East Java has always been one of many alternative holiday destinations in Indonesia due to its richness and flavorful culinary and great hospitality. One particular area that has been rising as the IT destination by several popular travel site is Batu, a cool-fresh hill town located just thirty minutes away from the downtown of Malang or about one to two hours drive from Surabaya. This valley city was originally a retreat for the Dutch in colonial days. Similarly, these days wealthy local business people from Surabaya or Malang have weekend houses up here whilst the less fortunate visit on a more casual basis. The area is also a major agricultural centre with apple orchards everywhere and a large number of orchid nurseries. Until 2001, Batu was administratively part of Malang but since that time it has been a municipal town in its own right. The entire town of Batu is surrounded by mountains and hills, that is why we prefer to called it a valley city. Batu, including Malang and the surrounding villages, makes for a charming place with much that will appeal to foreign and local visitors, especially if you could visit this beautiful area for a couple of days, just like what we did during our last NEIGHBOURTRIP.
Upon having our first local trip, we did a lot of research and also asked our few colleagues around to see what is good around Batu or Malang. Luckily, our good neighbors over at Agoda Indonesia has several good recommendation, not just a hotel or resort that we need to stay at but also few places to dine in or small park whereas locals regularly take walks and idle about. One of the many places that we would like share first is the luxurious five star of Singhasari Resort and Convention in Batu Malang, East Java. The name Singhasari itself was taken from a big Javanese Hindu-Buddhist kingdom located in East Java between 1222 and 1292. The kingdom succeeded the Kingdom of Kediri as the dominant kingdom in Eastern Java. The name cognate to Singosari district of Malang Regency which is located several kilometres north of Malang city. The first five-stars resort in East Java is a perfect blend of Indonesian culture, traditions, lifestyle, and beauty. The magnificent ambience combines natural, contemporary and ancient Singhasari Kingdom design, with exotic view of the three of biggest mountains in East Java. The resort is located in a main street with many shops, restaurant, or local mini market around.
On our way to check in, we looked upon the surrounding area and somehow all of the buildings in Singhasari Resort and Convention reminds us of the traditional East Java houses called Joglo. The resort surely takes really large area of complex. The lobby itself is super spacious and has a clean and elegant ambience, thanks to the minimal usage of colors and high ceiling. The semi-open space concept brings a nice mix of Indonesian traditional design with modern touch, giving an updated and chic-look into the entire room. You could sit in fancy and comfortable sofa to lounge around or look at a small set of Gamelan, Javanese traditional musical instruments, that is nicely decorates a part of the lobby. Alas not only offers a distinctively traditional building, but when we arrived, the hotel staff proudly served us with proper business etiquettes and professional mannerism, through the special norms of traditional hallmark in Indonesia which is very polite and friendly. In addition to an explanation about the hotel and facilities at their disposal, the hotel staff of Singhasari Resort also helpfully describes the area around Batu of popular places to visit or the best place to eat, as they have become unified with the tourist area.
After a little chitchat with one of the Singhasari Resort staff, she handed our keys and took us into our room immediately, which is located just on the same floor with the lobby. Unlike your typical nowadays hotels, the corridors are quite spacious yet very clean. While the room that we stayed in is Deluxe Room which cost us around IDR one and a half million of rupiah per night, within domestic rate, which is quite pricey considering the city is not as big or busy as Jakarta. But somehow it all paid off as the thirty-two square meter contemporary room has everything that we need it, from one double bed or two single bed, safe deposit box to keep our stuff, a thirty-two inches LCD screen TV with satellite channels, individual air conditioning, shower, internet access, and private balcony to overlooking magnificent view of the mountains surrounded by the greens. We must say that the plus point of this room is certainly the private balcony as it boost our curiosity and happiness to certain extent. It also a perfect place for us to play cards, have a drink, or just simply enjoying the well-maintained garden or swimming pool area.
If you are keen to have more activity outside of your room, you can take a stroll around the resort as they have lots of facilities available just right at your door. From the nearest door of our room, you can find Kids Playground, tennis or basketball court, plus the flying fox. As for the latest area, this outdoor adventure activity has a length of 110 meters and height of 20 meters. It offers experience on adrenaline over viewing Panderman and Semeru Mountain. If you walk another few steps, you will find a huge stairs that will direct you into the swimming pool area that is known as Tlogowangi Pool. It offers a magnificent swimmable lagoon facilities as well as recreation activities such as indoor Jacuzzi, sauna pool basketball, pool volleyball, and water slide. The kid area is also available next to adult pool with only half meters depth. The greatest thing about the pool is that they looked very clean and inviting as the water is so cold, especially in the morning. But hey, if you would like to get that fresh water splash into your face, then why not. The pool is also open for public during weekdays or weekend until eight at night.
