Sangeh Monkey Forest

Sangeh Monkey Forest is a 14-hectare sacred grove in the village of Sangeh, Badung regency, approximately 20 kilometres north of Denpasar. Unlike the more famous Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud, Sangeh is populated primarily by grey long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) rather than the crab-eating macaques of the Ubud forest, and the setting is more austere — a cathedral-like stand of pala (nutmeg) trees that tower 30–40 metres overhead, with their root systems breaking through the stone courtyard of the ancient temple below. The Pura Bukit Sari temple at the forest's heart dates from the 17th century and is one of the satellite temples of the Mengwi Kingdom's religious network. The macaques that inhabit the forest are considered sacred by the local community and are associated with the monkey god Hanuman from the Ramayana epic — a local legend holds that Hanuman's soldiers dropped this fragment of Mount Himalaya (complete with its nutmeg trees) here during the battle against the demon king Ravana. The monkeys are habituated to humans and completely unafraid, which makes for entertaining encounters — they will approach, inspect bags, and occasionally snatch sunglasses or food if given the opportunity. Visiting with a local guide (available at the entrance) allows for a more relaxed experience and context on the temple's history and the macaques' role in local religious life.