This was the last time I visited the Ubud Monkey Forest last year. Looking back at that experience, it feels like a great memory. Even though my energy was low and I was not feeling very well, I still enjoyed walking through the Monkey Forest in Ubud.
One thing I really liked was the monkeys’ behavior. They were quite well behaved. They did not steal people’s glasses or personal items. This is very different from monkeys in other areas, like Uluwatu. There, monkeys often grab glasses, phones, or anything they can take from tourists, then wait for food in return. The monkeys in the Ubud Monkey Forest are calmer. I would even say they are polite, maybe because they have enough food.
I arrived in the morning around 9 AM. It was still early, but there were already many visitors. I walked toward the man-made cave and followed the forest path. The path is designed by the local government to make it easy for people to walk among the huge trees. Along the way, I could see monkeys hopping on tree branches above my head.
The best way to explore the forest is simply to walk along the path. It goes around the forest and is not very long. In about 15 minutes, you can return to the starting point. Along the walk, there are many large trees and several feeding stations. The staff prepare food like bananas and sweet potatoes for the monkeys. This helps keep the monkeys inside the forest. Otherwise, they might wander outside looking for food.
Sometimes, monkeys do leave the forest and walk into small cafés or restaurants in Ubud town. According to restaurant owners, these monkeys are not very good customers.
The path continues to a temple in the middle of the forest, then leads to a bridge over the river. From the stone bridge, you get a beautiful view of the river and the surrounding trees. The river is called the Tjampuhan River, which flows through Ubud. The view of the river and the banyan trees was mesmerizing.
From the bridge, I followed the stairs up to the main area of the forest, where many monkeys gather. As I walked along the concrete path, I saw monkeys playing, relaxing, and fighting over food. Visitors seemed to really enjoy watching them. Sometimes I wonder why humans are so interested in monkey behavior. Maybe it is because we see a reflection of ourselves in them. That is just my personal thought.
I also stopped at a Balinese temple inside the forest. The temple is dedicated to God Shiva, the destroyer. Monkeys were jumping on the temple walls and roofs, completely unbothered by the people below.
After spending some time in the main area, I walked back toward the entrance, feeling calm and satisfied. Despite my low energy that day, the Monkey Forest gave me a peaceful and memorable experience.
