Amankila

Amankila is a luxury coastal resort operated by Aman in eastern Bali, Indonesia. The property is situated on the hill of Indrakila near Manggis in Karangasem Regency, overlooking the Lombok Strait and set against the backdrop of Mount Agung. Its name is commonly translated as “peaceful hill,” reflecting both the elevated site and the retreat-oriented character of the property. The resort opened in March 1992 under Aman founder Adrian Zecha. It was the third Aman property to open in Bali, following Amandari in Ubud and Amanusa on the Nusa Dua Peninsula. Amankila was developed through a cooperation between Zecha and Indonesian businessman Franky Tjahyadikarta, who owned the land used for Amankila and for a nearby project later known as Alila Manggis. The property helped establish Aman’s presence beyond Bali’s established southern resort areas and positioned eastern Bali as a destination for secluded, design-led luxury travel. Architecture is central to the Amankila experience. The resort was designed by architect Ed Tuttle, whose work drew on the palaces of Ujung and Tirtagangga and responded to the cultural and environmental setting of Bali. Rather than forming a single large hotel block, the resort is arranged as a collection of freestanding suites connected by walkways. Its 34 suites are styled as elevated beach houses, with thatched roofs, private terraces, daybeds, tropical landscaping, and materials associated with Balinese craft traditions, including rattan and coconut-shell furnishings. The principal public buildings use pale stone and classical columns, while a broad outdoor staircase leads toward the resort’s signature three-tiered infinity pool. Built into the cliff edge, the pools cascade toward the sea and visually echo the stepped agricultural landscapes of Bali. The pool complex is both a major leisure facility and the property’s most recognizable architectural feature. At the foot of the cliff, Amankila also has a private black-sand beach and a beach club set among coconut palms and frangipani. The beach area includes a 41-metre swimming pool, watersports rentals, and private lounging pavilions. Amankila’s location gives it access to eastern Bali’s cultural and natural attractions, including Manggis, Candi Dasa, Tenganan, and nearby villages associated with traditional crafts. Its proposition combines private luxury accommodation, architecture, dining, wellness, beach recreation, and guided experiences in the surrounding region. The resort’s low-density planning, landscape integration, and emphasis on framed views are consistent with Aman’s broader positioning around privacy, quiet service, and a strong sense of place. The available reference material identifies Amankila as an active Aman resort but does not establish its current legal operating entity, ownership structure, financial performance, or current executive team. No reliable public information in the supplied materials indicates that Amankila is separately listed or operates as an independent company.

Amankila opened in March 1992 on the hill of Indrakila near Manggis in eastern Bali. The resort was launched by Aman founder Adrian Zecha and became the third Aman property in Bali, following Amandari in Ubud and Amanusa on the Nusa Dua Peninsula. Its creation resulted from cooperation between Zecha and Indonesian businessman Franky Tjahyadikarta, who owned the land occupied by Amankila as well as land associated with a nearby project later known as Alila Manggis. The resort was conceived as a secluded coastal retreat rather than a conventional large-scale hotel. Its location overlooks the Lombok Strait and faces a landscape dominated by Mount Agung, a volcano with major religious significance in Balinese culture. The setting also places Amankila near Manggis, Candi Dasa, Tenganan, and other communities known for traditional crafts and local cultural practices. Architect Ed Tuttle designed the property. His approach took inspiration from the palaces of Ujung and Tirtagangga while adapting the resort to its hillside and coastal environment. The design uses separate, thatched-roof suites connected by paths instead of concentrating guest rooms in a single block. The 34 accommodations are shaped as freestanding beach houses, each with an individual terrace and daybed. Rattan seating, coconut-shell tables, tropical vegetation, and open views reinforce the relationship between the buildings and their setting. The central building complex is faced with pale stone and includes Corinthian columns. A large exterior staircase, characteristic of Tuttle’s work, directs guests toward the three-tiered infinity pool. The pools are built into the cliff edge and cascade from one level to the next, creating a composition that recalls Bali’s terraced landscapes. Blue pool tiling and the open horizon make the pool complex the resort’s defining visual landmark. A private black-sand beach lies below the cliff. The beach club is positioned among coconut palms and a frangipani tree and includes a 41-metre pool, watersports equipment rentals, and private lounging bales. These facilities extend the resort’s offer from hillside accommodation and swimming to beach recreation and marine activities. Over time, Amankila has remained part of Aman’s Bali portfolio and has represented the company’s model of small-scale, highly designed luxury hospitality. Its offering combines accommodation with dining, wellness, beach leisure, and excursions or cultural experiences in eastern Bali. The supplied sources do not provide a detailed record of renovations, management changes, ownership changes, financial results, or later corporate transactions. They also do not establish a separate legal identity for Amankila apart from its operation within the Aman hospitality group.

1. 1992Amankila opens in eastern Bali

   Amankila opened in March 1992 near Manggis in Karangasem Regency, becoming the third Aman resort in Bali after Amandari and Amanusa.

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2. 1992Launch of Aman’s eastern Bali resort concept

   The resort introduced Aman’s low-density, design-led hospitality model to a coastal setting in eastern Bali, with a focus on seclusion, landscape, and local architectural references.

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A high-end, low-density Aman resort emphasizing privacy, architecture, landscape, Balinese cultural references, and secluded coastal experiences in eastern Bali.

• Amankila resort accommodationLuxury resort accommodation1992

  Amankila’s core accommodation comprises 34 freestanding suites designed as elevated beach houses. The units are distributed across the hillside and connected by walkways rather than arranged in a conventional hotel block. Thatched roofs, private terraces, daybeds, tropical planting, rattan furniture, and views toward the Lombok Strait support the resort’s emphasis on privacy, quiet, and close contact with the landscape.

• Three-tiered infinity poolResort amenity1992

  The three-level infinity pool is Amankila’s signature amenity and principal architectural landmark. Built into the cliff edge, the pools cascade downward toward the sea and visually reference Bali’s terraced fields. The stepped arrangement creates multiple water levels while maintaining broad views across the Lombok Strait.

• Amankila beach clubBeach and leisure facility1992

  Located beside the resort’s private black-sand beach, the beach club provides a lower-level coastal counterpart to the hillside pool complex. It is set among coconut palms and frangipani and includes a 41-metre swimming pool, private lounging bales, and rentals for watersports activities.

• Eastern Bali cultural and nature experiencesDestination experiences

  The resort’s location supports excursions and destination experiences around eastern Bali, including Manggis, Candi Dasa, Tenganan, and nearby villages associated with traditional crafts. These experiences complement the property’s accommodation, dining, wellness, and beach offerings by connecting guests with the region’s cultural and natural setting.

1. Amankila