Alas Kedaton is a small forest with the width about 6-7ha located in the
middle of the rice field in Tabanan regency, west part of Bali. The total size
of this forest, temple and its supporter facility is about 12 ha. In this
forest, there is a temple called Alas Kedaton Temple and owns the natural
environments that is looked green with its fresh air and create the calm, quite
and holy atmosphere. The monkeys in Alas Kedaton are very tame and free
gallivanting in temple yard, so that the calm atmosphere is sometime solved by
noise voice of the monkey, which are playing around and scrambling of food. The
monkeys who dwell in this forest, there are jump up and down in temple wall,
take a bath in moat or there is also hang out in few leaves representing
impression view. The monkey like as custodian of temple, which are always ready
to greet all visitor who are paying a visit to this place. Beside monkeys, in
Kedaton forest also can be met the bats and some other animals. At least 24
types of grove plant have been identified in Alas Kedaton.
LOCATION
Alas Kedaton is located in Kukuh countryside, Marga Sub district, Tabanan
Regency. The journey go to this
place can be done easily by using motor vehicle follow the major roadway from
Denpasar to Tabanan. On the way go to this tourist place, we will see the
beautiful nature view where in front of us will see the carpet of rice field
and irrigation voice at the side of road to bear the impression/peaceful
atmosphere. Alas Kedaton Temple have three courtyard such as: external yard, middle
and center yard. In the center and middle yard are encircled by wall and the
outside yard is representing a open yard.
INTERESTING POINT
The interesting point of this temple
is the inside courtyard is situated lower than the middle
courtyard. This is quite different if we consider with the general situation temples in Bali which is normally goes inside courtyard is higher position than outer courtyard. Another interesting point of this temple owns four entrances.The temple ceremony in alas Kedaton temple is
carried out every 210 days a year. It is on Anggarakasih Medangsia (Balinese Hindu
Calendar) or on every Tuesday where on that time the society do the worship or
pray to request the safety and prosperity. The unique in this ceremony is do
not use the fire and do not hence Penjor and also finished before the sunset or
before the night is come.In front of Alas
Kedaton temple there are quite a lot small shops selling the handicraft as
souvenir, for example clothes, pants and other handicrafts. Others, there are
some shops both selling food and beverage, clean toilet and large parking area is available.
