Introduction:Singapore Botanic Gardens is a
63.7-hectare botanical garden in Singapore. It is the only botanic garden in the world that opens from 5 a.m. to 12 midnight every single day of the year, and does not charge an admission fee, except for the National Orchid Garden.
AttractionsNational Orchid Garden:
The National Orchid Garden is the main attraction within the Botanic Gardens. Located on the mid-western side of the Garden, the three-hectare site has a collection of more than 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids of orchids.
Burkill Hall and the VIP Orchid Garden:
Burkill Hall is a colonial plantation bungalow built in 1886. It used to be the director's house and was named in honor of the only father and son pair to hold the post of Director of Singapore Botanic Gardens, Isaac and Humphrey Burkill. The ground level serves as an exhibition area, showcasing information on the different hybrids named after VIPs who have visited the garden. At the back of Burkill Hall is the VIP Orchid Garden with hybrids of some of the VIP orchids on display.Rainforest:
The Singapore Botanic Gardens has a small tropical rain-forest of around six hectares in size, which is older than the gardens itself. The rainforest and its bigger cousin at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve are located within the Singapore's city limits.
Evolution GardenThe 1.5-hectare Evolution Garden is located within the Central Core area of the Gardens. It tells the evolutionary story of plant life on Earth throughout the ages. The garden houses a restaurant called Halia Restaurant. There is also a drop-off point along Tyersall Avenue as well as a waterfall. The garden was officially opened in 2003 and it took over the spot vacated by the previous Orchid Enclosure.
Botany Centre and Tanglin Gate
The reopened Tanglin Gate has been given a new look. Gone is the old cast iron gate; it now sports a more modern silver color with a leaf motif as its main design.
The two new blocks of offices and classroom in the upgraded Tanglin Core area are known as the Botany Centre. They house the:
* Library of Botany and Horticulture (including the Public Reference Centre);
* the Singapore Herbarium;
* Orchid Breeding and Micropagation; and
* education outreach and workshop classrooms.
The corridors and walkways of the Botany Centre are covered by leaf imprints. There are also a number of wooden carvings scattered around the grounds, and fern-covered vertical walls.
The Green Pavilion is the first "green roof" in Singapore. Weed- and grass-like plants fully cover the pitched roof. It houses the visitor services desk as well as a food court, Inside Green, in its basement.
The offices of former directors, namely Holttum Hall (after Eric Holttum, Director of the Gardens from 1925 to 1949) and Ridley Hall (after Henry Nicholas Ridley, first director of Gardens from 1888 to 1911) were preserved and now serve as the Singapore Botanic Gardens' Directorate and Visitor Management and Operations offices.
Jacob Ballas Children's GardenThe Children's Garden was named after its main donor Jacob Ballas, a Jewish-Singaporean philanthropist who died in 2000.
Built at a cost of S$7 million (of which $3 million was donated by the Jacob Ballas Trust and sponsors), it is located at the quieter northern end of the Botanic Gardens. It has its own visitor centre with a café. It opened on Children's Day, 1 October 2007. The National Parks Board claims it is Asia's first children garden. There are play areas like the Water Play area, a small playground, tree-houses with slides, and a maze. There are also interactive exhibits that teach how photosynthesis takes place, and a mini-garden that showcases how plants may be used to make dyes and beverages, or as herbs.
Personal Recount:
A Beautiful place to wander around, a wide open field ready for picnics, gardens lined up with spectacular flowers for plant enthusiasts and restaurants everywhere serving international food. What can be better than just taking a stroll in the park breathing in the fresh air!
I find the place easily assessable to the public as even busses go there. The whole city is a park but the gardens are an oasis. Even if you aren't into flowers this is a worth a wander around, for an hour or so
No matter what you like this is the place to relax in. Even if there are a lot of people around it still feels very calm. Can also imagine that it would be great to look at a concert here, at the stage in the middle.
All in all a very nice place both for kids and adults to come and relax.
How To Get There
By Foot:
Entrance to the Gardens is easy through the Gardens' major entrances: Tanglin Gate, Burkill Gate, Nassim Gate and Cluny Park Gate, and through the Bukit Timah Entrance.
By Car:
Car Parking Facilities are available at the Singapore Botanic Gardens' Visitor Centre, Bukit Timah Car Park at Bukit Timah Core, Botany Centre, Jacob Ballas Children's Garden and Public Parking along Tyersall Avenue.
By Bus:
Get to the Gardens by Public Bus
via Holland Road or Bukit Timah Road.
Via Holland Road
SBS Transit 7, 105, 123, 174
SMRT 75, 77, 106
Via Bukit Timah Road
SBS Transit 48, 66, 151, 153, 154, 156, 170
SMRT 67, 171
