To the north of Mengwi is the famous Monkey Forest at Sangeh, set in the heart of the only primary forest in southern Bali. This forest consists entirely of pala (nutmeg) trees. The monkeys living here are considered sacred, an association from the Ramayana epic, wherein Prince Rama allied himself with the monkey hero Hanoman to attack Alengka. Some of the forest trees are also considered sacred and hence used to make masks of barong. After Sangeh, the road heads northwards to Kintamanai past some beautiful scenery near Plaga