The monkey forest in Ubud is one of the highlights of a trip to Bali. The Mandala Wisata Wenara Wana (Indonesian name for the Monkey Forest) is a small nature park with the Hindu temple Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal.
Quick facts
Admission:
Adults: 50.000 IDR (approx. 3,20€)
Children: 40.000 IDR (approx. 2,60€)
Address:
Monkey Forest Street – Padangtegal Ubud Gianyar
Opening hours:
Daily from 8:30am to 6pm
Last admission is at 5:30pm
General
Established to promote the co-existence of people and nature, this place embraces the Tri Hita Karana concept (three ways to attain spiritual and physical well-being). Even though around 10,000 people visit the Monkey Forest every month, its still a sacred site that is also attended by locals. There are a total of three temples in the Monkey Forest, but tourists are not allowed to enter them.
The right way to behave
There are between 600 and 700 monkeys in the Monkey Forest. They are used to visitors and don’t mind contact with humans, which basically means that they like to steal. For this reason, you should pack the most important items inside your backpack. Otherwise, you can expect that keys, wallet or sunglasses cannot be found after spending time with the monkeys.
When monkeys smell prey, they can quickly become aggressive. They like to start fights or may bite. If you are bitten by a monkey, you should behave correctly – it’s best to consult a doctor, as the animals can transmit diseases. Officially, the monkeys are said to be free of rabies or other diseases, but you should always be on the safe side.
You are the visitors in the animals’ home, so they should always be treated with respect. They may climb on your back or come very close to you. If this happens, just stand still and don’t try to shake them off. If the situation becomes threatening, the attendants will intervene immediately.
Before entering the park, there is the possibility to leave things at the entrance. The monkeys shouldn’t be fed with industrial nibbles. However, if you really want to please a monkey, buy bananas in the park. Otherwise, the monkeys will also accept sweet potatoes, cucumbers or papaya leaves.
