On having an excursion to Alas Kedaton tourist object, we can watch the amusing behavior of monkeys and flying foxes hanging on trees or the fertility of the forest providing food for the residents.

When exploring this tourist object, we can also feel the sanctity aura of the Dalem Kedaton temple having the distinctive ngerebeg ceremony tradition. This sacred ceremony is usually held at the pinnacle of the temple anniversary or piodalan fall every six months (210 days) on Anggara Kasih Wuku Medangsia or ten days after the feast of Kuningan holiday.

The ngerebeg procession is remarkably unique. All devotees bringing various temple paraphernalia such as banners, umbrellas, and long pennants surround the temple while running three times counterclockwise. While the sanctified effigy in the form of Barong and Rangda are carried as if watching the procession. The procession itself is accompanied by Baleganjur gamelan music combined with the sound of kulkul or wooden split bell.

Uniquely, devotees are not allowed to light incense or any kind of fire during the mass prayers. Then, when cleaning up the temple courtyard people do not use a broom, but use a stick with a poke and then collect the rubbish in one place. Before the pinnacle of the ceremony committee, local devotees perform a procession whose route takes place from Lod Dalang Hamlet, about 3 km on foot to the east of the temple. Meanwhile, women show off various forms of grandiosely designed gebogan (fruits and cakes arrangement) along with canang oblation, in addition to displaying the attires and all forms of accessories in use.

The front row usually consists of ritual paraphernalia and is followed by sanctified effigies like Barong Ket, Barong Landung, and Rangda. Then, the following row consists of women carrying the gebogan or canang oblation they have prepared and accompanied by baleganjur gamelan music. Each hamlet sends 150 participants along with their own distinctive customary attires. The ceremony starts from the preparation of the ceremony, kitchen services (ngebat) until the implementation of the temple anniversary should be finished accomplished before sunset.

According to local people, the Dalem Kedaton Temple was a heritage estimated to have existed since hundreds of years ago. Even, no one in the Kukuh community was able to ensure when the temple was built. Meanwhile, its division was similar to that of other temples in Bali, such as having an innermost courtyard with 6 shrines, a middle courtyard without shrines, gamelan pavilion, a dining area (pewaregan), meeting hall, and outermost courtyard as the front yard of the temple.

So amazing and interesting, worth being on your list of destination objects visited during your holiday trip in Bali. Just rent a car in Bali self drive, you have your own time to arrange your own itinerary. For those fewer adventures, rent a car with driver is the best choice. Show your destination, Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest to our driver, who will be more than happy to drive for you. Just relax and enjoy the trip.