ROYAL AMBARRUKMO YOGYAKARTA: WHERE THE IMPERIAL LEGEND LIVES ON

by lakwatserong tsinelas - 6:35 PM

What once served as the Yogyakarta Royal Palace and Gardens stand today as one of the city’s finest 5-star luxury hotels- the Royal Ambarrukmo Yogyakarta. And this will be our home in this part of Indonesia.

The royal façade of this grand hotel is just the tip of the iceberg as there are more interesting features to experience within the vast acre of property. The hotel infuses the tradition and heritage of the Java royal palace.

THE ROYAL HIGH TEA CEREMONY

Upon arrival at the hotel, we were ushered towards Pendopo Ambarrukmo, a grand hall that once served as a meeting place for the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies and a resort for the royal family. Living like royals, we were gathered at the hall for a royal high tea ceremony one afternoon. It was actually drizzling that time making the ambiance perfect for tea drinking alongside fruits and rice cakes to chow.

The high tea ceremony was not a simple one. Hotel staff garbed in traditional batik lined up and walked towards us in slow motion. Their pace goes along with the beat of the ethnic music. It was so silent that chit-chats and noise from the group was barely heard of.

After the procession, each staff was assigned to one table akin to a butler who serves his master. That was how royal the experience was.

HISTORICAL TOUR IN THE FORM OF ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE

Every corner of the hotel has a story to tell. Upon entering the lobby, a huge bas relief greeted us depicting the lives of villagers that surround the famed Merapi Volcano.

The bas relief is made of andecit rock and cement with a dimension of 700x500 cm. It truly served as a grand welcome.

Elevating to the 8^th floor, the mosaic entitled “Kehidupan Masyarakat Yogyakarta” (The Life of Yogyakarta Society) is positioned in one corner. The mosaic with a dimension of 300x1000 cm was created by J. Soedhiono, Nyoman Gunarsa & Team.

Roaming around the vicinity, we were able to discover more architectural landscapes and buildings used by the royal family. Installations and sculptures adorn the well-landscaped garden surrounding the swimming pool.

I find the octagon-shaped building in the middle of the pond and at the far end of the garden impressive. It was a standout for me especially that it’s painted in white. This building is known as the Bale Kambang or the Floating Hut, which was formerly used for meditation and leisure of the King and its royal family.

Adjacent to the Floating Hut is the Gardi or the Royal Dining Room where we passed through. It served as a venue for royal performances, puppet shows and ceremonies.

At the far end is the now Nurkadhatyan Ritual Spa which was once used by the King’s female relatives and princesses.

Each corner of the hotel has indeed a unique architectural mark and design which dates back to centuries of royal life in Yogyakarta.

DELUXE ROOM

I was assigned to a 40-square meter Deluxe Room with modern furnishings. The room comes with a spacious balcony and a panoramic view of the pool garden, royal palace or surrounding countryside. The latter on my case.

Other features include complimentary wireless internet access, LCD televisions, coffee and tea facilities, a laptop-sized-in-room safe and premium bedding with pillow-top mattresses.

(Click to check other room types and rates)

DINING EXPERIENCE AT THE ROYAL RESTAURANT

In a choice of indoor and outdoor seating, the culinary experience is unexpected. The all-day dining restaurant offers unparalleled western and Asian cuisine.

We had our complimentary breakfast at the Royal restaurant pampered like royals and surrounded by interiors apt for a royalty and a first-class hospitality service.