The Sacred Monkey Forest Ubud : Review and Holiday Informations
Monkey Forest Ubud, you probably have guessed what this place offer from the name. But did you know that monkey Forest Ubud is a sanctified forest for Balinese people? It values more than just a mere forest and is a home for more than a thousand monkeys.
Very well-maintained, clean, and has a pleasant cool forest atmosphere. Monkey Forest Ubud or also known as The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is a great tourist destination in Bali.
With this article, I will introduce you to the Monkey Forest Ubud so that you can enjoy your holiday there with more preparation. Read this article to its end to learn more about what's on Monkey Forest Ubud, the place's value, what to do there, and the tips you need to know before you go there.
The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary Ubud a.k.a Monkey Forest Ubud
Photo by ArtHouse Studio on pexels
As a high-valued tourist destination, The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (Monkey Forest Ubud) has a purpose of preserving the area using the philosophy of the Tri Hita Karana. For this reason, Monkey Forest Ubud, as an international tourism destination, will be highlighted as an attraction that gives a sense of harmony and calms to everyone who visits it.
Along with its main purposes, Monkey Forest Ubud also serves as the heart of the city, a preserve for endangered flora, a rallying point for ceremonial plants, and a natural laboratory for academic institutions. That's right, Many researchers from all over the world involve Monkey Forest Ubud in their research and or conservation programs, where the monkey's behaviour and its surrounding environment are what attracts these researchers' interest.
What's more, Monkey Forest Ubud is an essential component of the local people's economy and spiritual well-being.
Monkey Forest Ubud as A Holiday Destination
As a tourist destination, Monkey Forest Ubud is a pleasant place that presents real solitude with nature. In the serene atmosphere of Bali's verdant forests, you can observe or even interact with long-tailed macaques in their natural environment.
The area is enormous, with well-maintained roads winding through lovely forests. It is also featuring a river that cuts through some of the areas. If we look at the map below, there is also an animal clinic, cave, exhibition rooms, and temples in Monkey Forest Ubud.
Image source: https://monkeyforestubud.com
Not much I can say, but, Monkey Forest Ubud is a great destination spot for people all ages.
The Temples in Monkey Forest Ubud
Image source: https://trek.zone
The Monkey Forest in Ubud is home to three separate temples. According to the interpretation of the Pura Purana, these temples were constructed during the middle of the 14th century. When the Pejeng Dynasty ruled over the kingdoms on the island of Bali. The three temples in question are; Pura Dalem Agung (located in the southwest area, this is the main temple), Pura Beji (located in the northwest area), and Pura Prajapati (located in the northeast area).
As I mentioned before, the solitude with nature is absolute, where you can find old banyan trees with roots that hang down and hug the temple.
In this forest, the temples are the holy places. Only those who are wearing a proper Balinese dresses for prayer and eager to pray, allowed to visit the temples, while the others are not permitted to go in.
The Monkeys in Monkey Forest Ubud
Photo by Aleksandar Pasaric: https://www.pexels.com
The monkey at Ubud Monkey Forest is the Balinese Long-tailed Monkey, or Macaca Fascicularis in scientific terms; you may be more familiar with the name Macaque in English. In Balinese culture, monkeys and the mythology about them are very important. If you've noticed, the main character in both the Kecak and Ramayana dances is a monkey.
Therefore, can you image how important the Ubud Monkey Forest is to the Balinese people?
Photo by Mikhail Nilov: https://www.pexels.com
There are more than 1200 monkeys here. There's no cage and they're free to roam. These monkeys live in groups, in the Ubud Monkey Forest itself there are 10 groups of monkeys. Thanks to the monkey's activity which is active during the day, so you can see them doing activities during your visit to the Ubud Monkey Forest.
But, you can do more than just observe their behaviour. Yup, you can interact with them!
Interacting with Monkey Forest Ubud's monkeys
So, it turns out we can interact with them. But we shouldn't get our hopes up, as monkeys are really wild animals who aren't particularly tame and can show unexpected behaviour.
Under an experienced guide, you can take selfies with the monkeys there. You can follow the directions from the guide to get the unique photos with the monkeys, whether it's the monkey selfie picture or the typical tourist picture where you have the monkey on your shoulder.
The monkeys here are very well-fed, but that doesn't make them stop from stealing your food or other belongings. On the other hand, you are not allowed to feed the monkeys except with the food provided here. If you want to feed the monkeys, there's a banana for sale here.
Recommendations / Tips You Need to Know for Monkey Forest Ubud
- Leave your bringing like a plastic bag, plastic paper, or plastic bottle because it will attract the monkeys' attention, and they will take the things from you.
- Stay calm and keep an eye on your belongings. Be super careful because the monkeys are smart enough to open your bag!
- Avoid making any physical contact with the monkey due to the fact that monkeys are wild animals, their behaviour might be unpredictable.
- For health reasons, don't give the monkeys any food you brought from home
- Please have a good attitude towards everything, including the natural environment, inhabitants, and wooded areas.
- Due to the fact that this is a sacred region for the local people, there may be certain areas that you are not permitted to see or access, such as the temples.
- Visit when the weather is pleasant and it is not raining, as the monkey will be hard to find because they are sheltering from the rain.
Final Thoughts
You might want to combine your visit to the sanctuary with other attractions in Ubud, including the rice terraces and ancient landmarks. If that's the case, we will recommend this article for you
