Amanjiwo Resort
Borobudur is an hour away from Yogyakarta. Some groups prefer to go on a day trip just to see the Temple. However, I strongly recommend that you stay at least a night in the Borobudur Village and join the Borobudur Sunrise Tour.
The Village is home to the most beautiful resorts, with Javanese-inspired architecture integrated with nature, that we have ever seen in Indonesia. And, Indonesian food which we love abound in the Central Java Area.
Here are my initial notes on how to plan your awesome Borobudur Experience…
Travel to Wonderful Indonesia Blog Series:
- KOMODO DRAGON’S Lair & the Secret Pink Beach!
- MT. BROMO Sunrise Experience: Catching the Sunrise (Part 1 of 2)
- MT. BROMO Sunrise Experience: Hiking to the Volcanic Crater (Part 2 of 2)
- YOGYAKARTA: Home of the Yummiest Indonesian Food 🙂
- BOROBUDUR Sunrise Experience (The Biggest Buddhist Temple in the World)
- BOROBUDUR NOTES: Planning your Awesome Borobudur Experience
- ORANGUTANS @ TANJUNG PUTING: Largest Population of Wild Orangutans (Day 1)
- ORANGUTANS: Dr. Birute’s Work @ Camp Leaky, Borneo (Day 2)
BOROBUDUR TEMPLE
BOROBUDUR is the largest Buddhist temple in the world, located in the Borobudur village, Magelang Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia. It was renovated from 1973-1983 to preserve the temple for the next 1,000 years and was subsequently listed in 1991 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
BOROBUDUR is an ancient temple inherited by Buddhism after the fall of the Hindu Kingdoms in Java in the 14th century and the Javanese conversion to Islam. It’s a world pilgrimage site during the Buddhists’ holy day of Vesak (like Christmas) based on the lunar calendar, which falls in the month of April or May.
Its name means Monastery on a High Place — was derived from two words: Boro means temple from the Sanskrit word “Byara” and budur means above the hill from the Balinese word “Beduhur”.
The best time to go is during sunrise when the temple is beautifully lighted by the sun, the environment is cool and there are relatively less number of tourists.
Let me share with you our BOROBUDUR Sunrise Experience…
BOROBUDUR Sunrise Experience (The Largest Buddhist Temple in the World)
HOW TO GET THERE?
BOROBUDUR is located in the Borobudur Village, Magelang Regency, Central Java Province, in Indonesia.
If you are coming from Jakarta, the nearest airport to Borobudur is Bandara International Adistujipto Jogjakarta Airport in Yogyakarta. Borobudur is one hour away by land.
If you are coming from Pangkalun Bun in Central Kalimantan, there are flights going to Bandar Udara Internasional Achmad Yani in Semarang, Central Java.
Borobudur is a 3-hour scenic drive by bus.
WHERE TO STAY?
1. Amanjiwo
The most romantic resort in Borobudur is Amanjiwo, a part of the Aman Resorts.
Here’s a view of the #2 bedroom in Amanjiwo.
The room opens up to a garden and
… your own private swimming pool.
At the back of your room is an outdoor bathtub.
PRIVATE DINING MENU: Breakfast | Western All Day Dining | Indonesian All Day Dining | Western All Day Vegetarian Dining | Indonesian All Day Vegetarian Dining | Desserts | Picnic Menu: Breakfast | Picnic Menu: Lunch | Picnic Menu: Vegetarian Lunch, Menoreh Sunset Martini, Volcano Climbing | Special Dining: Selamatan Dinner, Romantic Dinner, Private BBQ | Special Dining: Gubuk Sawah Dinner, Pak Bilal | Tea Leaves, TWG Sachet | Drinks | Minibar | Wine by the glass
You can fully customize your private dining experience with a wide array of dining options.
We were able to experience a 3-course meal Indonesian lunch at the Amanjiwo restaurant.
JELATAH CAMPUR. Shrimp, Pineapple, Cucumber Salad with sweet- sour dressing.
The salad is fresh, light and with a different sweet- sour dressing.
Ginger Beer and Bintang Indonesian Beer.
Don’t miss to order their signature drink — Ginger Beer!
IKAN SAUS KEMANGI. Deep-fried fish fillet with local basil, green chili & coconut milk.
The fish was very good and we were impressed with the customized cutleries they use for the Resort.
PISANG GORENG. Banana fritters with Vanilla Ice Cream.
The national dessert of Indonesia presented in a fine-dining serving.
Amanjiwo has a distant but clear view of the Borobudur Temple.
