Hanoman hotel in Batu has Padang-style cabins and outdoor bathtubs
While we love staying in tall modern hotels and the surreal experience of walking through hotel hallways, we do also appreciate the appeal of staying where our feet can touch the ground. We love, for example, the opportunity to smell the fresh air in the morning when staying at a mountain resort.
This is why we immediately perked up when we first heard about the Hanoman Hotel in the hilly city of Batu in East Java. With cabins modeled after the traditional Rumah Gadang of Padang and outdoor bathtubs, this is one hotel you should check out if you’re thinking of visiting the area in future.
Padang-style cabins and outdoor private bathtubs
Overhead view of the Hanoman Hotel grounds
Image credit: @ivannamagdalena
Even before you walk into the cabins, the zen garden vibe the hotel is going for is unmistakable with grass and rocks laid around the area. Inside, we’re pleased to see that the Padang-style roof isn’t just for show as the resulting high interior ceiling gives the modestly-sized room additional room for its guests to breathe.
Bedroom of the Cabin and Cabin Deluxe room
Image credit: @hanoman_kotabatu
Inside, tasteful minimalism seems to be the order of business with wooden interiors lending a rustic touch to the whole aesthetic. We’re a fan of the bed-facing ceiling-to-floor windows as well as there’s no better way to spend morning than having tea in bed with sunlight streaking through the windows.
Outdoor bathtub at Hanoman Hotel
Image credit: @hanoman_kotabatu
The basic Cabin (Rp. 800,000, ~USD53.99) has an simple indoor shower but if you’ve got the cash, splurge for the Cabin Deluxe (Rp. 1,000,000, ~USD67.48) and jump into the outdoor private bathtub. Trust us, you’re never going to want to switch back once you’ve experienced what it feels like to bathe under the stars.
Patio at the Cabin Suite room
Image credit: @hanoman_kotabatu
The Cabin Suite (Rp. 1.750.000, ~USD118.10) with its own mezzanine nook and patio is generous for just two people, but families with kids might enjoy the bigger space.
Room service served in classic rantang
Image credit: @inijie
We also especially like that room service is served inside classic rantang, or stacked tiffin boxes used by Indonesian families to pack meals. The rooster painted on the side of the boxes, like the ones you’d find on bowls served by bakso carts across the country, enhances the rustic feel of the hotel.
Facilities are a bit limited with a lack of a swimming pool or a gym, but the beauty of the small city of Batu is that attractions are always close by.
Retro-themed vintage car museum and a tyrannosaurus fossil replica
Gangster Town area modeled after Prohibition-era United States
Image credit: @hariyanniayu
When it comes to attractions in Batu, your first destination should always be the city’s Angkut Museum, just 2km away. The vintage car museum houses more than 300 vintage cars, including a 1915 Ford Model T, the first mass-produced car in automotive history.
Even if you’re not into cars, the retro-themed museum, with areas modeled after the US’ prohibition era towns like the kind you’d find in classic gangster movies, is a haven for creative photo spots. Tickets are a bit steep at Rp. 80,000 (~USD5.40) per head but with an area of 3.8 hectares, one full day is barely enough to cover all of what the museum has to offer, including the floating market right outside.
Wildlife diorama at Satwa Museum
Image credit: @luciasantoso
If you’ve got another day to spend, make sure to head for the Jatim Park 2 complex, roughly 4km away. The area is home to the Batu Secret Zoo but the main attraction here is the Satwa Museum next door. At the entrance to the animal-themed museum, you’re going to be greeted with a life-size replica of a tyrannosaurus fossil, an opportunity Night of the Museum fans should never miss.
Entry to both areas is covered under a single ticket costing Rp. 110,000 (~USD7.41) but again, you’re bound to get your money’s worth thanks to the sheer number of attractions here.
Hanoman Hotel in Batu with high-ceiling Padang roof and private bath under the stars
In terms of cachet, Batu might not have the reputation of Bali or Yogyakarta but this charming little hamlet has no shortage of attractions. It’s very much welcomed then that we now have the charming Hanoman Hotel as an accommodation option for our future stays in the city.
Address: Jl. Bukit Berbunga No.14, Sidomulyo, Kec. Batu, Kota Batu, Jawa Timur 65317
Telephone: 0341-592-717
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For more on places to visit in Indonesia, check out these stories:
- 8 things to do in Mandalika
- Svargabumi in Borobudur has photo spots inside a rice paddy field
- 8 pine forests in Indonesia
Cover image adapted from @hanoman_kotabatu and @ekkyrosa
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