Amankila (which means peaceful hill) opened
in 1992 set on a cliffside overlooking the Lombok Strait in East
Bali. Below the resort is its private stretch of sand and beach
club. From the intimate, airy lobby, the views are already very
much in evidence. The resort is close to Manggis, Candi Dasa, Tenganan
and other villages in Karangasem, Balis most traditional regency.
Amankila or peaceful hill
is a cliff-side beach resort overlooking the Lombok Strait in East
Bali. The resort, with its three-tiered swimming pool and 41-metre
Beach Club pool, has 34 suites linked by elevated walkways. Karangasem,
the regency surrounding Amankila, may be Balis most traditional,
with villages whose way of life has changed little over the centuries.
Here guests will find echoes of Balis royal past
The Restaurant, located above the main
pool overlooking the ocean, is open for dinner. The menu features
a mix of Western and Indonesian cuisine. Adjacent to the Restaurant
is Amankilas Bar, with its views to the sea. The Terrace,
set just back from the main pool is open for breakfast and lunch
and serves Asian and Western cuisine. Afternoon tea is served daily
in front of the Library, where local women dressed in sarongs and
kebayas offer Indonesian ginger tea, Bali kopi and local Balinese
cakes. The Beach Club offers a simple menu of salads, Indonesian
and Western light dishes for brunch, lunch and afternoon tea. Private
dining is available in the suites 24hrs a day. Swimming Pools:
Aside from the Beach Club pool, Amankilas signature three-tier
pool dominates the landscape just below the lobby. Set into the
cliff-edge, the blue-tiled pools face the sea and flow one into
the other, stepping down like terraced fields. The main pool is
41 metres in length. Library: The library is rimmed with floor-to-ceiling windows.
Oversized daybeds allow guests to relax and enjoy the wide selection
of books, newspapers and magazines.
Gallery and Shop: The Gallery and Shop has a generous selection
of Balinese art, crafts and antiques.
Amankilas suites are elevated to take
advantage of the spectacular views to the sea and surrounding hillsides.
The 34 free-standing suites, with their alang alang roof thatching,
are fashioned as beach houses with a twist. They reflect the lines
and flow of their East Bali surroundings, in particular the royal
water palace just outside Amlapura, the districts capital.
All suites are connected to the reception and restaurant area by
stepped walkways.
Beach Club: The Beach Club is
located at the base of the cliff five minutes below the main resort.
Guests can either walk to the beach or be driven there in one of
Amankila's open-air buggies. Set within a grove of coconut palms
and partially shaded by a frangipani tree, is Amankilas largest
swimming pool. Snorkelling equipment, windsurfers, boogie boards,
kayaks and hobie-cats are located at the Beach Club. Amankila's
staff will assist guests with watersports and provide lessons or
sailing partners if required. Eight private lounging bales are set
in the sand, each secluded amongst the foliage for added privacy.
Drinks and light meals can be enjoyed here. Massage and Beauty Treatments:
Traditional Balinese massage and beauty treatments are available
in the privacy of the guest suites, in the specially-designated
massage pavilion or at the Beach Club where two teakwood massage
tables are hidden away in a grove of coconut palms and flowering
bushes.
Amankila Bales: Bale Tirta Sira and Ketug Bale are located up in
the hills of East Bali offering spectacular views of rice fields,
banana trees and Amuk Bay. These bales are ideally placed as a picnic
spot after a jeep tour, trek or cycle through the countryside.