BALI ALAS KEDATON TEMPLE
BALI ALAS KEDATON TEMPLE LOCATED INSIDE A SMALL FOREST WITH NATURAL MONKEY HABITAT
Bali Alas Kedaton Temple is a small forest with an area of about 6-7 hectares located in the middle of rice fields in Tabanan Regency, the western part of Bali. The entire Kedaton forest area, including the temple and its supporting facilities, covers about 12 hectares. The Alas Kedaton Temple is located within this forest, offering an unspoiled natural environment with fresh air and creating a calm, quiet, and sacred atmosphere. Alas Kedaton is a Tabanan place of interest that offers the experience of seeing the beauty of a forest that is still preserved in its authenticity, as well as being able to see a large population of monkeys with their funny behavior. This makes it an attractive place for travelers who want to enjoy the natural beauty and animal life that are unique to Bali.
If you visit Alas Kedaton Temple, here’s what you need to know :
- Monkey at Alas Kedaton
- Location Alas Kedaton
- Temple Festival at Alas Kedaton
- Tourist Destination Alas Kedaton
- Interesting Thing at Alas Kedaton
- Atraction at Alas Kedaton Temple
- How get to Alas Kedaton Temple
Monkey at Alas Kedaton
The monkeys at Alas Kedaton Temple are very docile and roam freely on the temple grounds. They often make the otherwise quiet atmosphere boisterous with their noise as they play around and fight over food. You can see monkeys jumping on the temple walls, bathing in the moat, or lounging in the leaves, creating a mesmerizing sight. These monkeys, like friendly temple guards, are always ready to greet every visitor who comes to Alas Kedaton Temple. Besides monkeys, Kedaton Forest also presents a diversity of other animals, such as bats and several other animal species. In the forest, there are at least 24 types of forest plants that have been identified, adding to the natural wealth of Alas Kedaton Temple.
Location Alas Kedaton
Alas Kedaton Temple is located in Kukuh Village, Marga District, Tabanan Regency. The journey to this temple can be done easily by motorized vehicle, following the main road from Denpasar to Tabanan. During the trip, we will be treated to beautiful natural scenery, such as rice fields and the sound of irrigation on the roadside, which gives a peaceful impression. Alas Kedaton Temple has three courtyards, namely the outer courtyard, the middle courtyard, and the inner courtyard. The center courtyard and inner courtyard are surrounded by walls, while the outer courtyard is an open area. What is interesting about this temple is that the inner courtyard, which is the holy place, is located lower than the middle courtyard. This is different from the common temples in Bali, where the more you go inside, the higher it is. Also, it is interesting that the temple has four entrances, giving it a unique and interesting feel for visitors.
Temple Festival at Alas Kedaton
The ceremony at Alas Kedaton Temple is held every 210 days of the year, which is precisely on Anggarakasih Medangsia (Balinese Hindu calendar) or every Tuesday. On that day, the people perform worship or pray to ask for safety and prosperity. The uniqueness of the ceremony at Alas Kedaton Temple is that it does not use fire and does not use penjor, and the ceremony is completed before sunset or before nightfall. This adds to the spiritual and traditional nuances of the ceremony in this temple.
Tourist Destination Alas Kedatonn
Alas Kedaton Temple has become a training site related to nature tourism, environmental management, and agro-tourism in the development of this tourist destination. This place is visited by many local and foreign tourists, especially in August, December, and January. Local tourists tend to visit during the holiday season and Ramadan (a Muslim holiday), while Alas Kedaton Temple is best visited during the day. Around Alas Kedaton Temple, there are many small shops selling handicrafts as souvenirs, such as clothes, handicrafts, and others. In addition, there are several kiosks that provide food and drinks, as well as toilet facilities and a large parking area.
Interesting Thing at Alas Kedaton
There are some interesting things to see when visiting Alas Kedaton Temple in Bali:
- The joy of monkeys playing among the trees, and it is free to take photos of them.
- Bat show, where visitors have to pay to enjoy the bat show at Alas Kedaton Temple.
- Taking pictures with snakes, which requires payment. This is a great experience, especially for children, as it provides an opportunity to interact with animals in an interesting way.
At Alas Kedaton Temple, there are around 2,000 monkeys that are the main attraction for visitors. Visitors can feed these monkeys directly. It’s easy, just put some nuts or cookies in your hand, and the monkeys will be happy to receive them. Some brave visitors can even take photos when the monkeys are eating food from their hands or heads. However, it is advisable not to wear a hat or glasses while doing this, as the monkeys like to steal things like hats or glasses if they get the chance.
Atraction at Alas Kedaton Temple
The authorities of Alas Kedaton Forest, Kukuh Traditional Village, Marga, and Tabanan have designed a forest filled with monkeys for visitors to interact with. All the monkeys are tame, having no malicious nature, as long as visitors behave well and do not commit acts such as hitting them.
Another attraction is the bat show, but not ordinary bats, but huge giant bats. The experience of taking a photo with this giant bat may be the only one in real life.
Finally, there is the snake photo attraction, which is not only for adults but also for children, who enjoy it very much. Although the snakes in question are large and long, they belong to the tame breed. Taking some photos with the snakes at Alas Kedaton can result in interesting pictures.
How get to Alas Kedaton Temple
You can reach Alas Kedaton Bali from Kuta in about 30-45 minutes by car. Usually, this trip is done using a rental car. The right time to visit this interesting place is around noon. Alas Kedaton is located on the same route as Tanah Lot Temple. So, if you are planning to visit Tanah Lot Temple, the Bali Tanah Lot Tour is a good option. However, if you only want to visit certain tourist attractions, we at Bali Driver Hire also provide car rental and driver services in Bali at affordable prices. You can arrange the itinerary according to your wishes, and your trip will be more enjoyable with a private car and an experienced driver.