العنوان: Jl Monkey Forest, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar
The statue of the Goddess Sri holding up rice, as she offers her blessing to the world, assuring fertility, welcomes visitors to the Mandala Suci Wenara Wana, along with Durga, the Mother of the Universe, riding a lion. We’re in Ubud, in the Monkey Forest Sanctuary, where Balinese monkeys with their long tails make their home. However, this animal, with its rich mythological role, is also a cardinal element in the foundation narrative of Balinese culture, inspiration as well for dances like the Kecak and the Ramayana dance. In the sanctuary, it’s possible to encounter over a thousand monkeys as you stroll among almost 200 species of plants and trees, all comforted by the forest’s soothing embrace. Host to three Hindu temples - the Temple of Dalem Agung, that of Beji and the Temple of Prajapati - part of the area is considered sacred and is only accessible to those who wish to pray and are wearing the ap-propriate Balinese prayer clothes. Focused on the philosophy of ATri Hita Karana - the “three roads to physical and spiritual well-being” - the Monkey Forest Sanctuary offers guests an unforgettable experience bathed in peace and harmony.
Contemporary photography with an ancient taste with I Gusti Agung Wijaya Utama
The Balinese photographer I Gusti Agung Wijaya Utama S. Sn recreates the atmospheres of the past. His portraits, created with great attention to detail, are not the result of digital technology, but of an ancient process: the Afghan box camera.
Located within a large forest of nutmeg trees, Pura Bukit Sari was built in the 17th century as a meditation temple by the son of the King of Mengwi. It is certainly an evocative place, especially at dawn, when the monkeys come down from the trees to feed while the rays of the early morning sun filter through the tree canopy.
Dedicated to the cultivation of rice and the protection of the island from spirits, it is a temple with structural characteristics different from other sacred places in Bali. Its position is strategic for its centrality and coolness.