Alas Kedaton
Forest Temple and Animal Sanctuary in Tabanan
Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest is a nutmeg forest and temple which serves as a sanctuary for grey long-tailed macaques. The forest is located in the village of Kukuh in the Marga district of Tabanan regency, about a 25-km drive northeast of Bali’s provincial capital of Denpasar.
Tourists are usually accompanied by rangers organised by local community, to ensure visitors can enjoy the atmosphere safely without being disturbed by the monkeys and share stories about Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest history and monkey population. Guests can take pictures with monkey and offer foods to attract the friendly native monkeys along the walking trails in the middle of the forests and towards the exit gate
Our Story
The name Alas Kedaton is derived from the word ‘alas’, which means jungle, and ‘kedaton’, which means the palace. This name suggests that this place is ‘the jungle where the King resides’. One of the kings who has chosen the Pura Dalem Kahyangan Kedaton as the residence is Sire Dalem. This is represented by the existence of sacred temples around a forest.
The Pura Dalem Kahyangan is believed to serve spiritual power, as means of avoiding all sorts of dangers, which is indicated by the image of Ganeca sitting on a lotus with the two dragons and the image of the eight-hand Durga Mahesasurawardani which is believed to provide protection and conquest.
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.