Indonesia: January 2021 will see the launch of family-owned Nirjhara, a retreat of 25 suites and villas and seven treehouses in Tabanan on Bali’s southwest coast.
The retreat has been constructed to make as little impact on the environment as possible, with exteriors using reclaimed hevea wood, natural stone and traditional sirap roofing. The interiors feature traditional Indonesian design with woven furniture by local artisans, coconut panelling and wood carving.
Amenities at the resort include Ambu, a casual restaurant where 95 per cent of ingredients are sourced from the hotel’s own vegetable garden. There’s also The Retreat, a spa offering sound healing and reiki, massages, body scrubs and reflexology. It has four treatment rooms, a pool, two Finnish saunas and a fitness centre.
The Shala is a riverside bamboo-clad yoga pavilion overlooking a waterfall, designed by award-winning eco-architects Ibuku.
Commitments to sustainable initiatives is evidenced in the on-site water purification facility where guests can access clean drinking water in recycled glass bottles. Extensive research was also undertaken to make energy use at Nirjhara efficient, including insulation within each suite to minimise the use of air conditioning, whilst hot water is heated by solar panels.
Activities and experiences at the retreat range from bike rides, traditional cleansing rituals, surfing, horse riding, and guided hikes though the hills of Tabanan and Badung.
From spring 2021, Nirjhara will introduce Vela – a six-cabin sailing yacht available for private charter, which can personalised to guests’ desires such as scuba. Diving with manta rays and hiking amongst Komodo dragons.
The retreat is owned by the Tran Tien family, which visited Tabanan in 1996 and what sparked the idea to create a sustainable hotel.
