Situated close to Ipoh town is an opulent resort that promises to melt the stresses and demands of life away. Welcome to The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, a world-class wellness destination located a mere 20 minutes from Perak’s capital city.
The sound of the gong signals your arrival before you are accompanied to the reception area, where a refreshing welcome passionfruit dessert is served, accompanied by cold towels to rid you of any drowsiness from the journey.
There are 44 villas here, in three iterations – the Lake Villa, Water Villa, and Garden Villa. You will be whisked to the one in which you are staying on an electric buggy along with your luggage.
Each villa features an eco-chic design that is discreet, sporting influences by the natural surroundings, and is equipped with luxurious essentials including extra-large beds, well-appointed bathrooms, a Nespresso machine, and even mosquito repellent – in case you decide to go for a nighttime walk.
The Bose sound system is a nice touch, letting you enjoy your favourite tunes on Spotify as you soak in your private geothermal water hot tub. The minibar is complimentary, so feel free to enjoy the carbonated drinks and fruit juices that complement the bite-sized chocolates.
Guests will also be able to dig into a juicy pomelo from Tambun as a welcome gift from The Banjaran.
The tropical Malaysian weather can be unforgiving and unpredictable, so it is a nice touch that outdoor flip-flops are provided alongside two umbrellas to shield you from the elements. The best times to take a walk around the property would be early in the morning right after sunrise, or at night when your surroundings are fully lit, offering a visual feast.
Om nom nom
Breakfast at The Pomelo is a quiet affair and, being an adults-only resort, you are assured of intimate conversations. Tables are well spaced; you may occupy an air-conditioned room, the open area, or one of the few gazebos that sit atop a pond while watching dragonflies zip around from one lily frond to another.
The menu here is suited to both eastern and western palates. Each order is individually prepared to your liking, while a buffet spread of nuts, grains, milk, and yoghurt is available for your convenience.
Enjoy a medley of flavours as you sample the char koay teow – brimming with “wok hei” – alongside your shakshouka and minute steak.
The juice bar is a welcome sight at breakfast. You will be handed a basket so you can pick and customise your poison: bittergourd, beetroot, radish, celery, lemon, apples, carrots, and oranges are at your disposal to start the day right, and you might find some seasonal vegetables such as kohlrabi on offer as well.
While The Pomelo offers an all-day dining menu, those who wish to enjoy a unique experience should check out the award-winning Jeff’s Cellar. This fine-dining establishment is set right in the bowels of a 260-milion-year-old cave cellar, where you are treated to a regularly rotating degustation menu paired with a carefully curated wine menu.
You can even make your way to the wine cellar and see the extensive collection of vino from all over the world.
The romantic in you might also want to host your loved one to a dinner under the stars right next to the geothermal pond. It is truly a sight to behold, where the colder temperatures at night will see layers of fog-like condensation swirl upward, lending an air of mystery to the occasion.
Relax and unwind
After all the feasting, indulge in any of the custom-built geothermal pools to open your pores and sweat it out. Once you have had your fill, head over to the steam cave that functions as a natural sauna. Do be careful, though, as the cave’s floor can be rather slippery, so footwear with a strong grip is highly recommended.
Upon exiting the steam cave, you can cool down at the ice bath, located adjacent to the staircase that leads to the Sky Bar. The ice-cold water brings your personal pampering to an end for now, but you can always make your way to the foot reflexology path located right next to the garra rufa pool.
Let these tiny doctor fish get to work by offering you a natural exfoliation experience as you drink in the breathtaking beauty of limestone caves and verdant landscape around you.
A free-form pool is located next to the geothermal pond, surrounded by deck chairs for you to laze around under the sun and go for a dip when you please. Lying on your back and facing the limestone caves evokes a sense of awe and wonder, and you might catch wildlife from time to time such as dusky leaf monkeys and their babies, or the odd monitor lizard scurrying away from human presence.
Right smack in the middle of The Banjaran is the Sweet Spot, where the remnants of an old tree trunk has been hollowed out to hold a fridge. The contents include a variety of local ice-cream potong and mineral water, letting you refresh yourself on the way back to your room. (It is now protected by a PIN code as the local primates used to help themselves to the goodies with wanton abandon.)
There are plans by the Sunway group to build a medical centre and higher-learning institution in the surrounding area, transforming it into an integrated township where medical tourism might see patients end up as guests at The Banjaran to recuperate close to nature.
Hopefully, the pristine environment in the area will remain untouched, as The Banjaran truly offers a luxurious escape from the everyday busyness of life to restore balance to the weary soul.
For more information and reservations, click here.
The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat
1, Persiaran Lagoon, Sunway 3,
31150 Ipoh, Perak
Edwin Kee dreamt of being a pro-gamer only to have circumstances mould him into a programmer in a past life. He has since moved on to write about consumer electronics and other topics. Check out his blog at manatau.com.