Amanresorts | Amanjiwo: A Sacred and Majestic Retreat

Amanresorts

Sunrise viewed from Borobudur Temple, exclusively for guests

Amanjiwo: A Sacred and Majestic Resort

"Amanjiwo" means "peaceful soul"──Located in a rural area at the foot of the Menoreh Hills in Central Java's Kedu Plain, Amanjiwo is about an hour's drive from Yogyakarta Airport on the south coast of Central Indonesia. The resort is just a 10-minute drive from Borobudur, the world's largest and arguably most beautiful Buddhist temple.

Text by KAJII Makoto (OPENERS)

A Day Beginning with Sacred, Dreamlike Scenery

If Bali is the island of art, Java is the island of historical heritage.──Yogyakarta, the city where Amanjiwo is located, is the center of Javanese art and is famous for its culture, including batik, the Ramayana ballet, drama, music, poetry, and Wayang Kulit (shadow puppet theater).

Many visitors also come to explore historical sites, including the World Heritage site of Borobudur Temple, recognized as a cultural heritage site in 1991 and ranked first on CNN's "27 Natural Wonders You Must Visit in Your Lifetime" list in July 2012.

Borobudur Temple, one of the world's largest Buddhist monuments, was built in the 8th-9th centuries and rediscovered in 1814 by the Englishman Sir Stamford Raffles. It stands 34.5 meters high with sides of 123 meters, constructed from two million cut stones. A large stupa at the summit is surrounded by 72 smaller stupas, and its outer galleries feature approximately 1,500 intricate reliefs depicting Buddhist stories.

When staying at Amanjiwo, be sure to wake up before sunrise. The tour to greet the dawn from the temple's summit is a privilege reserved exclusively for Amanjiwo guests, and the sacred, dreamlike spectacle moves everyone who witnesses it.

A Rich Cultural Immersion Forged by Tradition and Religion

The sun rises beyond the palm trees, gradually bathing the surroundings in champagne gold as the silhouettes of stupas and Buddha statues emerge.──After witnessing the sunrise, returning to Amanjiwo on elephant back from Borobudur is another special experience.

Amanjiwo, built on the grounds of a World Heritage site, features a grand stone-domed entrance and resort buildings in a temple architectural style surrounded by lush greenery. Nestled within dense jungle, with villas radiating outwards on a tropical forest-covered slope, and with views of Borobudur Temple and the dramatic cliffs and mountains just a few kilometers away, guests can fully immerse themselves in the rich cultural atmosphere created by tradition and religion.

Highlights of an Amanjiwo stay include not only the sunrise and sunset views from Borobudur Temple but also excursions to historical sites that coexist with Java's natural beauty. These include the cluster of temples in the Prambanan Valley dating from the 8th to 10th centuries, Kedon Songgo Temple, famous as the oldest temple in Java, and Selogriyo, a 8th-century Hindu temple set amidst picturesque rice terraces.

Activities Tailored to Your Desires

While Amanjiwo possesses a unique character and location distinct from the three Aman resorts in Bali, making it feel like a different country altogether, its hospitality, welcoming guests as cherished "friends," and the flexibility of tailor-made activities exemplify the signature Aman experience. The unparalleled beauty and mystique found here create truly exceptional memories.