Listed as a UNESCO Heritage in 2015, The Singapore Botanic Gardens have always been on my radar but stopped short of paying it a visit due to the large crowds. Over the past weekend, I thought that it was high time to stop by and see for myself the beauty of The Gardens.
There are two entrances to The Gardens. I'd recommend you to start from Tanglin Gate along Napier/Holland Road instead of the entrance along Bukit Timah Road (near Botanic Gardens MRT Station) as most of the popular attractions (and flowers) are located nearer to Tanglin Gate.
Entrance into The Botanic Gardens is free of charge except for the National Orchid Garden. There are lots of paths for you to explore. I walked along the Main Road starting from Tanglin Gate > Swan Lake > Heritage Garden > The Bandstand > Rainforest > Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage > Evolution Garden Walk > Bukit Timah Gate .
The scent and sight of flowers greeting me from the entrance is so soothing and invigorating. It didn't take long before I reached the first landmark -
The Swan Lake
As I walked along the Main Gate Road, I can't help but noticed numerous groups of people exercising and dog walking. It's a very relaxed place to unwind.
Main Gate Road
Behind the Swan Lake lies the Heritage Garden. There was a tour around the Heritage Garden on that day but I missed it.
Heritage Garden
The Heritage Garden has some cultural element in it with Greek sculptures erected around the vicinity of the garden. I didn't explore too much in this garden as I was eager to head over to the widely popular Bandstand not too far away from here.
As I was approaching the famous Bandstand, I passed by this garden with lots of swings in it. There was this particular sculpture which I like very much - Nurture
Alright, to the highly anticipated Bandstand now!
The Bandstand
Enough said - THE iconic landmark of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. It is a popular place for wedding photoshoots due to its serene landscape and fairy tale atmosphere. I was fortunate to visit here on a sunny day as the leaves around the Bandstand reflected the perfect hues under the rays.
After the Bandstand, the weather was getting hotter and that's when I discovered a canopy walk to ease the heat.
The Rainforest
At the end of the Rainforest walk, I heard sounds of waterfall, which in the end turned out to be rather disappointing - an artificial mini waterfall.
Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage
Next up I headed over to the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage. The landscape here is just breathtaking. Lush green hilly meadow in front of the symphony stage. Perfect for picnics while enjoying musical performances. For those who are interested, do check out the Botanic Gardens official website for musical performances to be held here.
Alright, it's about time to reveal MY PERSONAL FAVOURITE of The Garden -
The Evolution Garden Path
The Evolution Garden Path takes you back to the beginning of plant life, way before the dinosaurs roamed the Earth. There are write-ups explaining each era and I find it extremely informative and educational. It's an eye opener for me really.
You would begin at the Trees of Stone and work your way through different eras such as Rise of the Ferns, Age of Cycads and finally the Pine Savana.
It's almost noon and we are reaching the end of our Botanic Gardens exploration now. The easiest way to exit The Gardens is via the Bukit Timah Gate as you will be connected to the Circle Line / Downtown Line right away. I managed to catch a glimpse of the Eco Lake and a mini bamboo garden before the exit.
All in all, I totally enjoyed my first visit to the Singapore Botanic Gardens. It took me about 3 hours including all the stops and photoshooting. I think it is quite difficult to finish all the paths by one visit and with that, I will surely return to explore the remaining paths.
Very impressive write out and beautiful photos too. Thank you very much for the detailed informations. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for your encouragement Patrick =) Have a wonderful day ^^