Situated within easy reach of the train station, the Monkey Park provides a lovely pitstop from bamboo spotting. You will only need a couple of hours to spend here. The park is made up of lush, green forest, which is home to some 160 monkeys who roam freely, jumping from one treetop to another.
To get to the actual park, you have to hike to the top summit of the hill. Along the way, you get to see some lush views of the forest. There are benches on every path, so that you can sit and catch your breath for a bit. I consider myself moderately active, but I struggled going up and down the treacherous hill. It unfortunately rained that afternoon, making some paths muddy and slippery. Though there is a metal banister or a rope to hold on to, some paths have steep steps without support. All in all, it takes around half an hour to get to the top. But once you are at the top, you are greeted immediately with an amazing view of the city.
I went to the park, after 2pm, which was the perfect time to experience minimal crowd. But due to the weather, majority of the monkeys decided to stay away, which definitely was not perfect. Still, there were a handful, hanging around the place. You are advised not to look directly in their eyes, or point your camera in their direction, as monkeys are unpredictable and can become aggressive. Taking sneaky photos without looking them in the eyes was challenging. Some of them were staring at me and I was telepathically telling them “I am nice, please don’t attack me!“.
There is an observation deck where you can buy food and feed the monkeys. It is a great way to meet the monkeys up close. They give you such cute looks, making you purchase more food for them. What’s so special about this place is that the monkeys are taken care of and fed on a daily basis, all the while living freely in the wild.
I would recommend that you wear comfortable shoes with good grip, and carry a bottle of water. Don’t rush going uphill, and take the time to enjoy the views along the way.
You will find quiz boards in places, with question related to monkeys. You can guess the answer before lifting the flap to reveal the answers. I think these are put there to distract people from the horrible hike.
