Malaysia temple in the rock. kek lok si temple in malaysia

Malaysia is a hospitable country South-East Asia– receives many tourists from all over the world every year. This state, in addition to its natural resources, is also famous for its historical and archaeological monuments. Malaysia is quite safe. Maintains uniform heat all year round. But when planning a visit to this country, you should take into account the rainy season. The western part is best visited from late November to February, and the eastern part from May to September.

Lots of historical monuments, temples and mosques can be seen in Kuala Lumpur and Penang. lovers water activities And beach holiday waiting for the Langkawi archipelago and the Malay part Borneo islands. The mountain resorts of Malaysia will please both lovers of natural attractions and connoisseurs of modern entertainment in the form of casinos, attractions and night discos. In addition to traditional souvenirs - figurines and key chains - wooden, pewter and copper products, silk and batik, spices, various equipment, as well as jewelry made of precious metals are brought from Malaysia.

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What to see in Malaysia?

The most interesting and Beautiful places, photos and a short description.

The capital of Malaysia is famous for its many attractions. Monuments of architecture, parks, Chinatown and a Malaysian village right in the center of the city. Kuala Lumpur has something to entertain its guests. The most popular of the metropolitan areas - Central historic quarter and shopping and entertainment Golden Triangle.

The building, which is rightfully called the symbol of Malaysia, is the famous Petronas Towers. Since the end of construction in 1998, these towers have been considered the world's tallest "twin" buildings. The Petronas Towers are open from 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays. During the tour, tourists will learn about the history of construction, will be able to visit the observation deck located on the 86th floor, and also walk along the bridge between the towers.

One of the main shopping and entertainment districts of the capital. Bukit Bintang is also called the Golden Triangle because it is located at the border of three busy city streets. Many local shops, cafes and restaurants, hotels and nightclubs guarantee the attention of the guests of the capital to the area.

The Menara TV tower can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. This building, which was completed in 1996, is also called the "Garden of Light" for the original illumination, which can be admired at night. So observation deck Menara TV tower offers a beautiful view of the city.

In 1963, the largest state historical and cultural museum in the country was founded in the capital of Malaysia. Externally, the building resembles a traditional Malaysian house, and the exposition includes a collection of coins, edged weapons, hats and clothes, jewelry and musical instruments.

In 1910, when Malaysia was still a British colony, a Train Station, combining the Indo-Saracenic and neo-Moorish styles of architecture. In the early 2000s, only suburban transportation remained in the schedule of the Old Station, and after another reconstruction, the Museum of Railway Transport was opened here.

A huge park complex, which includes many thematic natural formations, is located in the center of the capital. Here you can visit the Butterfly Park, which houses the Entomological Museum. The Orchid and Hibiscus Garden sells seedlings and flowering plant specimens on weekends. The local Bird Park hosts a bird show twice a day, and there is a Deer Park near the lake. The Botanical Garden Planetarium contains an entire floor where you can play with interactive exhibits.

The National Mosque of Negara was built in 1965 and can accommodate up to eight thousand people. The idea of ​​building such a national building, symbolizing the country's independence, arose in 1957. And it was brought to life by architects from England and Malaysia. Near the mosque there is a mausoleum where famous Malaysian politicians are buried.

The oldest mosque in Kuala Lumpur, opened in 1909, is located at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers. Until 1965 Masjid Jame was the main mosque of the city. This sophisticated Moorish-style building is considered a popular attraction in Kuala Lumpur.

One of the most famous tourist sites of the capital is the royal palace of Istana Negara. This building was erected by a Chinese millionaire in 1928 and was then called the Big House. Since then, the palace has managed to visit both a magnificent Japanese residence and a modest officer's canteen. Currently, the Istana Negara Palace is used for royal ceremonies.

A very original Serpent Temple can be visited in Malaysian Penang. The building was erected in 1850 and, as legend has it, since then snakes have been crawling into the temple from all over the area. Temple officials assure that the snakes are "neutralized" by the sacred smoke, but for additional safety, poison has been collected from all the reptiles in the building.

In 1897, the construction of the "Moorish" palace of Sultan Abdul-Samad was completed. In the center of the building is a 43-meter clock tower, which makes the structure look like the English Big Ben. Now the palace houses the Ministry of Culture, and the square in front of the building is used for various events.

