Set among the rice paddies and rainforests of Bali’s Tabanan district, boutique resort Nirjhara is attracting travellers nostalgic for the tranquillity and natural beauty they experienced when they first visited the Indonesian island, according to General Manager Alejandro Rueda.
Rueda, awarded the Idolon for Friendliest General Manager Independent Hotels at Traveller Made’s recent Essence of Phuket show, has been at the resort’s helm since its launch in 2021.
Despite opening during the pandemic, the resort has flourished. “We opened in the pandemic, and we were living basically on life support in the Indonesian market,” he told LATTE. “Then we became very, very popular with certain circles in Jakarta.”
The Australian market has since taken the lead, however. “Australians are my number one nationality since last year,” he said, praising them as “some of the best clients in the world”.
Guests are drawn to the property by its offer of a peaceful Balinese experience, increasingly difficult to come by as the destination rapidly evolves.
Set in the sleepy Ketungu Beach area, just 20 minutes from bustling Canggu, this resort offers travellers a taste of “what Bali used to be.” “You go to Seminyak and you don’t see rice paddies,” he explained. “It’s all been built up.” That’s not the case at Nirjhara. Located just 700 metres from the beach, the boutique resort offers a blend of peace, nature, and authentic Balinese charm. “We’re in a patch of rainforest that is also attached to this typical Balinese village,” Rueda shared. “After you cross Canggu intersection, then the island breathes again.” The resort currently features only 25 rooms across seven categories, but expansion is on the horizon. “We’re making another restaurant, bigger spa, and more rooms,” with the new development expected to be completed by late 2026. While Nirjhara has already received international acclaim, for Rueda, its success is measured in more personal terms. “I gave it life. I put the standards in place. I created the experiences, humanised it.,” he said. As for his management philosophy, it’s all about heart. “Hospitality is being friendly. It’s about relationships. I made the work fun for my staff, and so it’s fun for everyone.”
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Set in the sleepy Ketungu Beach area, just 20 minutes from bustling Canggu, this resort offers travellers a taste of “what Bali used to be.” “You go to Seminyak and you don’t see rice paddies,” he explained. “It’s all been built up.” That’s not the case at Nirjhara. Located just 700 metres from the beach, the boutique resort offers a blend of peace, nature, and authentic Balinese charm. “We’re in a patch of rainforest that is also attached to this typical Balinese village,” Rueda shared. “After you cross Canggu intersection, then the island breathes again.” The resort currently features only 25 rooms across seven categories, but expansion is on the horizon. “We’re making another restaurant, bigger spa, and more rooms,” with the new development expected to be completed by late 2026. While Nirjhara has already received international acclaim, for Rueda, its success is measured in more personal terms. “I gave it life. I put the standards in place. I created the experiences, humanised it.,” he said. As for his management philosophy, it’s all about heart. “Hospitality is being friendly. It’s about relationships. I made the work fun for my staff, and so it’s fun for everyone.”
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