Located within a verdant enclave in the heart of Bali’s greenbelt, Nirjhara boasts a luxurious and tropical oasis set against the backdrop of Tabanan’s pristine natural splendour.
Home to Nirjhara, Tabanan is known for its tranquillity and lush terraces - a stark contrast from the party scene of neighbouring Canggu. You will pass quaint villages before arriving in a narrow bamboo alley. Almost filmic, it opens up to a startling and arresting sight.
Originating from a Sanskrit term, the word Nirjhara literally means “waterfall.” As the name suggests, Nirjhara is inspired by the adjacent natural waterfall, which is the pulse of the hotel. Here, water is a significant element that influences design and way of life.
The lobby floats above a shallow, serene reflection pool, a Zen-refuge, with clean lines and open-air. Thence, you will be fully immersed in the sights, sounds and aromas of nature and architectural marvels. Before being whisked away to your temporary abode, you may choose from three bespoke scents for your bathroom amenities.
Continuing from the lobby is the expansive hillside lounge. The high elevation opens up to a spectacular vista of the verging waterfall, river, paddy fields and a dense forest. Elevated above a cascading reflection pool, you will hear echoes of the waterfall – a nod to its namesake.
The co-founders, Dimitri Tran and Adrien Portier, are the visionary duo behind the resort. The French natives blended authentic and contemporary architecture with understated Balinese influence at this two-hectare property.
“A waterfall is constantly evolving, always in motion, yet it’s always there. In a sense, it served as a source of inspiration for our hotel. We wanted the design to be timeless, refined and elegant,” Dimitri explained.
The open-air concept echoes throughout the common areas, with beige, brown, grey and black as the dominant colours that exude elegance. In addition, the owners collaborated with local artisans from the room amenities to furniture and tableware, to create a truly unique and local experience.
“Indonesia has a long history of craftsmanship when it comes to materials like wood, stone and rattan. We worked with amazing artisans to add a tactile component to the design of the hotel. It’s something that you can’t really grasp through photos but have to experience. Our take on luxury is not flashy; we essentially chose to adopt a contemporary approach to showcase what makes this country so special to us,” Dimitri asserted.
Guests will be spoiled for choice by the accommodation options, from the modernist treehouse Canopy Suites to the generous Two-Bedroom Pool Villas. Each unit offers a truly unique view, from bountiful rice paddies, waterfall and river to a glimpse of the ocean and majestic sunset atop the Canopy Suites.
A popular choice for couples is the Canopy Suite, which creates a sense that you are amidst the trees. Climbing up a flight of stairs, you will find a king-sized bed with a beautiful piece of Suar wood as the headboard, set against textured and woven wallpaper.
The suites are designed in earth tones with custom-made artisanal furnishings. Before basking in the view from the floor to ceiling window, your eyes will be drawn to a medley of reclaimed teak enveloping the ceiling and part of the walls. All the suites and villas are also equipped with an unlimited supply of fresh drinking water bottled on-site in recycled glass bottles through the resort’s own filtration station.
The attention to detail continues to the bathroom, such as the stunning Philippe-Starck-designed faucet in the shape of tree bark. It’s one of the only few items that aren’t locally sourced. Through a spiral staircase is the rooftop, complete with a round, freestanding bathtub, heated by solar power.
Nirjhara enchants you with its beauty beyond the rooms. It is a place where you will forego your plans, not wanting to leave the property. You can begin your day with a stretch at the yoga pavilion overlooking the waterfall. On rainy days, make the most out of the state-of-the-art gym that opens 24/7, a massage treatment at The Retreat. Or, movie buffs rejoice, have an entertaining moment at a private cinema that offers an extensive selection of Hollywood classics and blockbusters alike. At the lounge area, a library complete with a workstation and board games is always open. Next to it is a boutique curated with artisanal products from up-and-coming local designers for those needing a little retail therapy.
Just after the lounge’s cascading reflection pool is the infinity swimming pool flanked by romantic cabanas and a two-storey building that houses the farm-to-table restaurant Ambu, as well as two bars. Ambu serves local favourites, fusion and contemporary Western fare with seasonal ingredients, locally sourced across the resort’s surroundings. Highlights on the menu are the scrumptious Nusantara breakfast board and Laksa Medan.
What truly sets apart this independently run establishment, besides its distinctive take on sustainable design, are the generous facilities you would expect from leading luxury hotel chains combined with the bespoke service and the intimacy unique to a boutique hotel.
Nirjhara is a multisensory resort that disconnects you from the hustle and bustle and leaves you alone in your holiday reverie. Arrive at Nirjhara to be spellbound and leave speechless.