Beside swimming, Singhasari Resort and Convention also has very areas for you to play or look at, such as the Dewi Anjani Kids Club, sauna, fitness center, movie room, Xbox room, jacuzzi, wedding chapel, to nine holes mini gold. As for the kids club, it is open for children between three to twelve years old. It is great and an extension of their outdoor children playground. Offering fun and educated activities such as kite making, ball game, drawing and other fun activities. While the sauna or jacuzzi are located next to each other, few steps from the popular swimming pool. It provides comfort for those who want to unwind and able to give health to the body as well as the beauty of the skin. The fitness center is not as big as your regular sports club but it is filled with latest or well maintained fitness equipment. Experienced Trainer ready to accompany you to spend time to get a healthier body and looking under agreement. Last but not least is the surprising nine-holes mini golf with the magnificent view of Panderman Mount, Semeru Mount and Batu Tourism Town. Not only great for family getaway, this is also perfect for business meetings and pleasure.
Singhasari Resort and Convention is also popular for couple because of their magnificent properties of Wedding Chapel of Convention Center. According to one of the hotel staff, perhaps the reason people love to stay at the resort because is the existence of these two facilities and how easy for them to do several activities at once. The Agastya Wedding Chapel could beautifully captures 180-degrees view of Semeru mountain and Malang city. Floating 3.75 meter above the ground level, enable couples to have a sparkle of starlight and city view wedding at night. The roof of the chapel is adapted from leaf which is a pray for the couple for their harmonious wedding life. Designed architecturally to accommodate all religion, The Agastya Wedding chapel is a perfect destination for couples seeking to host a simple and contemporary wedding to ancient traditional Javanese wedding. While the Convention Center is known to be the biggest Convention Hall and wedding venue in East Java as they could host up to six-thousands people. You would not miss this area since it is located in front of the lobby and has its own separate entrance that allows you to have more private events. The architectural is designed to be column free and 9.5 meter-high ceiling will make a perfect venue to organizing events such as meeting, gathering, wedding, to expo.
Do not miss the friendly three eateries, as you are welcome to order any kind of drinks or traditional dishes from Kutaraja Restaurant, Hayam Wuruk Lounge, and Dimension Roof Top Bar. If you would love to have a regular lunch full of familiar Asian or Indonesian foods, then this is your place to stay. The main restaurant, Kutaraja is also a place where hotel guests have breakfasts, lunch, and dinner. We got the opportunity to try few of their delicacies there, but we will share it with your readers separately after this review. Hayam Wuruk Lounge is a cozy lounge which oversees the dazzling view of mountains and the city, combined with magnificent interior design by a Singaporean designer which is adapted from tree house. This is the perfect place for romantic dinner, and the selection of cocktails, wines, canapés and snacks are perfectto be enjoyed in the two decks lounge. Last but not least, the Dimension Roof Top Bar is a perfect place to hang out or to grab a drink. This place reminds you lot of modern lounge, a cozy sky bar with live music, that you find most at big cities, like Jakarta, Bali, and Surabaya. Located on the third floor of The Singhasari Resort which boasting some of finest view of mountain and city. Perfect place to celebrate special moment, such as birthday, engagement, reunion, community event, or just to enjoy drinks with friends.
At The Singhasari Resort, the excellent service and superior facilities make for an unforgettable stay. This hotel offers numerous on-site facilities to satisfy even the most discerning guest. Our three day stay at the resort was magnificently wonderful and memorable. Everything was almost perfect as the whole place is beautiful, the room was comfortable, and their hospitality was just beyond great. We do really wish we could go back and stay at the resort someday with our friends and family. We are thankful for the wonderful experience and very helpful staff of the resort who made our stay unforgettable. When you are looking for comfortable and convenient accommodations in Malang, make The Singhasari Resort and Convention your home away from home. For those of you who are coming from Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport or even Malang Railway station, we recommend you to grab the local public transportation because the location of the hotel is far from all those places as it could took you around one hour.
This area is also recommended for shopping, business, or pleasure, as it is located nearly the center of the town “Alun Alun”. Those who are coming from Surabaya do not have to pass the city of Malang as the best way is through the ring road at Singosari. The popular main attractions near the hotel are Jawa Timur Park 1, Jawa Timur Park Park 2, Batu Secret Zoo, Museum Satwa or Wildlife Museum, Batu Night Spectacular, and Museum Angkut. You can visit all of those places by simply book a shuttle via the front desk. For those of you who would like to stay at the Singhasari Resort and Convention in Batu Malang, East Java you can visit Agoda Indonesia now and book yourself a room. I recommend grabbing the special KITAS or Indonesia residence weekend rate offer that is featured on the site. The Singhasari Resort and Convention is located in Jalan Ir. Soekarno Batu East Java. For more information, feel free to visit their official site or get the latest update via their Instagram account.
