Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest
Mandala Suci Wenara Wana · Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
A sacred forest on the edge of Ubud: hundreds of long-tailed macaques and three Hindu temples built about 700 years ago.
Know before you go
- Don't bring food or plastic bags in, and don't feed the monkeys
- don't stare into a monkey's eyes or bare your teeth at it (they see it as a challenge)
- don't enter the temple sanctums
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
The Sacred Monkey Forest is managed by the nearby village of Padangtegal. It contains three Hindu temples, all said to date from around 1350; the main one, Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal, is devoted to the supreme god in his manifestation as Shiva. A 2011 count found about 605 crab-eating macaques (locally called Balinese long-tailed monkeys) living in the forest. Monkeys and the myths about them hold an important place in Balinese art.
Local customs
The temples' inner sanctums are open only to people in Balinese temple dress who come to pray
Religion & beliefs
Balinese Hinduism.
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
Nyepi in Bali: a whole day of island-wide silence
- Stay in your accommodation all day, lights off and quiet
- Adjust flights and check-in or check-out dates in advance
- Going out into the street or to the beach
- Booking flights in or out of Bali on that day
Everyone on the island, including tourists, must comply; I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport closes for the whole day.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Indonesia travel advice
Don’t DON'T
- Don't bring food or plastic bags in, and don't feed the monkeys
- don't stare into a monkey's eyes or bare your teeth at it (they see it as a challenge)
- don't enter the temple sanctums
Locals appreciate DO
Villagers appreciate visitors who keep their distance from the monkeys and don't make noise in the forest.
Plan your visit
Practical info
| Best time | Morning |
|---|---|
| Time needed | 1 hour |
Travel tips
- Glasses, hats, earrings and phones can all be snatched by monkeys, so zip them into your bag
- mornings are quieter
- it's walkable from Ubud Palace
Photos
Photos
Jakub Hałun · CC BY-SA 4.0
Jakub Hałun · CC BY-SA 4.0
More in Southeast Asia
Also nearby
Marina Bay Sands
Three legs holding up a 'ship in the sky': the Lion City skyline's futurist manifesto
Hạ Long Bay
A 'Guilin on the sea' of 1,600 limestone islands: Vietnam's 'where the dragon descended into the sea'
.jpg?width=800)
Hội An Ancient Town
Lantern-lit banks of the Thu Bồn River: an old dream of a Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese trading port