Near the city of Ipo at the beginning of the 20th century, local planter William Kelly Smith began the construction of a mansion. But he was not destined to finish the work - after the First World War, most of the workers and Smith himself died of illness. There are legends that Kelly Castle has many secret rooms, underground tunnels and passages. But in fact, there is only one tunnel here, and it connects the mansion with a nearby Hindu temple.

Kek Lok Si Temple is considered one of the largest Buddhist temple complexes in Malaysia. Its construction was carried out at the end of the 19th century. Most often, tourists visit the Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas and the statue of the Chinese goddess Kuan Yin, responsible for mercy. Near the temple there are several cafes and souvenir shops.

One of the oldest Hindu temples in the capital is located on the outskirts of Chinatown. The facade of the building is made in the style of the southern palaces of India. Its central tower, Raja Gopuram, which appeared in 1968, invariably attracts the attention of tourists with its multi-colored sculptures. Inside Sri Mahamariamman there is a silver chariot that is used in Thaipusam celebrations.

Small island in the South China Sea. Tourists consider it one of the most beautiful islands peace. Transparent water attracts beach lovers, and the local undersea world attracts lovers of diving and snorkeling. The village of Tekek, the capital of the island, is equipped with all necessary tourism infrastructure. On the island of Tioman, you can stay both in a comfortable hotel and rent an individual chalet.

The Langkawi archipelago is located in the northwest of the country. Its white beaches are very beautiful, and also very rich in magnesium, which makes them extremely useful in the treatment of bronchitis, osteochondrosis and rheumatism. In Langkawi, you can visit snake and crocodile farms, relax on the black beach with volcanic sand, go to the aquarium or go diving.

One of the most popular attractions in Malaysia are the Batu Caves, located near Kuala Lumpur. The staircase leading to the caves is decorated with a huge statue of Murugan, and nearby is a temple dedicated to this deity. Batu consist of 7 small and 3 large caves. An additional fee is charged for the entrance to the Art Gallery Cave, decorated with murals and statues.

The mountain is the fourth highest in Southeast Asia. It is located on the territory of the national park in eastern Malaysia. On the last Saturday and Sunday of October, an original competition is held here - the world mountain race, the participants of which must climb to the top with a height of 4095 meters as quickly as possible and also quickly go down.

On the Malacca Peninsula is the famous national park Malaysian Taman Negara. This park is home to leopards, tapirs, rhinos, Malaysian bears, deer, wild boars, tigers, elephants and over 300 species of birds. There is a hotel where you can stay for a couple of days, and in the park there are several temporary shelters for those who want to spend the night in the tropics.

Gunung Mulu National Park, located in the east of the country, is famous for its grandiose caves, tropical forests and karst formations. In the caves of Gunung Mulu, it is worth visiting the world's largest grotto, Sarawak. Also popular with tourists are the Deer Cave and the Cave of Clear Waters. You can get here by water or by helicopter.

In 1974, a national park was founded in the Malaysian part of Borneo, the main attraction of which is the Niah Cave. Traces of Homo sapiens, who lived in the Stone Age, were found here. The age of the Niah cave is about 37-42 thousand years, its walls are decorated with rock art. Before proceeding with the inspection of the cave, tourists should register and pay for the entrance.

One of the largest Malaysian mountain resorts. Best time to visit these places lasts from March to September, when track lovers can easily climb the equipped paths to the tops of the Cameron Highlands. Tourists often visit the local tea plantation, where they observe the production and processing of tea. The Cameron Highlands is also home to strawberry and bee farms, where you can buy fresh produce at low prices.

The lake is located on one of the islands of the Langkawi archipelago. It is very popular with tourists and locals. This is a very beautiful body of water surrounded by rocks and lush jungle. According to legend, childless couples who visit Lake of the Pregnant Maiden will receive hope for a quick replenishment of the family.

One of the best places for walks and picnics, a mountain in the very center of the island near Georgetown. At the end of the 19th century, a funicular was built to climb the mountain, and now you can get to the top of Penang Hill in just 12 minutes. At the top you can visit Botanical Garden, an owl museum, a mosque and a restaurant overlooking the island.

