Amanjiwo (which means “peaceful soul” and opened in 1997) is fashioned out of limestone and takes its inspiration from the surrounding culture of Central Java. The resort is located within a natural amphitheatre with the limestone Menoreh Hills rising directly behind, the Kedu Plain in front and four volcanoes – Sumbing, Sundoro, Merbabu and Merapi – gracing the horizon. Amanjiwo looks out onto Borobudur, the largest Buddhist sanctuary in the world. Indeed, Borobudur is carefully mirrored in the resort’s design and central dome. The view runs arrow-straight through Amanjiwo’s entrance and the stone corridor that neatly cleaves the resort, up the steps to the soaring, bell-shaped rotunda, down to the Dining Room, on to the Terrace, past rice fields in an unwavering line to Borobudur itself. Several kampungs (small villages) are within walking distance.

Amanjiwo is constructed from paras yogya – the local limestone. Thirty-six suites radiate outward from the main building in two deep crescents. These are rimmed by high, limestone walls set off by spider lilies and morning glory. The walls blend into the stone walkways that link the suites to the main building and the Pool Club. At the far end of the resort, in a lush tranquil setting, is the Dalem Jiwo – a large private suite with two separate bedrooms.

Dining

The rotunda Bar is a circular salon, with columns and drop fans, a coconut-wood bar and acid-etched bronze-drum tables.

The Dining Room, with its silver-leaf ceiling swirling with muted colours, is defined by a double row of stone columns. At either end, gold-leaf murals recreate scenes from the Hindu epic Mahabharata. The tables are of black terrazzo, the chairs silver-painted rattan with batik cushions. Indonesian and Western cuisine is served in an open-air setting with panoramic views over the rice fields to Borobudur and its surrounding volcanoes. The specialty of the house is makan malan, a series of classic Javanese selections served in brass dishes.

The Dining Room looks out onto the crescent-shaped Terrace, with its banquette seating, black terrazzo-topped brass tables, teakwood chairs and Yogya batik cushions. The view from the Terrace is particularly arresting at dawn and twilight, or after a cleansing rain, when the views open up over the Kedu Plain. Borobudur is directly ahead. Drinks, snacks and light lunches are also available at the colonnaded Pool Club that stretches into the rice fields. From the deck or from the 40-metre, green-stone pool itself, guests can enjoy views to Mt. Merapi.

Facilities

Library: The library is large and bright, with a black terrazzo table and daybeds for two at either end. A selection of books on Indonesia is available in several languages, including Japanese and German. A variety of CDs, tapes and games can be borrowed.

Art Gallery and Studio: Regular exhibitions are held in the art gallery. Amanjiwo's informal artist-in-residence is available for private sketching sessions in his studio nearby or for guided field trips into the surrounding countryside. For those inspired by the views from Amanjiwo, a box of watercolours is provided in each suite.

Swimming Pool: A 40m infinity swimming pool, lined with green tiles and overlooked by banyan trees, is set into the rice paddies below the resort. It is surrounded by loungers and umbrellas and lies adjacent to a raised, colonnaded semicircular deck with tables and chairs for poolside snacks and drinks available from 8am to 8pm.

Tennis Centre: Amanjiwo has two tennis courts located just above the resort nestled into the Menoreh Hills. There is also a thatched-roof kubuk for shaded breaks and refreshments.

Massage: A range of Javanese and traditional beauty treatments are available at Amanjiwo, some of which incorporate the ancient holistic jamu method of healing. These can be enjoyed in the privacy of guest suites or in the specially-designed spa suite which has twin massage tables and an outdoor kubuk for relaxing afterwards with spicy ginger tea. The two-hour Mandi Lulur is a highlight, the traditional Javanese preparation of a princess on the eve of her wedding. Facials, massages and cream baths as well as a masculine version of Mandi Lulur are also available.

Boutique: A wide variety of Javanese clothing and textiles, both antique and new, is available at the Boutique, which also features gamelan instruments, shadow puppets, old ceremonial baskets, jewellery and other Javanese craft and antiques.

Gallery: Exquisite hand-woven, hand-dyed and painted silk scarves, shawls and other pieces are featured here.

All prices on this website are in US Dollar (US$).

All rates are per room per night for single or double occupancy.