History and Attraction of Alas Kedaton Tourism Site, Bali
Bali is one of the provinces in Indonesia that is famous for its natural beauty and culture. One of the tourist attractions in Bali is a protected forest that is inhabited by thousands of monkeys and bats, namely Alas Kedaton. Alas Kedaton is located in Kukuh Village, Marga District, Tabanan Regency, Bali. Alas Kedaton has an area of about 12 hectares and is one of the tourist destinations that is visited by many local and foreign tourists.
Alas Kedaton not only offers natural beauty, but also high historical and cultural values. In the protected forest area, there is a temple called Pura Alas Kedaton. This temple is one of the oldest temples in Bali that was built in the 14th century by a Hindu priest named Mpu Kuturan. This temple has a traditional Balinese architecture that consists of three courtyards, namely the nista (outer), madya (middle), and utama (inner) courtyards. This temple is a place of worship for Hindus, especially on certain days such as Kuningan, Galungan, and Tumpek Kandang.
Alas Kedaton tourism site has a long and interesting history. The name Alas Kedaton comes from the word “alas” which means forest and “kedaton” which means palace. According to legend, Alas Kedaton was the residence of King Sri Masula Masuli, who was the first king of the Tabanan Kingdom. This king ruled in the 14th century and built a palace in the middle of the forest surrounded by rivers. This king also built a temple dedicated to Shiva, namely Pura Alas Kedaton.
However, one day, King Sri Masula Masuli received a revelation from Shiva that he had to leave his palace and go to Mount Agung to meditate. The king obeyed Shiva’s command and left his palace and temple. Since then, the palace and temple became empty and inhabited by monkeys and bats. The monkeys and bats are considered as the guardians and inhabitants of Alas Kedaton.
Alas Kedaton Forest (Source: Author's Collection)
Another history related to Alas Kedaton is about the establishment of Pura Alas Kedaton. This temple was built by a Hindu priest named Mpu Kuturan in the 14th century. Mpu Kuturan was one of the important figures in Balinese history, who was known as the spreader of Hinduism and the maker of customary village rules. Mpu Kuturan built Pura Alas Kedaton as one of the six sad kahyangan temples, which are the main temples that are the place of worship for Shiva and the ancestors. Pura Alas Kedaton also became the place of storage of royal heirlooms, such as daggers, spears, and gongs.