In the mountains northeast of Kuala Lumpur is the popular Genting Highlands entertainment complex. This amusement park is divided into outdoor and indoor areas, each of which consists of the most modern attractions. A closed area also includes a variety of entertainment using computer technology.

One of the most beautiful and unforgettable places in Langkawi. The seven rapids of this rather powerful waterfall form seven purest lakes, in which you can swim if you wish. A rather long staircase leads to the Seven Wells, the steps of which can be slippery in wet weather. A lot of monkeys live in the jungle surrounding the stairs, so bags, backpacks and cameras will have to be monitored very closely.

The two peaks of Mount Ganung are connected by the unusually beautiful and seemingly floating Sky Bridge of Langkawi. To climb this 150-meter structure, you should use two cable cars which takes about 20 minutes. From the sky bridge, you have stunning views of the surrounding mountains, lush tropics, and the distant sea.

Perhaps Malaysia is one of the most "overlooked" countries in the world by me. Somehow, all the time it turns out that I am passing through there and always have time for nothing. I first visited Malaysia in 2008 and since then I have been there five times, but at the same time I looked quite a bit: Kuala Lumpur, the new capital of the country, and quite a bit Far North countries near the border with Thailand. Meanwhile, Malaysia is undoubtedly one of the most interesting countries asian s fantastic beautiful nature, excellent infrastructure and an abundance of historical monuments from different eras. Literally three weeks ago I visited there again, flying in from Singapore and then flying from Kuala Lumpur to Vienna; spent a little less in Kuala three days, for which I actually walked around the city, see and also visited the best zoo in Malaysia (to be honest - a terrible disappointment and shame to the local sultans) and fantastically beautiful caves and Hindu temples in Batu, which became my most vivid impression of what I saw in Malaysia. Inside a huge karst cave 15 km west of Kuala Lumpur, a magnificent Hindu temple has been erected, this is real surrealism! And although the place is quite "tourist", I could not help but visit it and did not regret it a bit -

The path starts from the center of Kuala, do you see something on the right side of the photo that resembles a palace with white turrets? This is the old railway station of Kuala Lumpur, from there trains depart not only to the Batu caves, but also trains to Singapore and Thailand follow through it. Actually, main station located a little further, 10 minutes walk from the old one. Well, the train that you see on the engraved plan is the metro, which in some places is brought up -

We are "lucky", the rain does not subside in the morning -

And here is the train that will take you to the caves -

It takes about 25 minutes to drive and here is the final station, which can be seen from afar thanks to the huge statue of the god Hanuman -

There, another hefty statue, by the way, one of the largest in the world, is a statue of the Hindu god Murugan, the second son of Shiva, who is worshiped by most Indian Tamils. The statue is almost 43 meters high and is one of the largest statues in the world by definition. The photo does not show its size, but imagine a 16-storey building? Represented? Here is her height -

Anticipating the likely question of what wind brought the Indian Tamils ​​to Malaysia, I will explain that they were brought here by the British, who ruled both here and in India since the 18th century. They were brought in following the principle of "divide and rule", because in the confrontation with the Malay sultans, the British needed to rely on someone. Hundreds of thousands of Hindus were happy to go to a new colony to get out of poverty and hopelessness in their own country. And on the part of the British, it was very reasonable to create in a Muslim region disloyal to them some newcomer diaspora, which, being in a hostile and alien environment, would certainly be loyal to the British crown. Currently, Malaysians of Indian origin make up about 10% of the population of 29 million Malaysians. By the way, according to the same scheme and for the same political and economic reasons, the British contributed to the migration to Malaysia of ethnic Chinese from the Hong Kong-Guangzhou region and now ethnic Chinese in this country make up 27% of the population. Another interesting fact is that it is the Indians and the Chinese who are the engine of the Malaysian economy, being the absolute majority in business and science. It is significant that, according to statistics, 70% of all Malaysians with higher education are ethnic Chinese and Indians, and this despite the fact that they are national minorities.

