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The Banjaran in Tambun is an exceptional retreat that offers holistic wellness amid nature.
A valley within a cluster of magnificent limestone hills, lush tropical greenery, waterfalls and caves with spectacular crystals and karst formations.
Three million litres of fresh mineral-filled hot water with temperatures of between 40 and 70 degrees Celsius billows up daily from the ground below to fill a geothermal lake and Jacuzzi-style dipping pools.
One of a kind: A majestic view of the hotsprings lake and pools surrounded by limestone hills at The Banjaran.
Sounds surreal — yet this is the tranquil setting of the five-star Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat in Tambun, near Ipoh — a vision of Sunway Group chairman Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah.
Indeed, a lot of effort has gone into developing The Banjaran into a self-contained sanctuary comprising 25 luxury villas, offering holistic wellness and spa experiences inspired by Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures.
“The Banjaran has adopted an eco-friendly and green practice since its conception,” said the retreat’s marketing and communications manager Carl Selvarajah.
At one with nature: The Water Villas at the Banjaran.
He said they practised energy conservation, water conservation, waste management, nature conservation and the minimal use of chemicals and pesticides.
“Although we want to maintain exclusivity for our guests as this is a retreat and not a resort, we are not turning people away,” he said in an interview.
The public are welcome to the retreat for tea or a meal by making prior reservation.
A tour of the retreat reveals that the Garden Villas are set within their own secluded tropical gardens while the Water Villas rest on the banks of a water canal, with individual balconies overlooking the water. The villas receive piped-in hot spring water daily.
Serene: The impressive Meditation Cave at The Banjaran.
Among its natural wonders are the Thermal Steam Cave where one can eliminate toxins from the body naturally through perspiration and the Meditation Cave with spectacular natural granite and limestone formations.
Three amethyst caves with clear quartz crystals provide guests a unique setting to experience metaphysical healing properties and private energy healing treatments such as Reiki.
Jeff’s Cellar, located inside a cave, is where Cheah keeps his vast wine collection. The huge dimly lit chamber evokes mystery and a sense of adventure.
Inside, the deco and the bottles of wines create a romantic old English atmosphere for visitors while they wine and dine as the cellar is leased out for private parties occasionally.
Selvarajah said the Spa and Wellness Centre offered a variety of treatments and therapies ranging from traditional Chinese medicine, Malay urut massage and Ayuvedic therapies to hydrobaths and colonic hydrotherapy.
AsiaSpa voted The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat among its ‘Top 10 Spiritual Retreats in Asia 2010’, and nominated the retreat as the ‘New Spa of the Year 2010’ and ‘Spa Retreat of the Year 2010’.
The Banjaran was also voted into ‘DestinAsian’s 2010 Luxe List’. More recently, it has had the proud distinction of becoming a ‘Conde Nast Johansens Recommended 2011’ destination.
The retreat is just a 15-minute drive from Ipoh city, 90 minutes from Penang and two hours from Kuala Lumpur.
For reservations, call 052107777 or email info.kl@thebanjaran.com. – By Foong Thim Leng
