Mengwi is 16 kilometers northwest of Denpasar. If driving, take the main road to Tabanan through Kapal to the Mengwi turnoff, then proceed north.

This quiet town is important as the former seat of a long dynasty of kings. Its large temple belongs to the group of Bali state or 'national' temples. Since its beginnings in 1634 under Raja I Gusti Agung Anom until its demise in 1891, Mengwi was a separate kingdom that extended its political power as far as Blambangan, East Java. The dynasty was ultimately defeated by the neighboring Balinese kingdoms of Badung and Tabanan.

On the main road south to Kapal, just before town, is a strikingly painted 'pura puseh' with relief panels on the outside wall portraying scenes from the Ramayana. Also check out the long 'bale gede'.

Once every three days a 'pasar hewan' (cattle market) is held in Bringkit, 1.5 km north of Kapal. See the 'pura dalem' nearby that receives unusually high offerings.

It is time-consuming to take public transport from Mengwi east to Ubud through all the country towns. In Abian Semal, the road from Mengwi meets the main road from Denpasar to Sangeh. Two km before Sangeh is the village of Blahkiuh whose claim to notoriety is a particularly large and holy 'waringin' tree just east of the intersection.