As one Chinese friend from Kuala Lumpur said, "Malaysia is a wonderful country, if only all the Malays, whose head is stuffed with radical Islam, were removed from it ...". The same person said that the Malaysian authorities oppress national minorities and do not allow the Chinese and Hindus into government bodies, and that to this day the Malaysian authorities, as a sign of support for the Palestinians, forbid their citizens to visit Israel, this is even written in their passports -

Considering the fact that almost 40% of the population of Malaysia are Hindus and Chinese, and almost half of them are also Christians by faith, such government jokes are incomprehensible and alien to them. Why would some person with a turban on his head (let's call him the President of Malaysia) and a callus on his forehead from the worship of Allah forbid me to go to holy Jerusalem to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher? Such an interesting conversation came out with a man. Not everything is so simple in this country warm sea and beautiful jungle.

p.s. By the way, just a year ago, the Malaysian government, under pressure from the United States and under the threat of economic sanctions, agreed to allow fellow citizens of the Christian faith to visit Israel without being imprisoned for it, as it was just a few years ago. A muddy story, for those who are interested, read the link.

But we will return to the caves of Batu -

Directly in front of the caves is one of the temples, there are six temples in total. There was just a ceremony

All these temples are quite new, there is no smell of antiquity here; Hindus chose the caves only in 1890, and temples appeared here even later, in the 20s of the last century -

Then we move up the rather tiring staircase built in 1920 -

Cave entrance -

Amazing, isn't it?

A kind of corner of India, and a pleasant corner, clean, without dirt and crowds of beggars. Forgive me, but for a long time I will still dream in nightmares -

No, well, absolutely without sitting on the pavement and eating with dirty hands right from the full, it’s impossible in any way -

Pigeons steal food from a rooster -

It's just fantastic! I have never seen anything like this before, although I have seen a lot of caves, starting from Carlsbadskaya in New Mexico with the Polish Wieliczka and ending with Skocan in Slovenia. Yes, I almost forgot little known in eastern Romania -

And then we decided to drive to the zoo, which was so much praised by tourists on the "Internet", the way there was by taxi -

The Kuala Lumpur Zoo turned out to be a severe disappointment, but I'll tell you about it next time -

Listen, in Malaysia they began to paste some stickers at the entrance? Previously, they just put a seal, but now it’s like this -

Thean Hou Temple is a Kuala Lumpur landmark that all Malaysia guidebooks should add to their "must see" list. Impressive Chinese-style roofs with dragons and phoenix birds, rich carvings and imposing columns, bright colors and traditional paper lanterns, Tian Hou Temple has a lot to see and photograph.

1 | Rules of conduct in the Tian Hou Temple:

The Tien Hou Temple was opened in 1989 and since then has been an important temple for the Chinese of Kuala Lumpur (who make up 43% of the city's population). Here at Thean Hou Temple locals come to pray to their most revered goddesses and protectors.

There are no special requirements for clothing (everything is within the bounds of decency). Before entering the prayer hall (on the 3rd floor), you must take off your shoes. In the temple, you need to speak as quietly as possible so as not to disturb the worshipers. You can not take pictures with your back to the statues or copying their posture and gestures - this is a sign of disrespect.

Prayer Hall at Tian Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

2 | What and where is in the Tian Hou Temple:

Tian Hou temple is one of the largest Chinese temples in Malaysia and includes 6 levels:

1. at ground level you can have a bite to eat and buy Chinese-style souvenirs - there are cafes, shops and souvenir shops,
2. hall for solemn events (mainly weddings),
3. office and educational center of the Chinese community of Kuala Lumpur,
4. the actual temple or prayer hall,
5. and 6. levels are Chinese style towers with bells under the ceiling and beautiful views of the city of Kuala Lumpur.

The richly decorated turrets of the temple, which open beautiful views to Kuala Lumpur

3 | Bodhisattva Goddesses in Tian Hou Temple:

The prayer hall is easy to find by following the signs (go through the main entrance to the temple, turn left and go up the stairs). Inside the temple there are three altars with Chinese goddesses - Bodhisattvas:

• Guan Yin- the goddess of mercy, who is revered everywhere and her statue can be found in many Chinese and Buddhist temples around the world.
• Shui Wei Sheng Niang- goddess coastline and patroness of the coastal regions of China.
• Thean Hou- The queen and empress of heaven is in the center of the temple, surrounded by smaller Buddhist and Taoist statues. The goddess Tian Hou is the patroness and protector of sailors and fishermen. The temple is dedicated to this goddess.

