This Hindu Temple Gets A Stunning Makeover And It's Not In India

The 272 colourful steps of the Batu Caves temple is attracting thousands of visitors to Malaysia

The entrance to the Batu Caves temples in Malaysia has got a new look which has gone viral on social media. The 272 steps to Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple has been painted with various bright hues of red, blue, yellow, green and orange – giving it a rainbow look. The refurbishment is a part of the consecration ritual wherein the entire temple complex is cleaned, repaired, painted and reconstructed after which the Kumbhabhishekham ceremony is performed. The renovations happen only once in 12 years and it took 1.5 years to complete them.

Located in Gombak, Malaysia, Batu Caves is a limestone hill with a series of caves and cave temple. They were promoted to a place of worship by an Indian trader in 1890 and are is one of the most popular Tamil shrines dedicated to Lord Murugan outside of India. The festival of Thaipusam is celebrated every year on the full moon of the Tamil month of Thai.

However, Batu Caves Sri Mahamariamman Temple Devasthanam committee might be in trouble as the renovation was not approved by the Malaysian government. Batu Caves are listed as Malaysia’s national heritage and the unapproved renovation has brought the site on the risk of being delisted. Although, the temple committee chairman Tan Sri R Nadarajah has claimed that the temple hasn’t benefitted from the heritage tag as the National Heritage Department did not give any grant for maintenance of the site, which is also a tourist spot.

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