There is a certain, well, je ne sais quoi, about the charms of old Java. The allure of towns with a slow, friendlier pace of life and of an Indonesian countryside with greens that are deep and soil that is dark and rich. Hotel Tugu Malang, as well as its sister destination, the historic Kawisari Plantation, invites visitors to experience just that, welcoming them to the cool and rolling hillsides of East Java with art, artisans and stories galore.
Owned and operated by Tugu Hotels and Restaurants, one can expect real immersion into local culture. The group’s tagline, ‘The Heart, Soul and Romance of Indonesia’, describes them well and what they hope to present and preserve through bespoke experiences.
Every one of their properties, be it in Jakarta, Lombok, Bali and indeed East Java, is teeming with some of the most astonishing collections of antique art and artefacts, collected by the owning family over the last two centuries. Every property is a destination in itself, a living museum of Indonesian history and culture, but also real retreats where one can unwind and truly relax. Now, for those who find peace in the Javan mountains, then the quaint town of Malang calls, and then onto the Blitar countryside where a centuries-old coffee plantation awaits.
A Malang Romance
The East Java town of Malang is soaked in history and surrounded by nature. The town is full of colonial houses from the Dutch era but close by are soaring mountains and endless plantations. It is a cool and breezy town where air-conditioning is not necessary.
Hotel Tugu Malang, located at the very centre of the town, is an astonishing maze of art, culture and hospitality. Everywhere you look are beautiful objects including in the wonderful bed rooms – with the most wonderful of all being the Apsara Suite, named after the dancers of gods, kings and knights. It is magnificent in its proportions, with a private spa, an indoor garden and a 3.5m canopy bed. Luxury and romance indeed.
But the rest of the hotel is equally impressive with an astonishing variety of public facilities: The Sugar Baron Room, The Silk Road and The Babah Room, The Red Chamber of The Javanese Regent, and all this is before we even reach The Melati Restaurant, Und Corner Bakery & Shop, The Tugu Tea House, The Ban Lam Wine Shop and Bar, The Keraton Ballroom and the huge Sahara open air theatre! It is a mini-city of culture.
The astonishing SaigonSan Restaurant has been added at the rear of the property five years ago but in addition there is the Lost Temple and the Aspara Spa where you can find true relaxation. Activities for guests include cooking classes poolside, a flower arranging course, a jamu (traditional medicine) class, a sarong course and bicycle tours of Malang.
If you are not feeling that energetic, why not tour Malang by becak, the traditional pedicab of Java? And by the way the Tugu Shop is stocked with pure organic products and delicacies you will not find elsewhere.
While you are staying there, why not head out to the mountain plantations to see where some of the world’s best coffee is grown. And stay a night at another marvellous Tugu property?
The Oldest Plantation in Java
The Tugu Kawisari Coffee Plantation is located on the slopes of Mt. Kelud, East Java — besides the looming Mt. Kawi, the plantation’s namesake. Founded by the Dutch colonial government in 1870, it encompasses 850 hectares of fertile land and is surrounded by thousands more hectares. A thousand metres above sea level, the conditions are ripe for growing robusta and arabica beans.
It has 360 degree views of protected forests, with waterfalls and rivers of crystal clear mountain water flowing through veins across the coffee plantation and emerald green rice fields, the view is breathtaking and the landscape is truly dramatic.
In the 1900’s, the Kawisari Coffee Plantation and its sister plantation, the Rubber Plantation were owned by the same company, Rubber Onderneming Sengon, under the leadership of J. T. Barkmeijer. Within these two plantations, a small private club called Societeit de Harmonie te Kawisari was built, inspired by the Societeit de Harmonie te Batavia. Tugu Hotels has converted this historic clubhouse into a quaint lodge consisting of 5 spacious rooms, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the plantation’s serene atmosphere. The aptly named ‘Villa Amidst Coffee Haven’ is another accommodation found in this extraordinary setting, offering two thoughtfully-designed rooms, exuding rustic charm and simple comfort.
More than anything, it is the souls of this destination that leaves an impression upon its guests: the plantation’s caretakers, Pak and Ibu No, a couple who have lived there all their lives. Together they cook up hearty Javanese meals using organic ingredients from the plantation, from steaming bowls of lodeh stew, fried cassava and corn fritters, and pecel Blitar. Washed down with a cup of wood-fired roasted coffee, a Pak No specialty, sipped slowly in the cool mountain clime.
Visitors to the oldest plantation in Java can enjoy easy trekking, whilst learning about rubber harvesting, coffee growing and harvesting processes, the culture of harvest ceremonies and discover the art of creating a real cup of ‘Java’.
Hotel Tugu Malang
malang@tuguhotels.com
https://wa.me/6281334919097
tuguhotels.com | kawisaricoffee.com
