There are few places on Earth that take your breath away while making you feel as if you can finally breathe again. Padma Hotel Bandung is one of them.
Words: Beverly Rodrigues
Stepping into the lobby, I was immediately greeted by the soothing sight of sprawling emerald hills and an azure sky filled with white puffy clouds. The windows of the lobby had been flung open to showcase this magnificent backdrop, and mocha-coloured window seats beckoned travellers to drink in the healing beauty of this view.
Located in the misty highlands of Ciumbuleuit, Padma is a fabulous retreat for mind, body and soul. This modern and minimalist escape harnesses the beauty of its surroundings to create a tranquil abode you’ll never want to leave. Its setting, which encompasses verdant hills bursting with the flaming orange blooms of saphodea trees, is majestic. The 30.6-hectare property boasts an eight-storey, L-shaped main building where floors are arranged in descending order, with the lobby located on the top-most floor; guests have to take a lift down the hill to reach their rooms, access the outdoor pool and Jacuzzi or visit the outbound area on the eighth and lowest floor. Padma boasts lots of glass work in its design – the perfect material to showcase a view worth framing.
The hotel offers 124 rooms, with the highest category being the newly introduced Suite Gallery, of which there are just four. The gorgeous 54 square metre Suite Gallery surpasses the 62 square metre Premier Suite (formerly the highest category of accommodation, and popular with families) when it comes to luxury. Designed with a calming palette of sea green and beige, it comes with marble flooring, an even more spacious bathroom fitted with oversized vanity mirrors, and the best views in the house, overlooking the heated pool, as well as the hill.
My cocoon for the weekend was the Hillside Studio, which is popular with honeymooners. This abode, designed with an earthy colour palette, comes with a comfy king-sized bed (made even more decadent with feather choices from a special pillow menu), a cosy sitting area and a spacious bathroom encased in clear and frosted glass, allowing guests to watch TV from the strategically angled oversized tub. For complete privacy, guests have just to draw the blinds.
And then, of course, there’s the view. Almost touching my window were tall Bangkok pines, jacaranda trees, weeping willows and magnolia trees – all thanks to Padma’s replanting efforts. To compensate for any disturbance to its surroundings when it first opened back in 2009, Padma actively engages in replanting exercises around its property. And since the hotel employs a subtle landscaping technique, its foliage looks lush and natural. Bougainvillea flowers, irises, orchids and heliconias spill over pathways carpeted on either side with all manner of shrubbery.
Padma offers thoughtful touches and an immersive experience – from its healing yoga sessions to its hikes through the hills – but nowhere is this more manifest than at The Restaurant, its sole dining establishment, where guests can savour authentic street food and Sundanese favourites. Padma’s commitment to a genuine dining experience means that spicy dishes are served with no compromise – so, be prepared for fiery flavours that pack a punch!
Must-tries include the fierce Bebek Bukit Tinggi, deep-fried duck that’s been braised in green chilli for three to four hours, as well as Padma’s signature dish: Nasi Bambu Panggang. Inspired by the angklung (local musical instrument made of bamboo), this hearty dish is prepared by cooking rice mixed with oncom (fermented beancurd), salt fish, herbs and spices in a bamboo culm over an open fire. The rice is served with fried chicken, gepuk (beef stewed with candlenut and lemongrass, and then fried and beaten to tenderise), garoupa, tofu, shrimp crackers and pickles – a feast for two. On weekends, guests can enjoy themed buffets with a seafood BBQ spread on Friday and oper (boneless) ribs on Saturday.
Afternoon tea is also a unique affair. Forget English tea and scones; at Padma, tea is served local style with a spread of Bandung’s exotic street flavours. Favourites include serabi (a snack of coconut milk, grated coconut and rice flour baked in a clay pot), traditionally eaten with oncom tossed with chilli for heat; awug, a sweet and sticky cake made from rice flour, brown sugar and grated coconut, with a dash of salt; combro, a deep-fried oncom-filled cassava cake; and kue lumpur, a smooth chiffon-like cake made from rice flour, coconut and raisins. Tea also includes various crisps from deep-fried cassava chips to seblak, a fiery cracker. All this is washed down with two local teas: bandrek and bajigor. Bandrek, the healthier of the two, is made by boiling young ginger with brown sugar, and served with fresh slivers of ginger and coconut flesh, while bajigor is concocted by stewing fresh coconut milk and brown sugar for two hours, with screw pine leaves for aroma, and then, serving it with fresh coconut milk, grated coconut and chewy palm fruit.
At Padma, guests enjoy the sweet life and this immersive experience truly allows for a genuine taste of Bandung.
PADMA HOTEL BANDUNG
Address: Jl. Ranca Bentang No 56-58, Ciumbuleuit, Bandung
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