REGAL RETREAT

In the foothills of Mount Arjuna lies Kaliandra Eco Resort and Wellness Retreat, which boasts all the glamour of a European palazzo but with a Javanese heart. Owner, architect, and philanthropist, Atmadja Tjiptobiantoro is truly a man on a mission

All about the hidden heaven of Kaliandra in East Java

Located on a 40-hectare estate, just within an hour’s drive away from Indonesia’s city hub of Surabaya, lies Kaliandra Eco Resort and Wellness Retreat, a grand property that captures the essence of an Italian establishment hideaway—an escape from the city’s hustle and bustle.

The resort’s owner and architect, who is also a philanthropist by choice, Atmadja Tjiptobiantoro, shares with Indonesia Tatler his dream of helping the less fortunate. “Ever since I was a young boy, I always had this urge to help the underprivileged. I even thought of becoming a doctor, but I didn’t think I had the ‘bandwidth’ of going through all those years of attending medical school,” he says.

However, life happened and Atmadja studied architecture in Sydney before working for a firm in Los Angeles. He then returned to Indonesia and ran his family business as well as founding a design firm, Morposa Griya Cipta. At the age of 55 upon retiring, he finally decided to pursue his childhood dream of helping those who were in need.

Most would recognise him as the man behind the Palladian-style establishment in East Java, but none would be able to identify Atmadja’s true calling behind Kaliandra Eco Resort and Wellness

Retreat: the Kaliandra Sejati Foundation.

All the profits from the luxury resort are injected into this foundation, which he set up in 1997. Its goals include improving the living standards of the local community, conservingthe rich cultural heritage of the Javanese, and protecting the area’s natural resources.

“Another aim of the foundation is to bring together the mountain and the people who are living around it. The mountain is a source of livelihood for the people, but is not being utilised sustainably. Excessive logging is slowly depleting the mountain, reducing the amount of clean water sources,” Atmadja explains.

The resort features traditional

Javanese rooms, cottages, and bungalows, a wellness retreat, two swimming pools, a gym, as well as restaurants serving organic produce straight out of the resort’s own organic farm. Staff members at the resort take the initiative of training farmers nearby to produce the best-quality fruit and vegetables to be sold by the resort. This method of training allows for farmers to grow as individuals and in their income. “Those farmers who work with us are able to triple their income,” says Atmadja.

The concept of Kaliandra Eco Resort is unlike any other hotel in the country. Separated into different segments, Roemah Colonial consists of 20 rooms, and there are five bungalows and 15 other rooms.

The resort also offers a section to students,

with 25 rooms in which accommodation is made more affordable than in the rest of the resort. Meanwhile, the main house is called Villa Leduk and has four executive suite rooms in one pavilion, and another with the master suite complex for Atmadja who loves to stay and entertain his relatives and closest friends here when guests are many.

Early mornings are something to relish at the resort, where guests may find a peacock or a deer wandering outside their bedroom window. Cool and refreshing, the crisp dawn air stirs up a healthy appetite and guests may find themselves tempted to a variety of European and Indonesian fares. Being located in the Leduk district of East Java, one of the most recommended regional specialties to have is rawon.

The generous chunks of tender beef cubes simmered in its black broth, courtesy of the keluak spice, served with salted duck egg and warm rice will comfort the cool mornings on the slopes of Mt Arjuna.

After breakfast, the organic farm is the best place to visit as one is able to stroll along the 2.5 hectares of produce, including red and black rice, tea and coffee, Chinese kale and spinach, herbs such as coriander, rosemary, and oregano, as well as a selection of tropical fruits including bananas, dragon fruit, and lemons. The farm’s produce is used at the in-house restaurant and sold at supermarkets in Malang, Surabaya, and Batam. All proceeds are also channelled to the Kaliandra Sejati Foundation.

For those who prefer an active approach and to promote the understanding of local

culture, the resort holds classes such as batik-making, pottery, and jewellery designing. In addition to hiking in the resort’s spacious grounds, guests can choose off-site activities such as whitewater rafting, rock-climbing, and caving. Resting and gathering after all the day’s activities can be enjoyed by touring the main house with its three separate sitting rooms—all parts of the mansion are designed by Atmadja, and are decorated in a mix of Italian and Chinese imported antiques.

Kaliandra’s wellness centre is another place to unwind and rejuvenate after blissful walks and activities amid all the mountainous sceneries, including the distant view of Mt Semeru from the pool by the eastern cluster of pavilions. Featuring eight spa rooms, each beautifully furnished with an en suite marble bathroom, guests can choose between traditional treatments or any of the spa specialties exclusive to Kaliandra.

Evenings at the resort are equally mesmerising—guests are treated to a traditional Javanese dance known as the Arjuna Wiwoho, which dates back to the 17th century, followed by a sumptuous fare of local Indonesian cuisine in two of the resort’s grand dining rooms. On certain nights, there’s a live-music session on the Austrian piano by the fireplace in the largest dining room. Kaliandra Eco Resort and Wellness Retreat really is the all-in-one location for guests wanting to indulge and learn the Javanese way of life, but in a European setting.