Tall buildings, luxury shopping malls, world-class amusement parks, entertaining islands, and fancy restaurants are the first things that come to mind when one thinks of Singapore. However, Singapore is not a concrete jungle. In fact, the city is known for its natural attractions, including gardens, zoos, beaches, etc. One such attraction is the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Established in 1859, the Singapore Botanic Gardens can be called the oldest garden in the city. Spanning along 82 hectares, this garden is home to more than 36000 plants amongst 6500 species. The best part is that the garden has around 44 heritage trees, i.e. trees that exist right from the date of the garden’s inauguration. If you have a Singapore visit visa and are planning to visit the city, the Singapore Botanic Gardens is a place that you must visit. Here are the top reasons to visit Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
Entry is Free
Singapore is an expensive city, and most tourist attractions require you to pay an entry fee. However, the Singapore Botanic Gardens does not have an entry fee. Visiting this garden is one of the few free things you can do in Singapore. You can roam around this expansive garden and use its facilities without buying Singapore Botanic Gardens tickets. However, this does not apply to the Orchid Garden. To enter the Orchid Garden, you need to pay a fee of $5. You can buy the tickets from the ticketing kiosk right outside the Orchid Garden.
It is Easy to Reach
Unlike the natural attractions in other cities, you do not have to travel for hours from the city center to reach the Singapore Botanic Gardens. In fact, it is located in the prime location of the city. The Singapore Botanic Gardens is just a 20-minutes-walk from Singapore’s Orchard Road. You can also reach the Botanic Gardens station via MRT or public buses. You can enter the garden through one of the 4 gates, namely Nassim Gate, Tanglin Gate, Bukit Timah Gate, and Tyersall Gate.
It has the National Orchid Garden
The star attraction of Singapore Botanic Gardens is the National Orchid Garden. Known as the world’s largest tropical orchid garden, this orchid garden is spread along several acres of land and hills. Here you will find more than 1000 species of orchids as well as over 2000 orchid hybrids. The Orchid Garden is divided into several sections, some of them include the VIP Orchid Garden, Tan Hoon Siang Mist House, and Tropical Montane Orchidetum. At the VIP Orchid Garden, you will see orchids and hybrids named after famous visiting dignitaries like Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, Margaret Thatcher, etc.
It is Home to Several Small Gardens
Apart from the Orchid Garden, the Singapore Botanic Gardens houses a variety of small gardens too. While exploring this place, you will get to visit Evolution Garden, Healing Garden, Fragrant Garden, Foliage Garden, Eco-Garden and Eco-Lake, Ethnobotany Garden, Palm Valley and Symphony Lake, Ginger Garden, Bonsai Garden, etc. It also has a botany center as well as a Heritage Museum and CDL Gallery. Keppel Discovery Wetlands, Botanical Art Gallery, COMO Adventure Grove, Minxin Foundation Rambler’s Ridge, E J H Corner House, etc. are some of the must-visit attractions here. The garden also has a tropical rainforest, which is older than the garden by several centuries.
You can Participate in Several Events
The Singapore Botanic Gardens is known to organize several events and exhibitions regularly. Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival is the most important event that happens here every year. Apart from this, you can also be part of musical concerts, guided tours, exhibition tours, etc. from time to time. Do not forget to check out the events calendar whenever you visit Singapore, as the Singapore Botanic Garden has something special for everyone throughout the year.
It has a Children’s Garden
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The Singapore Botanic Gardens is not all about plants and flowers. In fact, it has a children’s garden, where the little ones can learn about plants and also have a fun time. The Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden is based on the theme ‘Life on Earth Depends on Plants’. The main aim of this garden is to educate and ensure that children become interested in plants. Kids can be part of educational tutorials and multimedia exhibits where they can learn about plants. Apart from this, there is a play area with mazes, tree houses, slides, an orchard, a farm, and a forest as well where kids can have a gala time.
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
An important fact about the Singapore Botanic Gardens is that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Two specialties about this are that it is Singapore’s first UNESCO heritage site and the only tropical botanic garden in the world that has been given this honor. The Singapore Botanic Gardens was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 4’ 2015. The garden has also received Michelin’s 3-star rating in 2008.
It is Open All Day!
The best part about Singapore Botanic Gardens is that it is open all day. The park opens at 5 in the morning and closes at midnight. So, anyone who wants to enjoy an early morning picnic or a late night stroll can visit this beautiful park. You can visit this park for your daily dose of exercise too. Moreover, it is an apt place to organize get-togethers, birthday parties, picnics, etc. You can also enjoy some delicious food and drinks at the numerous Singapore Botanic Gardens restaurants and cafes.
Conclusion
This is just a gist of the reasons for visiting Singapore Botanic Gardens. If you want to take a break from the crowd and noise of the city and want to enjoy some peaceful time amongst beautiful trees, plants, and flowers, there is no better place than the Singapore Botanic Gardens for the same. Another place in Singapore where you can be one with nature is the Gardens by the Bay Nature Park.