Known in Balinese as Mandala Suci Wenara Wana, the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is a patch of dense jungle in the middle of Ubud, home to both a large troop of macaques and three old Hindu temples. The village of Padangtegal manages it as a place of worship as much as a wildlife reserve, and the two roles are hard to separate. Stone stairways lead down through a ravine of towering trees, past moss-covered shrines and carved dragons. Overhead, long-tailed macaques move freely along the walls and branches.
The macaques
Roughly 1,200 Balinese long-tailed macaques live in the forest, split into several troops that hold different corners of the reserve. They are wild, confident around people and quick to seize anything loose. The sanctuary asks visitors to keep bags closed, put away food and drink, and take off dangling jewellery or sunglasses. Rangers feed the troops at set points through the day, and this is the best time to watch natural behaviour from a safe distance. Look for mothers with infants in the quieter parts.
The temples
Three 14th-century temples sit within the grounds, the most striking being Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal, a temple of the dead reached by a stairway flanked by carved figures. Its walls are thick with moss and shaded by giant banyan trees whose aerial roots hang to the forest floor. A holy spring temple and a cremation temple complete the group. These are active sites, so only worshippers enter the inner courtyards, but the gateways and sculptures are visible from the paths.
Paths and setting
A network of paved and stone paths loops through the reserve, crossing a dramatic bridge over the Wos river ravine. The canopy keeps the air cool even at midday, and the dense nutmeg and banyan trees give the forest its atmosphere. Signboards explain the conservation work and the temple history along the way. Everything sits close together, so the walk is easy and flat for the most part, with a few steps down into the gorge.
How to visit
The main gate sits at the southern end of Monkey Forest Road, an easy ten-minute stroll from Ubud market and central Ubud. Arriving at the 9am opening means cooler air and calmer monkeys before the tour groups build up. Combine it with a look at Ubud Palace and the craft shops that line the road between the two. See our overview of Ubud and the wider list of things to do in Ubud to plan the rest of your day.
