Ubud Monkey Forest
The Ubud Monkey Forest has been around for so long that its history was determined through a thorough analysis on the site. Based on analysis conducted by researchers and experts, the temple’s construction dates back to the 14th century, making the Ubud Monkey Forest older than its home country, Indonesia. During that era, the area that now forms Indonesia was governed by separate ancient kingdoms.
The Ubud area itself was a royal neighborhood where royal families live in grand palaces, many of which still stand until now. Unfortunately, due to limited documentations available from that prehistoric time, it’s unclear who exactly built or designed the site.
The Philosophy
The temple is built upon the Balinese traditional philosophy called Tri Hita Karana, the “three causes of well-being” that include the harmony with God, with other people, and with nature. The philosophy is manifested in the 12.5 hectares (30.8 acres) area, where visitors can find temples for worship, lush forest, and hundreds of monkeys.
