Posts Tagged ‘Damai’

In the Gombak district, north of Kuala Lumpur the capital city of Malaysia, the Batu Caves can be found. It is a popular tourist site for those who visit Malaysia because of the limestone arrangements that were believed to have been formed 400 million years ago.

The caves are thought to be around 400 million years old and are reputed to have been a refuge for the indigenous Temuan people – a Malay tribal people.

In the’60’s Chinese settlers started to excavate the bird guano to use as fertilizer for vegetable crops but The Batu caves gained fame due to their limestone hill formation which were recorded by the then colonial authorities.

Another cave is dedicated as the Museum and Art Gallery Cave and this one houses the very significant statues and paintings of the Hindu religion. This portion has only been recently opened to the public, after it was renovated and converted into a Cave Villa.

In’91 Pillai, who is known for founding the Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Kuala Lumpur, erected a consecrated statue named the murti of Sri Subramania Swamy in the temple cave.

The third and final cave, the Ramayana Cave, is a well-lit portion of the Batu Caves that tells the story of Rama depicted on the walls. Another significant thing to note about this third cave is how some visitors may get the feeling as though they are strolling into the intestines of the evil Kumbhakarann, the brother of King Ravana.

The Thaipusum Festival is an annual event that is observed by all Hindus from all over the globe. During the morning of the Thaipusam, a procession commences at the Mahamariamman Temple in Kuala Lumpur and all devotees proceed to the Batu Caves carrying with them milk, that are to be offered to their god Murugan.

The highest point of the caves stands at almost 100 meters above ground level. At the base of the hill to the main cave there are a further 2 caves – Museum Cave and Art Gallery Cave which are both full of Hindu paintings and statues. Many of the shrines are based upon the victory of Lord Murugan over the demon Soorapadam.

There is also the Ramayana Cave which is dedicated to the story of Rama. On the way to Ramayana Cave is a 15 meter tall Hanuman murti, the monkey who was very much devoted to the Lord Rama.

For more on Kuching and Kuching hotels please click on the link where you can also learn more about the beautiful Damai.

Kuching is the capital city of the eastern Malaysian state called Sarawak. Kuching is the largest city on the island of Borneo with a total population of close to 640,000 people. Kuching was given “city” status in 1988 and is known as Cat City – Kuching being the Malay word for cat.

Sarawak belonged to the Sultanate of Brunei until 1841 when it was gifted to a British adventurer called James Brooke for his help in putting down a rebellion against the Sultanate. Kuching then became Brooke’s headquarters – with easy access from the river. The Brooke family ruled Sarawak until the Japanese occupation in 1941 during the Second World War. For almost 4 years the Japanese held power in Sarawak and Kuching which ended in September of 1945 upon their surrender.

For more than a hundred years the state of Sarawak belonged to the British. It was “gifted” to the explorer James Brooke for helping to quell a rebellion against the Sultanate of Brunei in 1841.

However, in 1941 the Japanese gained control early in the Second World War and maintained control until September 1945 when upon their surrender they handed power back to the British. Sir Charles Vyner Brooke then ceded control of the state to the British Crown in 1946.

Malay for cat, however there are other possibilities. It could be taken from the Indian word for “port” which is Cochin.
Indian traders are known to have settled in the area hundreds of years ago. Another possibility is that the city is named after the cat’s eye fruit or “mata kucing”. One more theory is that the name comes from “old well” in Chinese language.

No matter where its name came from or its history, the city currently does not offer the tourist a lot from the point of view that its far from beautiful. Its a really good base however for those who wish to travel throughout Sarawak, which is a beautiful and thoroughly forested part of the world. If you are keen on botany, there is a hugely diverse range of plant life.

If you really enjoy seeing and learning about animals such as the orang utans and crocodiles this is the place for you.

If you like wildlife and beautiful scenery and do not mind the heat and humidity then Sarawak is a wonderful place to explore and learn. If you enjoy diving there are some great scuba diving spots around the coast and the beaches tend to be golden and beautiful, ideal for sun worshippers and bathers a like.

Learn more about Kuching hotels and the beautiful Damai.