The Summit, Jalan Kewajipan USJ 1, 47600 Subang Jaya, Selangor www.nomadadventure.com

First World Hotel / Theme Park

69000 Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia www.genting.com.my

Delta Rovers Climbing Gym

A7, Jalan Kuang Bulan, Taman Kepong, 52100 Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: 603-6277 7555/7666 Fax: 603-6277 7711 www.deltarovers.com.my

Camp 5

EZ501, 5th Floor, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Bandar Utama 47800, Petaling Jaya. Malaysia 603- 78455561 www.camp5.com

There are quite a few climbing areas around Kuala Lumpur. The most frequented are the walls around a limestone hill called Batu Caves, which due to its popularity, the area surrounding the hill is now also called Batu Caves. Primarily limestone, many of the sheer walls along the edge of the monolithic hill were created by quarry operations in the past. If not by machines, the rain has through the ages erroded what it could, but also forming many of the caves that gave the hill its name sake.

Only a 15-minute drive from the city, Batu Caves is also a tourist attraction. The largest of the limestone structure houses a sacred and, very old, Hindu temple. Every year, the Kavadi procession during Thaipusam, a festival celebrating light and purification, draws throngs of tourists to the foot of the stairs leading to the cave temple.

Most of the climbs around the hill is no more than 5 minutes away from each other, with roads leading right to the foot of the wall for most. Some however do require some leg work.

Not too long of a distance away, lies Bukit Takun, a mixture of Granite and Limestone walls. The climbing routes lie at the top of the hill next to the Golf Course, where the face is clear of vegetation, and within a natural reserve called Templers Park. From the Batu Caves area, this location lies about half an hour away by car, and with an equally long uphill trek through a rain forest!

There are a few indoor climbing walls in Malaysia. Most are owned by schools or associations, and its use, limited only to its students or members.

Now, there are about 4 climbing gyms available to the general public. The much established Summit Climbing Gym is the oldest of such gyms, with the newly opened Camp 5 being the most talked about. All the information you would ever require are listed on the gym's individual websites, in which I have listed on the sidebar.