Amandari

Amandari (which means "peaceful spirits" ) is located five minutes from the art community of Ubud, in Central Bali. The village of Kedewatan lies adjacent to the resort. Designed as a Balinese village, Amandari has river-stone walkways and high paras-stone walls. The open-air lobby was designed after a wantilan, a village meeting place. The pathway that runs through Amandari and down the valley to the river below is sacred land. Every six months for hundreds of years, Balinese have taken the path down to a pool of holy water. Just above this spring-fed pool sit three modest shrines and an ancient tiger carved into rock. 

Each of the 30 suites resort is walled in and has its own private garden. Roof-tops are thatched. Walls are made of the paras volcanic stone found locally and the floors are Javanese marble. The overall design also reflects the influence of the Balinese wantilan, an outdoor pavilion especially for relaxation. Interiors make lavish use of local woods and rattan to give guests a sense of the outdoors. Suites contain outdoor marble tubs. Eleven have their own swimming pools.

Amandari is well sited for a cultural exploration of Bali as it is located in the central hill district of Ubud famed for its craftsmen, and in the vicinity of Besakih, Bali's mother temple. It is also within reach of Sanur, Legian and Kuta, which have the most established shops and restaurants on the island. Ubud offers a wealth of arts and crafts with Pasar Seni, its colourful market which trades in a wide range of clothing, sarongs and gift items, as well as myriad small shops. The nearby villages of Tegallang and Jati are noted for their woodcarvings, and the village of Celuk is home to numerous jewellers, some of whom will custom-make pieces. South of Tabanan, in Pejaten, one can find traditional pottery.