Mandala Suci Wenara Wana, also known as Ubud Monkey Forest, is a sanctuary located at Padangtegal Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Monkeys
About 1260 Balinese long-tailed macaque monkeys live in this sanctuary. They are divided into 10 groups, namely in front of the main temple group, forest conservation group, central point group, eastern group, Michelin group, Ashram group, Tap, and Cemeteries group. We also divide the monkeys by age: 63 adult males, 34 Sub-adult males, 219 Adult females, 29 Sub-adult females, 167 juveniles 1 (2-3 years), 118 juveniles 2 (1-2 years), 63 infants old (5-12 month) and 56 infants.
Sacred Monkey Forest Ubud is a famous tourist attraction in Ubud. Every month around 10,000–15,000 visitors come to Monkey Forest Ubud. The Monkey Forest Ubud has 186 species of plants and trees in 12,5 hectares of forest. The Monkey Forest Ubud has 3 temples, namely Dalem Agung Padangtegal Temple, Holy Spring Temple, and Prajapati Temple. The forest is owned by the Padangtegal community and is managed by Mandala Suci Wenara Wana Management. The purpose of the management is to keep sacred the place and promote the Monkey Forest Ubud as an international tourist destination.
The Monkey Forest lies within the village of Padangtegal, which owns it. The village's residents view the Monkey Forest as an important spiritual, economic, educational, and conservation center for the village.
Mission
The Ubud Monkey Forest describes its mission as the conservation of the area within its boundaries according to the Hindu principle of Tri Hata Karana ("Three ways to reach spiritual and physical well-being"), which seeks to make people live harmoniously during their lives. The "three ways" to this goal under the Tri Hata Karana doctrine are harmonious relationships between humans and humans, between humans and the natural environment, and between humans and The Supreme God. Accordingly, the Monkey Forest has a philosophical goal of creating peace and harmony for visitors from all over the world. It also seeks to conserve rare plants and animals for use in Hindu rituals and to provide a natural laboratory for educational institutions, with a particular emphasis on research into the social interaction of the park's monkeys with one another and their interaction with the park's natural environment.
Physical features and facilities
The Ubud Monkey Forest covers approximately
and contains at least 115 different species of trees. The park is heavily forested and has lots of hills, And a deep ravine runs through the park grounds, and at the bottom, there is a rocky stream. Trails allow visitors access to many parts of the park, including the ravine and stream.
The Monkey Forest grounds have a forest conservation area, a public hall and gallery, an open stage, a canteen, a first aid center, a police post, parking and toilet facilities, and a composting facility.
Temples
The Monkey Forest grounds are home to three Hindu temples, all apparently constructed around 1350:
The Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal ("Padangtegal Great Temple of Death"), also known as the Main Temple, lies in the southwestern part of the park. The temple is used for worshiping the god Hyang Widhi in the personification of Shiva, the Recycler or Transformer. The Pura Beji, or Beji Temple, in the northwestern part of the park, is used for the worship of Hyang Widhi in the personification of the goddess Gangga. A "Holy Spring" bathing temple, it is a place of spiritual and physical cleansing and purification prior to religious ceremonies. The Pura Prajapati, or Prajapati Temple, located in the northeastern part of the park, is used to worship Hyang Widhi in the personification of Prajapati. A cemetery adjacent to this temple receives the bodies of the deceased for temporary burial while they await a mass cremation ceremony, held once every five years.
The temples play an important role in the spiritual life of the local community, and the monkey and its mythology are important in the Balinese art tradition. The Monkey Forest area is sanctified by the local community, and some parts of it are not open to view by the public. Sacred areas of the temples are closed to everyone except those willing to pray and wear proper Balinese praying attire.