Vanara is a Sanskrit word meaning a monkey. It popularly refers to the race of monkeylike humanoids, in the Hindu epic Ramayana who are brave and inquisitive in nature.

The characteristics of a Vanara as described in the epic are amusing, childish, mildly irritating, badgering, hyperactive, adventurous, bluntly honest, loyal, brave and kind. They are at least a foot shorter than an average human and their bodies are covered with light fur, generally brown in colour.

The most famous Vanara is Hanuman, a loyal devotee of Lord Rama.