Pura Luhur Mekori, Pupuan: Forest Monkey Temple on the Antosari Road

Pura Luhur Mekori stands right beside the Antosari-Pupuan main road in Banjar Pemudungan, Belimbing village, Tabanan, and its gate, flanked by two large banyan-type bunut trees, is visible from the roadside. Behind it is old forest with a protected troop of monkeys. None of the sources we checked list an entry ticket (checked October 2026).

What you see

Hindu drivers passing by usually stop at the roadside shrine to leave a canang offering or simply press their palms together and ask for a safe journey. From the left side of the temple, a footpath climbs for about 2-3 minutes through the forest to the Kahyangan Jagat temple above. According to budayabali.com (June 2026), the trees here are hundreds of years old and protected by the villagers. The main area follows the Tri Mandala layout and centres on an eleven-tiered meru. The name Mekori is linked to the word kori, meaning gate.

Monkeys: fun to watch, still wild

The troop is fairly large and often seen around the temple; locals regard the monkeys as guardians of the area. Keep food and small items inside your bag, do not feed them, and do not chase them for photos. Our sources do not mention dedicated monkey wardens like those at Sangeh or Ubud.

Rules to know

This is an active temple, not a ticketed attraction. Wear a sarong and sash that you bring yourself, as no source mentions rentals. To pray at the first temple, dedicated to Ida Bhatara Ratu Nyoman Wayah, visitors need permission. As at other Balinese temples, women who are menstruating do not enter the temple grounds. If you are not there to pray, enjoy the outer courtyard and the forest path unless the priest invites you in.

When to come

Mornings from 08:00 to 10:00 are usually most comfortable. The temple sits on the western slope of Mount Batukaru, so fog and afternoon rain are common. According to budayabali.com, the temple festival (piodalan) falls every six months on Rabu Kliwon of the Gumbreg week, 35 days before Galungan. By that pawukon count, the next one is around 9 December 2026. The same article also mentions the full moon of Kedasa, so check with the temple caretakers if you want to see the Rejang Renteng dance. During the festival the grounds fill with worshippers and roadside parking runs out.

Verdict

Worth a 30-45 minute stop on a Denpasar-Pupuan-Lovina drive, especially if you like quiet forest temples. Less suited to anyone afraid of monkeys, looking for staged photo spots, or needing toilets and a cafe, since no source mentions such facilities. Pair it with the rice terraces of Belimbing village in the same village, or Vihara Dharma Giri in Pupuan.

Getting there

• Location: View on Google Maps
• From Denpasar: about 56-60 km via Tabanan and Antosari, realistically 1.5-2 hours. The Antosari-Pupuan road is winding and uphill.
• From Lovina: via Seririt and Pupuan, about 50 km or 1.5-2 hours on mountain roads.
• Ticket and parking: no official rate is published; bring a donation (dana punia).
• Instagram: search on Instagram