Sangeh is one of the famous tourist attraction of Bali as a village where monkeys roam freely and sacred by the locals in a forest. This tourist attraction is located in Sangeh village, District Abiansemal, Badung regency, Bali island. As well as a tourist attraction in Bali, Sangeh also a protected forest area and an area of approximately 14 hectares and mostly overgrown with trees nutmeg (dipterocarpus trinervis) approximately 50 meters tall and is inhabited by about 700 animals gray ape ( Macaca fascicularis ). In the middle of the forest there is a temple called Pura Bukit Sari. This temple was built by Mengwi kingdom and now handed over to the locals. Entering this area, the temple briefly (the gate) there is a large statue of a giant knight tangible, ie Kumbakarna being attacked dozens of monkeys. This statue depicts the story of Ramayana very well known puppetry by Balinese. Kumbakarna around the statue, there are two stone lions, one of which is seen caring for a baby ape. After entering the gate you will pass along the road approximately 200 meters to the nutmeg forest that each side wall is lined with large stones arranged irregular times. In the forest area we will find a small temple called Pura Melanting and larger temple called Pura Pucak Sari. At the court of the temple, it often filled with monkeys who were joking cheerfully. At the corner of the temple, there are several statues of monkeys as part of the architecture of the temple is amazing and the story according to the local communities, forest and monkeys. Sangeh is duwe that belonged to the gods who protect this place. At the end of the path to the exit rather play, there is a giant nutmeg trees were sacred. This tree has a unique and called Lanang Wadon tree ( male – female trees ) . So named because it is shaped like a tree nutmeg genital men and women side by side. The magic of this tree makes one interesting uniqueness in tourist areas along Sangeh behavior of apes and protected forests are conserved.
According to the legend, Pura Bukit sari was in the jungle has mithoplogis story in Lontar Babad Mengwi. Reputedly, there is a daughter of Ida Batara in Gunung Agung want to be placed in Mengwi kingdom. As his wills, the nutmeg jungle is in Mount agung a placed of Ida Batara Gunung Agung daughter’s stay, moved as a mysterious way in the nightmare. On the trip to Sangeh, there are people who see the journey. It is said that causes the nutmeg forest not walk again towards the stop in the village of Mengwi and Sangeh now. It is said that the adoptive son of the first king of Mengwi, I Gusti Agung Putu who holds Cokorda Sakti Blambangan find the former shrine building, over the discovery Cokorda Sakti Blambangan ordered to rebuild the temple and was named Pura Bukit Sari. Worshiped in the temple is the Ida Batara Gunung Agung and Batara Melanting.
How to get there
Sangeh is about 50 miles or less takes over 45 minutes drive from the capital city of Denpasar. To visit this area you will be charged an entrance fee, and there are some officers that site managers or guides dressed in traditional Balinese are ready to help every visitor. Some instructions for entering these areas include dress decently and orderly, be careful to carrying luggage, and forbidden to interfere with apes.