Thankful at the Monkey Temple

It's no secret that I love animals. But monkeys in India—or bundurs, as they're called here—may be an exception. They can be smelly. And territorial. And aggressive. Oh, and they can bite you and give you rabies.

Needless to say, I was a bit taken aback when they literally swarmed me at the Monkey Temple in Jaipur. (Although with a name like that, I guess I knew what I was getting into.) At sunset, thousands of monkeys descend from the hills to sleep in the temple, which is devoted to the Hindu monkey god, Hanuman. Some monkeys have babies on their backs. Others jump several feet in the air to get food (e.g., from devotees carrying bags of nuts). Others just be chillin in their large families, scratchin their backs.

I know this: You're thankful you got the rabies vaccine when "bundurs" are scurrying up your legs.

Devotees distribute nuts and attract a small crowd of monkeys.

In early afternoon, monkeys begin lining the temple's windowsills.

Fly monkey, fly!  (Only in India can you so easily capture monkeys, cows, and pigs in one photo.)

Grooming: It's what monkeys do.

Monkeys everywhere. The locals don't seem to mind.

Monkeys take a rest on their way to the temple.