Shui Wei Sheng Niang Goddess Statue Statue of Guanyin Goddess of Mercy
Altar and statue of the main goddess of the temple - Bodhisattva Tian Hou

4 | Interesting details inside Thean Hou temple:

• Two assistants of the goddess Tian Hou are depicted on the entrance doors to the prayer hall - the gods of the sea and the guards of the entrance to the temple Qianli Yan and Shun Feng Er. If you are observant, you will see their figurines on the altar in front of the statue of the goddess Tian Hou.
• The richly decorated ceiling of the temple and the formidable Chinese dragons entwining the columns are incredibly beautiful.
• Oracles or divination sticks are found near the altars of the goddesses. Focusing on your question, you need to shake the glass with chopsticks until one of the chopsticks is higher than all (or falls out of the glass). Then you need to get the divination from the box under the number corresponding to the number on the dropped stick. Divinations are written in Chinese and English.

God of the Sea and Keeper of Doors Divination sticks and numbered boxes

5 | Walk around Thean Hou Temple:

• Passing through the round arch to the right of the prayer hall, you can walk along a small shady courtyard and see another statue of the goddess Guanyin.
• To the left of the temple is a corner with free books and CDs in English and Chinese.
• Steps down to the left of the prayer hall lead to the turtle pond.
• Closer to the gates of the temple there are statues of 12 animals of the Chinese horoscope.
• Smiling old man with a staff Yue Lao (Yue Lao) - the god of marriage and love in Chinese mythology. He holds a book in his hands, where it is written who and with whom are destined to marry. This old man appears by the light of the moon and ties the future husband and wife with silk ribbons so that nothing and nothing can interfere with their marriage.
• Right before the exit from the temple grounds, surrounded by fish ponds and a waterfall, there is a statue of the goddess of mercy Guanyin (there are three statues of this goddess in Tian Hou Temple).

Statue of the god of marriage and love Yue Lao (Yue Lao)

6 | How to get to Tian Hou Temple:

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The most beautiful Chinese temple in Kuala Lumpur is open from 8 am to 10 pm. It is located away from tourist routes and no form of public transport goes to it.

The best way to get to the temple is by taxi. From the KL Sentral station, an Uber taxi will cost about 6 MYR (Malaysian ringgit).

You can save money and walk from the metro on foot: 2.4 km across the bridge over the Jalan Syed Putra highway and further downhill to the hill through residential areas. Considering that there is nothing of interest along the way and the area is almost deserted, I would not recommend walking.

Most convenient way see the Tian Hou Temple and other sights - with a Russian-speaking guide.

Sri Mahamariamman Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur. Its feature is the original facade, made in the style of southern Indian palaces.

Located on the edge of the picturesque Chinatown district, the temple invariably attracts the attention of tourists.

Its amazing central tower, Raja Gopuram, which is adorned to its full height with many different figures, looks like a magical carved box made from a single piece of wood. Near it, I want to linger a little longer and consider all its many constituent elements, woven in some incomprehensible way into a single picture.

The tower has 228 figures, created and installed by sculptors from India in 1968, during the overhaul of the temple. Hindu gods, located on the five tiers of the tower, froze in different poses, illustrating scenes from the Ramayama epic. The work of the sculptors impresses with the filigree and extraordinary brilliance of the entire composition.

Inside the temple is no less beautiful than outside. Tiles brought from Italy and Spain, semi-precious stones and multicolored painting were used in its decoration. After the noisy streets of the capital, visitors find themselves in a haven of calm, freshness and coolness, filled with the smell of flowers, incense and incense.

As it turned out, there are quite a lot of attractions in Kuala Lumpur, so here you can not only transfer from one plane to another and walk around the airport, but also spend a few days.

