There's some peculiar monkey-business going on at Sang Hyang Ambu. Over the past five months, hundreds of monkeys have descended from Gumang Hill and now hang around all over the place - even on the main road to the capital city of Karangasem Regency. It is now becoming a tourist attraction in itself as it is ideally located for travellers along this route to break their journey. It is also just East from Candi Dasa beach.

Local hawker Wayan Ribut explained to indo.com that the monkeys come down from the hills at around 08.00 a.m. and hang around for two or three hours before returning to the hilltop. At first, the monkeys were believed to be the pets of the supernatural ruler of the vicinity and appeared with characteristic traits of wildness. More recently, however, contact with humans and an easy supply of food has tamed their atavistic spirit, and now they are quite friendly.

"Every day I get a sack of yams and corn for them to eat. They have behaved very nicely ever since and no longer steal my merchandise," he added.

Motorists often stopover here since it lies at a strategic point on the Denpasar - Amlapura main road and is the only entry point to Gumang Temple. As the monkeys appear tame, many travelers play with the food then feed them.

A resident preferring anonymity presumed that the monkeys descend because of the lengthened dry season that accounts for a decreasing food store. This in turn has attracted travelers to the area, and led the head of the regency to seriously consider developing the hitherto little-known spot further.

Formerly, the place only served as a place to rest and enjoy the surrounding natural views - and ask for a sprinkling of holy water to ensure safety on the road. Shrines stand at both sides of the road, with an attendant ready to help with a holy sprinkling.

The monkeys now number around 200. Local legend that they are the pets of the supernatural ruler of the area are compounded by the story of a man who trapped one of the monkeys and tie it up with a rope. The other monkeys attacked him, causing him to flee in terror of the overwhelming supernatural forces of nature. You have been warned.