Visiting the Ubud Monkey Forest
The Ubud Monkey Forest is a nature reserve located in the small village of Padangtegal on the island of Bali in Indonesia. The local name for the site is Wanara Wana. The forest is home to approximately 1,260 monkeys divided into ten distinct clans. These animals are long-tailed macaques, a species that is omnivorous. While they are often called crab-eating macaques, the name is slightly misleading, as they enjoy a varied diet that happens to include small crustaceans among many other food sources.
A Sacred Site for Hinduism
The reserve contains sacred statues depicting Hindu deities, such as Sri, the goddess of fertility, and Dhurga, the mother of the Universe. You will also find three temples here that date back to the 14th century: Pura Beji (a bathing temple), Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal, and Pura Prajapati, which serves as the cremation temple. The complex also includes a cemetery. Access to the interior of these temples is reserved for believers who come to pray or leave offerings.
The flora consists of a tropical forest featuring massive banyan trees, which are easily recognized by their thick, hanging vines.
How to interact with the monkeys in Ubud
Long-tailed macaques live in clans of roughly one hundred individuals, with each group occupying a specific territory within the forest. While females remain in their birth group for life and maintain a strict social hierarchy, males move between different clans multiple times throughout their lives.
When you visit the Ubud Monkey Forest, avoid wearing jewelry and keep all your belongings tucked away inside a secure bag. These monkeys are expert pickpockets. If you choose to feed them, use only bananas. Do not make sudden movements or maintain intense direct eye contact, as the monkeys may perceive these actions as aggressive threats and react with violence.
Beautiful forest with some lovely trees, some of which are impressive in size.
The unique thing about this Bali must-visit spot is of course the monkeys that live there in large numbers and come to interact with visitors in groups and even as families.
Actually, they come up to you in hopes of getting food. If you want to avoid being pestered, just watch without giving them anything. Keep your bags closed tight and do not let any food show in your pockets or openings. You could have some unpleasant surprises otherwise.