Alas Kedaton

 17 Mei 2022   

The Alas Kedaton is a protected forest area that has an area of ??approximately 12 hectares in Bali. Besides the many trees, you will see a lot of monkeys around the forest area. In the forest area, there is also a temple called Alas Kedaton Temple.

Alas Kedaton Temple was built by Mpu Kuturan or Mpu Rajakertha during the reign of King Sri Masula Masuli on the island of the gods, according to the Sading village, stating that Raja Sri Masula Masuli began to rule on the island of Saka in 1100 (1178 AD).

The location of Alas Kedaton is in the Kukuh village, Tabanan. If you depart from the Kuta beach area, then you will need approximately 1 hour 10 minutes without any traffic jam. In the middle of the Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest, there is the Alas Kedaton Temple which is inhabited by thousands of monkeys and hundreds of large bats.

The monkeys in the Kedaton forest are very friendly and very close to visitors because they always feed them with nuts and other snacks. But although the monkeys are friendly, visitors are encouraged to remain cautious because they can also attack when they feel disturbed. Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest is one of the famous monkey forests on the Bali Island.

The position of the Alas Kedaton temple faces west and has 4 gates as the entrance and exit, this temple has a unique courtyard, the position of the main yard (in Bali is called Jala or Utama Mandala) is lower than the central courtyard (in Bali called Jaba or Madya Mandala), unlike other temples in Bali which usually have the main yard which is higher than the middle page.

In the Alas Kedaton temple, there are also several sacred buildings or commonly called local as pelinggih, a Lingga and also there are several statues, including:

Statue of Durga Mahisasura Mardhani who has 8 hands and stands on a statue of an ox, on each of his right hand from top to bottom holding Camara (fly deterrent), Sara (arrow), large knife, and holding the tail of an ox. On each of his left hand from top to bottom holding Kadga, Bow, Trident, and Gadha.

The statue of Lord Ganesha sits on a Padma flower (lotus) and 2 dragons, in his right hand holding a rosary and in his left hand holding an ax and proboscis, the Ganesha Statue has only one canine (Ekadanta).

Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest is a very famous tourist spot in Bali, especially in Tabanan. This place will be visited by many tourists both local and international, especially on holiday season. Visitors will usually be escorted by local guides who know the area around the forest to look around the temple area and the surrounding forest area.

Not far from the location of the Alas Kedaton attraction, there are also souvenirs shops, a playground for children, and other facilities for the visitors so this makes this place also suitable as a family vacation.