Komaneka at Tanggayuda at first sounded like a tongue twister to me but later it grew on me as I spent three perfect days and nights in the lap of luxury, beauty and health. Komaneka group of hotels is very popular in Bali. And this one is in the middle of a village called Tanggayuda which is 15 minutes’ drive from the Ubud city centre. The entrance isn’t picture perfect, as a narrow lane takes you inside the hotel premises but this isn’t unusual in a place like Bali. The reception area is lavish decked up in authentic Balinese furniture and décor. The hotel manager greeted us with a welcome drink made in-house from natural products and told us about the health benefits related to it. She started referring to us as IBU (means Mrs.) and Babak (means Mr.). This is how the locals address each other. The staff there is very friendly and prompt. They remember your name and greet every guest they come across. The reception area also has a glass jar of cookies and ginger toffees. The sticky ginger toffees were my favourite during the stay. (They also sell toffee packets at their boutique).
After the reception formalities, we were taken to our room. The rooms were more like personal cottages which include a lavish bath area, a small personal swimming pool, a bed room and a living area. The furniture was again vintage with a lot of wooden décor. The bed was very comfortable. The room had basic amenities like TV, Fridge, Tea maker, free Wifi, etc., and included fruits and two bottled water every day.
Their soft cotton gowns as sleepwear were super comfortable. A mosquito repellent and face spray (more like Ayurvedic concoctions) were also given in the room. As the cottages and surrounding area are full of trees, shrubs and creepers, mosquitoes were rampant in the evening but as we kept our room closed, it wasn’t much of a problem. The best part about this hotel was the infinity pool in the Batukaru restaurant which overlooks a jungle. It is actually not a jungle but the village outskirts full of tropical trees. It felt like the sets from the movie Avatar. Even their other restaurant had an infinity pool overlooking the jungle and was less crowded. That used to be my hangout.
There were a few sun loungers around the pool area and I saw many people getting down to the pool with their drinks and looking aimlessly in the direction of the jungle, as if reflecting on their lives, or may be just enjoying their holiday. The rooms included breakfast and afternoon Tea. And I am so glad it did.
Breakfast was served in the Batukaru restaurant in the morning between 7 to 10 am. It was a la carte and the waiting staff would get us whatever we wanted. The food was decent if not great, though we could try many local delicacies there. American, Italian and Chinese food was also available for the not so adventurous. The afternoon tea was served between 3 – 3:30 pm. That included lovely cookies, cakes, sweet dumplings and tea of our choice. It was arranged in a garden area where we could meet other guests as well. You can also order breakfast and afternoon tea in your room if not in a mood to venture out.
The evenings can be spent reading at their small library, indulging in some indoor games or watching their selection of movies which was provided free within the room. There was a small gym and yoga hall for the fitness lovers. If you want to go to the city centre, hotel transport left every hour from 8 am to 8 pm. Restaurants in Ubud are open till 10 -11 pm but shops close down by 7 pm. So if you feel that you have nothing else to do in the sleepy village of Tanggayuda in the evening then you can indulge in a pampering spa session at the hotel. Prior booking is always good. A Jacuzzi is available at the spa area for the guests irrespective if they take a spa session or not.
We enjoyed an invigorating spa session on one of the days. Needless to say, it was one of the best experiences. If you have a cottage with a personal pool, you can take a dip at any hour of the day. The resort has beautiful landscaping and you can take a walk around it. They also provide Balinese food classes and ‘dress up like a local’ services. The boutique at the hotel sells jewellery, art, clothes and other local fair. You can also get a bicycle from the reception and explore the nearby area.
I loved this hotel and on my next visit plan to stay there. It has been the most welcoming experiences till now. I loved their hospitality and personal touch. Staff are always ready to serve. I would recommend it to everyone who is planning a stay in Ubud. It has been one of my best stays.