Amandari, Ubud - mythical tigers, Balinese dancers and floating treetops
- Nov 14, 2016
- 3 min read
The luxury resort that takes inspiration from local legends, a Balinese village and involving the local community.
Once upon a time, a sage set out on a journey from India to the distant jungles of Java; the Gods bestowed a fierce guardian - a tiger to accompany him as he travelled through the interiors of Bali. The village of Kedewatan,Ubud commemorated his arrival as a blessing and built a shrine in his honour, along with a stone sculpture of the tiger, to pay ode to his faithful companion. For the next 1500 years, the rice fields of the Ayung Valley had a holy pathway that led from the village to the shrine, for religious processions.
Fast forward to the 1980s’, founder of the Aman Resorts Adrian Zecher sighted a plot from his helicopter rounds, that nestled comfortably over the cascading gorge of Balinese rice fields. Upon discovering that this holy pathway ran right through this site - head architect Peter Muller and him at once made it a centrepiece not just for the architectural layout but also the inspiration behind the property that they named Amandari - which translates to peaceful spirits.
First impressions
Sunrise swim - I would wake up again at 6:30 am for a swim like this, any day.
The resort is set atop a hill overlooking the glorious rice fields of the Ayung Valley, a speechless reaction is clearly the norm as the kind and soft spoken staff allowed us a few undisturbed minutes as we soaked in the view. Designed to replicate a Balinese village, the subtle interiors allowed the rich tropical setting to take centre stage.The main infinity pool opened to the skies, mountains and green paddy fields.
The property looks even more resplendent when it rains; holding my canvas umbrella, I was shown the central courtyard which has a replica of the stone tiger, whose eyes looks towards the resort’s shrine - something the architect realised only after a guest pointed it out to him, much after its completion.
The famous sculpture of the mythical tiger.
Ponds with elevated lotus leaves, frangipani trees in full bloom and palms leaves
folded like delicate origami fans lend a botanical grandeur.
The secret garden or in other words - The Pool Suite
A view that is yours and only yours.
The Stylish Dish checked into the pool suite, which had the promise of paradise right from the private stone entrance. The duplex suite was an open space, where the only thing between you and the view was wooden glass doors. If you wanted to reach closer, the private infinity pool was a perfect way to feel like floating over the treetops. One could go on appreciating the design, but what added soul was surely the level of personalisation. From our welcome drinks to a personalised postcard, the room also had a bunch of goodies to take home like a woven basket and traditional Balinese sarong. After a night out at Ubud, we were glad to come back to a discreet turndown service of fluffed up bedding, dim lit rooms and drawn up blinds.
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Luxury redefined - Reviving culture and heritage
The untamed natural splendor and the everyday interaction between guests and the local life was very much a conscious decision. Hosting a community space which serves as a dance school for the local children, as well as setting the scene for religious processions, adds an authentic touch. The creators of the Amandari wanted to reinvent the notion of a luxury stay, which is traditionally an aristocratic approach of creating distance between travellers and the locals; cushioned in the familiar surroundings of luxury, the traveller’s gaze would often view the locals as exotic natives with their mysterious ways. Here however, by imparting local life as an everyday affair, travellers are promised to get something more refreshing than a beautiful scenery or a therapeutic spa session - they get a memorable experience, without the trappings of conditioned tourism. While maintaining a level of opulence and embracing the community spirit of Ubud, the Amandari bridges the gap and sets the stage for the best of both worlds.
To plan your escape, visit the website for more information: https://www.aman.com/resorts/amandari
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