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Luxury hotels with local flair
Magnificently preserved, Indonesiaâs rich culture and tradition are the star features at these sumptuous upscale hotels
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Magnificently preserved, Indonesia's rich culture and tradition are the star features at these sumptuous upscale hotels.
For those looking for more than just a pleasant stay, the following hotels provide an interesting blend of modern luxury and timeless elegance, not to mention the historical value that makes the hotels a destination in themselves.
MesaStila
A tranquil retreat in Magelang, Central Java, MesaStila stands on 22 hectares of land, where cool highland air flows through the property from the eight mountains, lush vegetation and coffee plantations surrounding the site.
This original 1928 Dutch mansion was once used as a clubhouse and a wooden colonial railway station. Now, it features 23 historic wooden villas in their original Limasan or Joglo form.
MesaStila offers its guests plenty of exciting activities, such as exploring one of the many surrounding shrines and temples, including Prambanan and Borobudur, as well as Javanese cooking and the Indonesian martial art of pencak silat.
No less interesting is MesaStila's local jamu (traditional herbal drink) master, who offers healing tonics to soothe guests' ailments. A daily dose of one of the five varieties of jamu that are produced daily is also offered at breakfast.
MesaStila's room rates start at Rp 1.6 million (US$139.20) for domestic visitors and $300 for foreign visitors.
The Dharmawangsa Jakarta
Nestled among the prestigious housing estates of Kebayoran Baru in South Jakarta, The Dharmawangsa Jakarta is on a mission to contribute to a renaissance of the great classical Majapahit and Sriwijaya periods, featuring traditional yet contemporary characteristics of those eras.
While the hotel's Majapahit Hall features a unique 14th century temple, the hotel's Sriwijaya restaurant offers fine-dining experiences with the 8th century Sriwijaya kingdom as its inspiration.
The hotel's rooms and suites are also decorated in themes of traditional Javanese, Pasisiran, Balinese, Sumatran and Eastern Indonesian schemes ' all adorned with a rich variety of textiles and classic artworks.
Dharmawangsa is the name of a 10th century king from East Java who was killed during a court dance performance. The incident motivated his true successor, Airlangga, to avenge the unjust death and unite the region stretching from Pasuruan to Madiun. This became the beginning of the buildup of power that culminated with the great empire of Majapahit.
In addition to its soothing atmosphere, the establishment also provides plenty of local features such as authentic Indonesian breakfast, local sweets for afternoon tea and traditional acoustic live music playing throughout the afternoon in the Majapahit Hall area.
The Dharmawangsa Jakarta's room rates start at $390 per night.
Hotel Tugu Malang
Owned by an enthusiastic antiques collector, Hotel Tugu Malang is a must-see destination for those visiting Malang, East Java.
This first property of the Tugu hotel group, through its immense antique collection, tells the history of Indonesia and also shares romantic stories from the island of Java.
Out of its 49 rooms and suites, the 200 square-meter Apsara Suite is arguably the most interesting. It symbolizes the romanticism and friendship between Indonesia and Cambodia through the role of King Jayawarman II, a prince who once lived on Java and ruled a powerful kingdom in Champa (presently known as Cambodia) during the 9th century.
The hotel is also home to Melati Restaurant, which offers a romantic insight into the city's history as well as original recipes. Roti Tugu is a bakery that serves traditional Malang delicacies. And the Tugu Tea House has traditional Javanese offerings such as a variety of traditional snacks and herbal drinks.
Other than nearby attractions, guests can also enjoy activities at the hotel such as cooking and jamu classes, or a Javanese body treatment course.
Hotel Tugu Malang's room rates start at $130.
Royal Ambarrukmo
In terms of history, the Royal Ambarrukmo has it in droves.
Built in 1857 under the orders of King Hamengkubuwono VI, it initially served as a retreat for the royal family as well as a meeting place for the king and the governor general of the Dutch East Indies. Later, from 1821 to 1931, King Hamengkubuwono VII and his family lived there after the previous king abdicated.
The hotel opened for business in 1966, as an integral part of the Royal Residence Ambarrukmo Palace ' one of city's most prestigious hotels at the time, built by Indonesia's first president Sukarno and Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX using development funds from the Japanese government.
At present, the hotel is a place where those longing to live like a king can do so.
The Royal Ambarrukmo offers plenty of royalty-inspired activities, such as Javanese royal tea parties, royal dinners, royal in-house tours and traditional performances. The latter includes an ancient form of Javanese archery art every Friday called Jemparingan.
Guests can also visit Museum Ambarrukmo, which is in the hotel complex and has Indonesian cultural and heritage items such as batik, keris (traditional daggers) and wayang (puppets).
The Royal Ambarrukmo's room rates start at Rp 1.79 million.
(Keshie Hernitaningtyas/jakpost.travel)