Overlooking a legal Marijuana plantation in the Borobudur village.
Amanjiwo
Ds. Majaksingi, Borobudur, Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia
Telephone: +62 293 788-333
Email amanjiwo@amanresorts.com
mailing address: PO Box 333, KMKD, Magelang 56553 Central Java, Indonesia
Website: http://www.amanresorts.com/amanjiwo/
Facebook: Aman Resorts
2. Rumah Boedi Private Residences
This is where we stayed during our trip to the Borobudur Temple. It’s homey, and I personally love the Javanese architecture of the resort.
We stayed in a typical joglo house with our own studio rooms.
The room was a bit cramped with the bed occupying a big part of the room. In the morning, you have a nice private view of your mini-garden.
The restroom is clean and decent with hot & cold shower.
The center of the private residences is the Pandopo which is a place to relax for the guests. This is where most people hang out –and regard this as the ideal lobby waiting area.
I look forward to having an Indonesian Breakfast in a joglo house surrounded by the gardens.
Menu: Soup, Steak, Spaghetti, Sandwich, Indonesian Food
It’s a small dining area with fresh air and they serve buffet during breakfast.
Indonesian Breakfast. Nasi Goreng, Mie Goreng with Egg and Krupuk.
I love Indonesian breakfasts specially in Central Java because it’s sweet and hot.
Rumah Boedi (RB)’s Private Residence Villa Borobudur
Tingal Wetan, Wanurejo, Borobudur, Central Java – 56553
Telephone: +62 274 559-498
Website: http://www.rumahboedi.com/
3. PLataran Borobudor Resort & Spa
Photo by PLataran Borobudor Resort & Spa
One of the interesting resorts is the PLataran Borobudur Resort which offers a mix of Javanese and Modern Architecture and has a more Spa Relaxing feel. (It’s like in the middle of Amanjiwo and Rumah Boedi)
We ate a continental dinner in this modern PLataran restaurant. The chef prepared the following dishes for our 3-course meal:
BOUILLABAISE MARSEILLE. French classic soup with fresh seafood and fishes, sauce rouille, aioli and crispy garlic crouton.
We love the presentation, texture and taste of this Bouillabaise soup.
ROASTED CHICKEN BREAST. Filled with spinach and pancetta with creamy barley risotto and roast vegetable.
This was a bit imaginative and satisfying.
We love the lighting of the pool at night beside the restaurant.
Photo by PLataran Borobudor Resort & Spa
PLataran Borobudur
Dusun Tanjungan, Borobudur, Magelang, Central Java 56553, Indonesia
Phone: +62 293 788-888
Email: info@plataranborobudur.com
Website: http://plataranborobudur.com/
4. Manohara Hotel Borobudur
If you want to be more practical and to maximize your overnight stay in the Borobudur Village, I suggest you book in the Manohara Hotel which is on the foot of Borobudur Temple. It gets fully booked easily so make sure to book your accommodation in advance 🙂
Manohara Hotel Borobudor
Komp. Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur
Magelang – Jawa Tengah
Telephone: +62 293 788-131 or 788-680
Email: sales@manoharaborobudur.com, manohara@yogyes.com
Website: http://manoharaborobudur.com/
Travel to Wonderful Indonesia Blog Series:
- KOMODO DRAGON’S Lair & the Secret Pink Beach!
- MT. BROMO Sunrise Experience: Catching the Sunrise (Part 1 of 2)
- MT. BROMO Sunrise Experience: Hiking to the Volcanic Crater (Part 2 of 2)
- YOGYAKARTA: Home of the Yummiest Indonesian Food 🙂
- BOROBUDUR Sunrise Experience (The Biggest Buddhist Temple in the World)
- BOROBUDUR NOTES: Planning your Awesome Borobudur Experience
- ORANGUTANS @ TANJUNG PUTING: Largest Population of Wild Orangutans (Day 1)
- ORANGUTANS: Dr. Birute’s Work @ Camp Leaky, Borneo (Day 2)
Live an Awesome Life,
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Follow @antondiaz and Like our Official Facebook Page: Our Awesome Planet 🙂
If you have tips on awesome food and travel destinations, please email me at anton@diaz.ph.
Full Disclosure: I wrote this blog post myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I have no business relationship with any company mentioned in this post or any organization promoting it. As a policy, I don’t accept advertising from food and travel places we feature in the blog. Our trip was courtesy of Ministry of Tourism of Indonesia to promote travel to Indonesia.
P.S. We all fell in love with the Amanjiwo resort for its luxurious accommodation and services.