For the second half of the week, we stayed at Joanna's - she is a student, she has easier free time, so she showed us the city with pleasure. Another couchsurfer came to visit her - an Indonesian from the island of Java, so the four of us walked around the city

Batu Caves

This is a Hindu temple in the rock - the largest and most beautiful cave complex dedicated to Indian culture in Malaysia







The temple is not a museum, but an active one - and although there seem to be more tourists here than parishioners, religious services are also held


There is nowhere without monkeys near the temple, here they are generally very aggressive - they attack people (especially children and women) and take away what they think is edible


At Joanna’s, a healthy male clutched at the bag, and at our waving he only bared his fangs, with difficulty drove away

Chinatown

Somewhere around here, apparently they sew branded clothes
Ate Chinese food

Or Malay - their cuisine is so mixed up that it is difficult to make out what is what

We didn’t see the Indian quarter in Kuala Lumpur, but we found an Indian restaurant where we ate our favorite dosa with pleasure (a popular dish in)

Yes, we remember Indian cuisine with great pleasure.

Concerning local cuisine, then it is most often represented by such street eateries where you can have lunch or just drink a glass of freshly squeezed juice



And of course, fast food is everywhere too.

TV Tower Menara

This is another well-known attraction in Kuala Lumpur, competing in height with Petronas and inferior to the "twins" of only 31 meters (its height is 421 m). It is also visible from almost anywhere in the city.



there is an observation deck at the top, which can be climbed by paying an entrance fee of 40 ringgit or ordering dinner for 200 ringgit per person

Ethnographical museum

This is not a very popular place in Kuala Lumpur - an attraction that few get to. The museum has a large exhibition of ancient doors



exhibits showing national clothes


weaving craft

It turns out that in Malaysia, too, once there were cycle rickshaws

Taman Tasik Perdana ("Central Lake Park")

The largest park, which is located near KL Central, i.e. almost in the center of Kuala Lumpur. Sights inside for every taste - an orchid park, a butterfly park, a national mosque, a museum of Islamic art, and it's just nice to walk around the park itself










Near the bird park - a huge area fenced off with a fence and a closed net on top - we met interesting woman who fed papaya to the monkeys






She comes to a certain place every day, the monkeys already recognize her car and are waiting for feeding - she feeds them about 20 papayas a day. Here they are more well-mannered, they do not snatch food, but carefully take it from their hands or catch on the fly, an abandoned piece




There is also a small zoo, which contains a deer mouse - either a mouse on deer legs, or a deer, the size of a mouse




In principle, here everything is intelligibly painted about them 🙂

In addition to mouse deer, there are also full-sized deer here, apparently living nearby for contrast.

Masjid Jamek

One of the largest and most beautiful mosques in Kuala Lumpur, a must-see attraction, especially since it is located in the very center of the city


Everyone can go inside, but women (and men in especially short shorts) need to wear a veil (mantle) and a hijab (headdress)


Only Muslims can enter some areas of the mosque - they are demarcated, so it's hard to make a mistake



Muslims, at least in Malaysia, are very calm, good-natured and, contrary to popular belief, not aggressive.

In general, Malaysia is a Muslim country, and Islam is the state religion. It is 61% Muslim, 20% Buddhist, 9% Christian and 6% Hindu.

Muslim policewomen even wear a hijab in the service - religion is more important than work
As for Muslim clothing - the rules here, apparently, are not as strict as it is commonly thought - although girls are dressed in it from an early age

many women, especially young people, wear bright, colorful and even patterned hijabs.

Independence Square (Dataran Merdeka)

Unfortunately, the square turned out to be closed due to the rally held the day before, so it was only possible to look at it from the side




As well as on the building of Sultan Abdul-Samad. This building once housed Supreme Court Malaysia, and now the Ministry of Culture




So we walked around


many lanterns are decorated with cheerful flowers

looked at the vinaigrette of architectural styles


and a golden building - not otherwise inside some bank =)

A muddy river flows nearby


with walls painted with funny pictures


In total, we spent more than a week in Kuala Lumpur - after Sri Lanka it was very comfortable to be in a civilized "European" Asia with air conditioning in houses, trains, buses and the ubiquitous Wi-Fi, which can be caught even in the subway.

And you can relax here even on the street

We also made the necessary preparations for further travel in Indonesia, namely, we received a social visa at the Malaysian Consulate of Indonesia, which allows us to stay in the country without a break for up to 6 months, we will write more about this separately.

Most tourists who find themselves in Malaysia are limited to Kuala Lumpur - attractions that are located in the city and the immediate vicinity.

And we decided to go around mainland countries, the Malay Peninsula - as it turned out, there is also a lot of interesting things here.

in Kuala Lumpur