu Caves | 30 January 2026, 21:00 | 31 January 2026, 16:00 |
| Return to Kuala Lumpur | 2 February 2026, 15:00 | 3 February 2026, 02:00 |
These times show the shape of the event, not the schedule for 2027. For most visitors the sensible plan is to keep dates flexible until the 2027 programme is out, and to pick one day to be at the hill rather than trying to follow the whole route.
Getting there during the festival
The KTM Komuter line runs from KL Sentral to Batu Caves, and a sample weekday ride takes 29 minutes. In 2026 the transport ministry added a special service for the festival: KTM ran around the clock from 30 January to 2 February, and rides were free on 31 January and 1 February.
That was a one-off arrangement for 2026. Do not plan on free or night trains in 2027 until they are announced. Cashless payment by card or e-wallet was part of the 2026 plan, so a card or e-wallet is worth having. The getting there guide covers the regular timetable, taxis and parking.
Visiting Thaipusam with respect
For visitors who are not taking part.
Keep the way clear
The procession routes and the stairs belong first to the devotees. Step aside for anyone carrying a Kavadi or a milk pot.
Do not crowd anyone
Never press close to a person during a ritual. Ask for permission before you take a close-up photo, and accept a no.
No guaranteed viewing spots
No tour can promise a place to watch, and a ritual is not a bookable extra. Treat any offer that says otherwise with caution.
Dress and climb
Cover your shoulders and knees. The climb is 272 steps and the days are hot and crowded, so take water and allow extra time.
The steps →How to plan a Thaipusam trip
Four steps that keep the plan flexible.
Fix the date
The public holiday for Thaipusam in 2027 is Friday, 22 January. Build your trip around that date, but keep a day or two of slack on either side.
Watch for the programme
The temple's programme for 2027 comes closer to the day. In 2026 the transport arrangements were announced on 20 January, ten days before the procession began, so expect details late.
Choose your day
Decide whether you want to be at the hill on a festival day or on a quieter day. A festival day means crowds, so allow extra time for every step of the journey.
Respect the purpose
Come as a visitor to a place of worship. The festival is faith in action, and it does not exist for photographs.
Heat, rain and the climb
Kuala Lumpur is warm and humid all year. In the older averages for 1971 to 2000, January has a daily maximum of about 32.1 °C and about 169.5 mm of rain over the month. Those are old averages, not a forecast, and no month is dry.
Thunderstorms can build in the afternoon at any time of year. If thunder is forecast, wait in a solid building or a car rather than under a single tree, and take water for the 272 steps. See the weather page for the seasons.
Plan around the festival
More pages for the same trip.
Thaipusam at Batu Caves: frequently asked questions
When is Thaipusam in 2027?
The public holiday for Thaipusam is Friday, 22 January 2027. The temple's own programme for 2027 should be checked closer to the date.
What is a Kavadi?
A Kavadi is a ritual burden or offering carried by a devotee in devotion to Murugan. Devotees also carry pots of milk as offerings.
Do all devotees pierce their bodies?
No. Not every devotee practises body piercing, and many take part without it.
Will there be free or night trains again?
In 2026 KTM ran around the clock from 30 January to 2 February and was free on 31 January and 1 February. That was a special service for that year, so check the announcement for 2027.
Can I take photos?
Ask before you take close-ups of people, keep your distance during rituals and never block the route. If someone declines, put the camera away.
Is it a good day for a first visit?
Festival days are very crowded. If you want to see the caves and climb the stairs without the crowds, choose another day and read the opening hours guide.