The Ubud monkey forest is a natural habitat for Balinese long-tailed monkeys and is located in Padangtegal, Bali. With over 1000 monkeys, they are divided into five groups. The forest conservation group, central point group, eastern group, Michelin group, and cemeteries group. Most of the monkeys are divided by age. One of the major attractions in Ubud, the forest also has over 180 species of plants and trees.
The forest is also home to three sacred temples called Padangtegal temple, Prajapati temple, and the holy spring temple. The Balinese are very traditional and the temples are open to the public only in specific areas.
Ubud Monkey Forest in Bali – Sanctuary of Gray Macaques
There are various activities you can enjoy in the forest such as watching the staff feed the monkeys, exploring the forest, visiting restaurants to try traditional Balinese cuisine
Long-tailed Macaques
Also known as the sacred monkey forest, the major attraction in the Ubud Monkey forest are these long-tailed Macaques. The forest is known to have five groups of monkeys with their own territory. This is one of the most popular places with over 10,000 visitors every month.
One of the best times to visit is the afternoon when you can witness these monkeys being fed food like bananas, papaya leaves, coconut, and much more. The conservation has regular researchers who observe the monkey’s health and make changes in their diets.
Visitors are not allowed to feed the animals as they can get aggressive and try to snatch the food.
Bathing temple
Another major attraction here is the temples and one of the three temples is actually a holy spring bathing temple. This is located in the village of Manukya and the pond here has fresh water Balinese Hindus regard as holy water and bathe here to purify and cleanse themselves. from evil.
This is practiced even today and visitors are also allowed to bathe in this spring water and enjoy the blessed event.
Enjoy the Barong and Kris dance
Bali has a fascinating culture and they strive hard to keep their culture alive in various forms. The Baring and Kris dance reflects the struggle people fave between good vs evil and barong. This is a popular character in Balinese mythology. The character resembles a lion and is called the king of the spirits.
The Barong dance is another dance that reflects fights between two people. Barang is known to have thick white fur and always has on golf jewels.
Explore the temples
There are three main temples in the forest built in the 1350s.
The first one is the Padangtegal temple which worships the God personifying Shive and is located in southwest of the forest.
The second one is the holy spring bathing temple where worshippers bathe in the holy spring water to cleanse their souls from evil.
The third is the Prajapati temple in the northeast of the forest which worships Prajapati. The cemetery beside the temple is used for burials of the deceased.
Things to remember before visiting the Ubud monkey forest
- Do not wear loose jewelry, the monkeys might grab or try to snatch it from you.
- Do not try to feed the monkeys, they get aggressive when they see food and the visitors might get injured.
- Do not shout, yell or run when they approach you. Remember to be gentle with them.
- Visitors are not allowed to smoke in the forest.
- Be respectful of the temples, there are shops outside the temples, where guests would need to purchase before entering the temples.
- There are staff all around the forests and they will be there if there is an issue. Do not ignore the staff’s warning.
- There is a path to walk for visitors. Do not enter monkey’s territory.
- Be respectful of the monkeys and watch your children at all times. Do not let them play with the monkeys.
- Safeguard all of your personal and expensive belongings. The monkeys might try to hide or steal.
- If you wish to visit the temples, be respectful of the dress code. There is no specific dress code but guests cannot wear a lot of revealing clothes inside the temple.
Other things to do in the Padangtegal village
Explore the village
One of the best ways to learn Balinese culture is to meet with the locals. There are many temples here that are centuries old and have a fascinating history. You can just walk around the village and look at some of the amazing cafes, try traditional Balinese cuisine, and much more.
Hike
The Ubud monkey forest is a beautiful sanctuary and one of the best ways to spend time here is to explore the forest and look at over 110 species of trees and plants.
Balinese art and culture
The village has some beautiful art galleries near the Ubud forest where you can explore Balinese traditional work as well as international work from foreign artists. You can look at the paintings, theatre performances, musicals, and dances.
Komaneka art gallery
One of the main galleries here is the Komaneka art gallery where you can look at the stunning artwork from local and international artists.
Ubud art market
A great place to purchase souvenirs is the art market. You can get silk scarves, shirts, woven packs, and many handmade items. The market mainly focuses on craftsmanship and you can purchase authentic Balinese trinkets and silks.
Taman inspirasi Mertasari
One of the best ways to enjoy your vacation is to have a peaceful one at the beach. This sandy beach has a beautiful stretch and is known for visitors having a peaceful time. The beach is also known to have many restaurants and hotels along the shore.