Singapore Botanic Gardens
Singapore Botanic Gardens is a 160-year-old tropical garden that is one of the country’s landmarks. It contains a wide range of horticultural and botanical attractions which are part of Singapore’s rich culture and history.
An Agri-Horticultural Society founded the Botanic Gardens in 1859. It occupies an area of 82 hectares and is home to more than 10,000 plant species. Henry Nicholas Ridley, the Gardens’ first scientific director, launched the cultivation of rubber at the beginning of the 20th century. It turned out to be a success and made the region one of the world’s top producers of rubber.
Starting as an ornamental garden with a small zoo, roads, terraces and a band area, it has grown to be the world’s most visited Gardens (approximately 4.5 million visitors each year). Singapore Botanic Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage site-a status that puts in the same category with the likes of the Great Wall of China and Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.
What to see at the Gardens
Singapore is teeming with world-class architecture, like the Universal Studios Singapore, so it can be overwhelming to just spend all your time from ‘building’ hopping.
The Singapore Botanic Garden allows the city dwellers to commune with nature and offers a space for them to breathe in some fresh air.
Singapore Botanic Gardens is no ordinary garden. Other than being home to thousands of plant species, it is a major recreational spot that attracts both locals and foreigners. It’s also a top centre for research on horticulture and botany. Here are some attractions you will find at the Botanic Gardens:
The Rainforest
The small tropical rainforest covers an area of 6 hectares and is actually older than the Gardens. It is within the city limits and boosts the Gardens natural look. It is also home to several animal species.
National Orchid Garden
This is the Botanic Garden’s main attraction. There are over 1,000 orchid species and approximately 2,000 orchid hybrids in a 3-hectare part of the Gardens. Various attractions host these orchids, such as the Orchidarium (natural species), VIP Orchid garden (hybrid orchids), and Burking Hall (a colonial plantation Bungalow).
An interesting fact to note is that Vanda Miss Joaquim, a hybrid climbing orchid, is Singapore’s national flower.
Ginger Garden
The 1-hectare Ginger Garden sits next to the National Orchid Garden. As the name suggests, it is home to various species of the ginger family. Within this garden is a picturesque waterfall and a restaurant (Halia restaurant).
Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden
According to the National Parks Board, this is the first children’s garden in Asia. It was named after the late Jacob Ballas, a Jewish-Singaporean who was its main donor. It occupies the northern part of the Gardens. Some of the children’s attractions include a maze, water play area, tree-houses with slides, and a playground.
There are also educational exhibits for the kids, for instance, one that explains how photosynthesis happens. The children’s garden also has a visitor centre and a café. It’s definitely a place you must take your young ones when you visit.
Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Museum
This is another great sight at the Botanic Gardens. It was built in 1921 and used to be the laboratory and office of Eric Holttum, its director at the time. It contains a wide array of artifacts and exhibits which show the Gardens’ history. For instance, you’ll get to know how the garden played a major role in ensuring that sugar palm, orchids and rubber industry thrived in Singapore.
The Singapore Botanic Gardens also has three lakes: Swan Lake, Eco-lake, and Symphony Lake. The Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage is located near Symphony Lake, where concerts are usually held on weekends. The Singapore Symphony Orchestra and the Chinese Symphony Orchestra performs here occasionally. Swan Lake is famed for its diverse aquatic life. It was named after the mute swans from Amsterdam which glide its waters with ease.
Conclusion
If you ever think about enjoy a weekend or vacation surrounded by lush greenery and a peaceful atmosphere, the Singapore Botanic Gardens is your destination. It’s recommended that you visit in the mornings or evenings when the temperatures aren’t high. The Botanic Gardens is usually open from 5 AM to midnight.
Another thing is this place being a perfect spot for photoshoots. Yes, you can have Instagrammable photos in this place.
But before heading on to this garden and book a photoshoot, why not consider getting a beauty treatment from us to ensure that you will look your best on those photos and gain more following? Sozo Aesthetic Clinic offers a variety of treatments for your face, body, and skin.
