Those thinking of heading into Kuala Lumpur for the next few days, it’s best to plan your routes or take public transport instead as road closures in the city centre will be closed in stages for Thaipusam celebrations tomorrow (Jan 31).

Thaipusam, a sacred Hindu festival of thanksgiving to Lord Murugan, sees massive chariot processions in major cities as well as devotees making their way to the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple to carry out their vows and prayers.

In order to accommodate the procession, several roads in KL, Ipoh, and Penang are scheduled to be closed along the procession route.

According to the New Straits Times, the road closures will be done in stages, beginning today (Jan 30) to accommodate the Thaipusam procession. The roads would be closed and reopened in stages according to the progress of the procession.

Roads closures today, in order:

• Jalan Tun H.S. Lee
• Jalan Sultan
• Jalan Pudu
• Jalan Tun Perak
• Lebuh Ampang
• Jalan Ampang
• Jalan Munshi Abdullah
• Jalan Dang Wangi
• SOGO
• Jalan Raja Laut
• Jalan Sri Amar
• Jalan Tun Razak
• Jalan Ipoh
• Jalan Perhentian
• Jalan Ipoh Batu 5
• Batu Caves

City Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department chief Assistant Commissioner Zulkefly Yahya said the chariot procession began at Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Jalan Tun H.S. Lee at 10pm yesterday and will end at about 2pm today at the Sri Subramaniar Temple in Batu Caves.

“The chariot will make its return journey from the Sri Subramaniar Temple at 4pm on Thursday and it is expected to reach Jalan Tun H.S. Lee the following day at 2pm,” he said, adding that it is advised to use public transport instead.

Rapid KL said it will be extending the LRT services at the Gombak station. The station will be open until 2am tomorrow (Jan 31) and the train frequency will be set at 30 minute intervals. There will also be a shuttle bus between Batu Caves and the Gombak LRT station.

Ipoh

Roads will be closed on three phases in Ipoh, according to The Sun Daily, for celebrations that’s set to take place at the Sri Subramaniar Temple in Gunung Cheroh tomorrow.

Stage 1 (Jan 30)

• Jalan Sungai Pari
• Jalan Tun Perak
• Jalan Lahat
• Jalan Sultan Yusoff
• Jalan Raja Musa Aziz
• Sultan Iskandar roundabout
• Jalan Sultan Idris Shah

Stage 2 (2.30pm on Jan 30 to 2am on Feb 1)

The road from the Sultan Iskandar roundabout to Jalan Raja Musa Aziz will be completely closed and traffic from Jalan Raja Musa Aziz will be diverted to Jalan Raja Ashman Shah and Jalan Raja Musa Aziz via the Sultan Iskandar roundabout.

Stage 3 (5pm on Feb 1 to Feb 2)

These road closures are for the chariot’s return procession from the Sri Subramaniar Temple to the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple. Affected roads are:

• Jalan Raja Musa Aziz,
• Sultan Iskandar roundabout
• Jalan Raja Ekram
• Jalan Tun Sambathan
• Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang
• Jalan Kompleks Islam
• Jalan Sultan Iskandar Shah
• Bahagia roundabout.

Penang

In Penang, Bernama reported that road closures begin today for the silver and golden chariot procession.

Penang police chief A.Thaiveegan said, “All the roads involved will be closed in stages starting from 5am on Jan 30 to make way for the procession of the chariots while for the return procession, it will start at 4pm on Feb 1.” The affected roads are as follows:

• Lebuh Queen/Penang
• Lebuh Chulia
• Gat Lebuh Chulia
• Lebuh Victoria
• Gat Jalan Prangin
• Jalan C.Y Choy
• Jalan Magazine
• Jalan Datuk Keramat
• Jalan Utama
• Jalan Air Terjun.

As for the return procession, roads that will be closed are:

• Jalan Air Terjun
• Jalan Gottlieb
• Jalan Tun Abdul Rahman
• Jalan Cantoment
• Jalan Macalister
• Jalan Anson
• Jalan Burma
• Jalan Transfer
• Jalan Sri Bahari
• Jalan Penang
• Jalan Campbell
• Lebuh Buckingham
• Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling
• Lebuh Chulia
• Lebuh Queen
• Lebuh Pasar
• Lebuh Penang
• Lebuh China
• Lebuh Pantai.