The most beautiful religious buildings Kuala Lumpur & Selangor

Nicknamed the "Friday Mosque" by the faithful, Masjid Jamek was opened in 1909 on the initiative of the Sultan of Selangor. Designed by British architect Arthur Benison Hubback, it blends Moorish, Mughal and English styles. The architect designed many other buildings in Kuala Lumpur, including the railway station and the former town hall, leaving a mark that gave Kuala Lumpur its colonial identity. The mosque is built at the confluence of the Gombak and Klang rivers on a former Muslim cemetery. It remained the city's main mosque until the Masjid Negara was built in 1965. You enter the compound through a beautiful garden planted with palm trees. A large courtyard with an ablution basin precedes the prayer hall. The prayer hall is crowned by three bulbous domes, typical of the Anglo-Indian style. The main dome, in the center, reaches a height of 21 meters. Two minarets frame the prayer hall and dominate the brick and plaster ensemble. The mosque has undergone a number of transformations over the decades. The most important was the covering of the rectangular courtyard. As you can see, the bricks are a different shade from the original pinkish building to the more recent brick-red one. One of the domes collapsed in 1993, following torrential rains, and has since been rebuilt. This little haven of peace, surrounded by lawns and palm trees, stands in stark contrast to the modern buildings and urban bustle, and is an invitation to meditation.

The must-see Batu Caves are the highest Hindu site in Malaysia, and indeed in the world outside India. Both a natural and religious site, this group of caves nestled in a limestone cliff was converted into a temple over 100 years ago. It comprises one main cave and three smaller ones. A pilgrimage destination for Malaysia's Hindu community, but also for devotees from India and Singapore, this temple is dedicated to Lord Murugan, the god of war and son of Shiva and Parvati. To reach the cathedral grotto, perched 100 metres above sea level, you'll have to climb 272 seemingly endless steps. Perhaps to brighten up this tedious moment, the steps have been freshly painted in bright colors. Thieving macaques enjoying peanuts offered by climbers will greet you along the way, but keep a close eye on your belongings. Don't leave your glasses, camera or phone lying around. On arrival at the site, you'll be greeted by the imposing 42-metre-high golden statue of Murugan. It stands proudly to the right of the staircase. Inside the grotto, fervor is at its peak. Incense smoke billows, statues of gods from the Indian pantheon stand guard, traditional music bangs against the rock walls and devotees perform puja (prayers) at the foot of their idol. Two shafts of natural light cast their rays over the stage, accentuating the atmosphere of fervor and strangeness that floats here.

The fervor reaches its peak during the Thaipusam festival, which takes place in January or February. This is one of the most impressive Hindu festivals. Over a million Hindus embark on a 24-hour procession from the Sri Mahamariamman temple in Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown to the Batu caves. Pilgrims follow the silver chariot carrying Murugan and his two acolytes, Valli and Teivayanni, for an incredible and emotional tribute to Murugan. Offerings, shouts, bhajan (chanting), music, mystical dances and mortifications make up this gripping tableau. The most fervent perform a trance that culminates in violent scarification. They pierce various parts of their bodies with needles, assegais or spears. The most devout wear kavadi, wooden structures attached to their backs with hooks as extreme signs of devotion.

This is the Chan clan kongsi, built in 1906. Originally, it was a clan house where members met in semi-clandestinity. The temple inside provided a religious façade for a secret society. The first thing you'll notice is the façade, richly decorated with glazed ceramic bas-reliefs. Scenes from daily life and Chinese legends are depicted. At the entrance, numerous ancestral tablets can be seen on the right, and photos of the Chan are to be found everywhere.