Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest is one of places of interest in Tabanan Regency referred to by locals as Obyek Wisata Alam Alas Kedaton, is a nutmeg forest and temple which serves as a sanctuary for grey long-tailed macaques. The forest is one of several monkey forests in Bali, which you can visit as an alternative to the more popular Ubud Monkey Forest, especially on tours to the island's western region. Alas Kedaton is slightly off the beaten track as it’s far from the island’s main tourist destinations. This simply means you’ll usually find lesser crowds on your visit.
The Sacred of Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest
The monkey forest’s name comes from alas (forest), and kedaton (kingdom). The Pura Dalem Kahyangan Kedaton Temple serves as its centerpiece, with pathways surrounding the mossy temple walls that provide a pleasant walk. The temple’s gates are usually closed when there’s no ceremony going on, but you can easily look over the shoulder-high walls for a peek into the temple grounds. The temple holds its piodalan temple anniversary every Anggara Kasih Tuesday as marked on the Balinese Pawukon calendar – roughly 20 days after Bali’s major Galungan holidays. The heights of festivities take place for a full day and conclude before sundown. Like the temple, the whole forest is considered sacred and so are its residents – these include the hordes of long-tailed macaques as well as the flying foxes that you can often see zooming through the misty forest canopies. As for the monkeys, the village locals, shopkeepers, guides and visitors are prohibited from harming them, no matter how impish they may be.
The Monkey at Alas Kedaton Temple The monkeys in Alas Kedaton Temple are very tame and free gallivanting in the temple yard, so that the calm atmosphere is sometimes solved by the noise of the monkeys, which are playing around and scrambling for food. The monkeys who dwell in Alas Kedaton Temple, there are jump up and down in temple wall, take a bath in moat or there is also hang out in few leaves representing impression view. The monkey is the custodian of the temple, which is always ready to greet all visitors who are paying a visit to Alas Kedaton Temple. Besides monkeys, in Kedaton forest also can be met bats and some other animals. At least 24 types of grove plant have been identified in Alas Kedaton Temple.
