Review of Karma Kandara resort

The Gods must be going crazy… trying to figure out which holiday destination to choose when they come visiting Earth. There is God's Own Country and then there are a number of Islands of the Gods that they can choose from. If it be so confusing for the Gods, how are we mere mortals to decide?

I was faced with a similar situation a couple of months ago… when Bali – the most popular Island of the Gods beckoned. And, I can't seem to pinpoint the exact reason for the choice, but it was probably ‘destiny' that made me pick on Karma Kandara Resorts for experiencing the charms of this hugely popular, yet pristine island.

Abode of the gods

Bali is considered to be the ideal travel destination for honeymooners and surfers. This famous Indonesian island is the exotic backyard for Australian couples and backpackers, and the idyllic, luxury holiday spot for CEOs and heads of state looking to unwind. Bali's year-long sunshine, tropical weather and unspoiled beaches make it the perfect combination for travellers looking for a beach holiday with a fair bit of culture thrown in, since Bali is also a melting pot of Hindu and Islamic arts and crafts.

Bali is a fairly small island, about one and half times the size of Goa. Within a day you can ‘effectively' drive around the island. But, this Island of the Gods is getting crowded. With a local population of about 4 million, receiving about 3 million tourists and visitors every year, the roads and beaches can get quite busy. My ride to the resort through thick traffic took over 45 minutes, though the brochure said 25 minutes.

So, finding the right resort is the key to discovering the joys of this island. The best new resorts have come up in the Bukit peninsula of the island. On the map, the Bukit peninsula looks like a droplet of land that has dripped down from the main island. At the Southern-most tip of the peninsula, on a rocky limestone cliff, overlooking the immense azure waters of the Indian Ocean is where the Karma Kandara resort is located.

The resort

When I drive up to the resort, it not hard to see why some of the super luxury brands have set up their properties in this part of Bali. Sparsely populated, but easily accessible, this small outcropping is home to some of the most unspoilt limestone cliffs on the island. And Karma Kandara has one of the most enviable locations on the southern beachline of the Bukit Peninsula.

Karma Resorts' Kandara property (Kandara in Sanskrit apparently means Holy Place) is located on top of a limestone cliff that soars almost 300 feet above the deep blue waters of the Indian Ocean. Built with local materials and sporting a mix of modern and Balinese architectural styles, the resort manages to remarkably merge with the lush greenery and rocky outposts of the area. There is no dominating ugly concrete structure spoiling the natural beauty of the cliff.

Karma Kandara is a boutique villa resort set over a sprawling area atop the limestone hill. The villas and private residences range from two to five bedroom accommodations. Each of these fully-airconditioned villas feature a private plunge pool, en-suites and large living, dining and kitchen areas stocked with five-star quality amenities, kitchen appliances and furnishings. Genuine local artwork, furniture, in-villa Wi-Fi and high-end home theatre systems, in addition to the usual satellite TV take the quality of the villas to a luxurious new level. Depending on the villa, a private butler and a chef is always on call.

The villas are perfect for families and travel groups or friends and I am told that Karma culinary staff can also put together a cocktail reception or a dinner party at your residence.

I check into the resort and walk up to the edge of the hill top property, where the main infinity pool and the Karma Spa are located and the view of the Ocean is truly spectacular. The setting sun is to my right and the endless blue of the sea merging with the darkening blue of the sky is unfailingly breathtaking.

The beach

Taking the hill tram or the ‘travelator', I head down the cliff in minutes to reach the private Nammos beach. Soft, powder white sand and crystal clear waters of the lagoon greet me. Unlike the crowded, in some places, dirty beaches of Nusa Dua and Kuta, the beaches in Bukit are desolate, offer sweeping vistas and the best part is the presence of a shallow lagoon between the beach sand and the ocean.

Unbelievably, I was the only person walking on the beach. However, just as I was savouring the moment, I had to retrace my steps since high tide had started to set in. But I returned the next day to snorkel and swim in the lagoon, marvelling all the time at the beautiful ocean life thriving under the clear blue water. To the west of Nammos beach, I am told is one of the prime surfing spots of Bali.

Just at the foot of the cliff, as the beach sands start out to greet the sea is the Nammos Beach Club. During the day, the bar and restaurant serve guests custom cocktails and Mediterranean cuisine. You can lounge in open bamboo huts and cabanas. During the night, the Nammos Beach Club is one of the most rocking party places in Bali.

Living it up

Back up the hill, the Resort's spacious villas are built like a current interpretation of the classical Balinese garden compound. The villas are set on meandering paths strewn with Bougainvilleas, small fountains and statues of Hindu deities. Hibiscus is considered holy here too and with way the flowers adorned the statues, I was reminded of home in so many of the resort's quiet pathways.

The part I liked best about the hospitality at the resort was the fact that the staff at Karma Kandara is almost conspicuous by its absence. The upkeep and quality of maintenance of the resort is top notch, but the staff is discreet and manage to straighten and restock my villa even when I thought they couldn't possibly have.

The resort's destination restaurants and the full function Spa have been set up on rocky outposts to give guests the feel of being suspended above the waves. Guests can experience local and international cuisine in a luxurious open air setting at the di Mare, where gourmet Asian and Mediterranean cuisine is served. The Veritas wine lounge serves from Karma's cellar of old and new world wines in an air-conditioned setting with a panoramic view of the Indian Ocean.

The resort is at the southern most tip of Bali, and yet it is fairly easy to access most of the touristy places of Bali within an hour of driving. The Nusa Dua beach, shopping area and watersports are about 20 minutes away, the Bali Safari Park and the Bird Park are about an hour away, as are the stepped rice fields of Seminyak. The famous Uluwatu temple is about 20 minutes away, but the more significant and elaborate Mother Temple of Besakih is about a couple hours by road. The active volcano – Mount Agung – is another famous tourist spot is also about 3 hours by road, but can take longer, just like the trip to the turtle hatchery. Denpasar, one of the most populated towns of Bali is where the airport is located and the cab ride can vary from 20 minutes early in the morning to about an hour during peak hour traffic.

Extending the experience

Unlike the other resorts in Bali, the best part about Karma Kandara is how it is possible to actually continue your love affair with the place, if you so choose. Enjoyed your stay, want to come back again and again, then buy one of the villas under development or buy a fractional interest. The resort has been adding villas over five phases and a few Indian buyers have already invested fully or bought into fractional ownership, where the ownership period is 15 years and you get four weeks per fraction just like in a timeshare. While you can utilise your fractional ownership period by staying at Karma Kandara or any of the other Karma Resort properties around the world, you will also get to sell the ownership at the end of the term and pocket the capital gain.

It is easy to fall for the charms of Karma Kandara. For me it felt like I could have spent an eternity at the beach, with a book in hand, or walking the sands or wading in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.

At night, I step out onto the villa balcony. With the city lights and the maddening crowds far away, I am greeted by the night sky lit up with a million stars and the only sounds are the chirping of crickets and the ceaseless lapping of the ocean waves far below.

What: Karma Kandara Resort

Where: Bali, Indonesia

How much: From $1,000 for the luxury pool villa to $8,000 for the 5-bedroom Grand Cliff front residence during high season. Prices are about 10 per cent lower during low season.

muraliswami@thehindu.co.in

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