This was the first time when Akshat & I were hosting our friends for 8 days in Singapore. While we definitely wanted them to do the usual stuff such as Universal Studios, Gardens By the Bay, Marina bay Sands Casino etc etc.; we also wanted to show them the real non-touristic Singapore. Chinese Garden, located in Western Singapore, is a very unique landmark in Singapore. It is filled with tranquility and serenity and represents Singapore in an entirely different light. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, this garden is a beautiful blend of Chinese imperial style of architecture, nicely carved landscapes and lush green nature. It offers various activities in addition to its picturesque topography. As you walk into the gardens and cross the bridge, you will be welcomed in a passage that is nicely decorated and leads to ‘Live Turtle & Tortoise Museum’. The entrance to the observatory costs SGD 5 per person and the food for tortoise is SGD 2. The museum is a home to very rare species of tortoise and turtles. Few large ones are kept in tanks but you will find many friendly ones which are swimming in the pond and walking around freely. You can feed and hold some of these turtles. They are super cute and you can enjoy playing with them. You can also see over 4000 artifacts of turtles and tortoises on your way out of the museum. It’s a very charming, intimate and very passionately maintained museum and I highly recommend a visit here. Wait, there is more! You can also climb to the top of the seven-storey pagoda for lovely view of the Jurong Lake and the surroundings. Further ahead as you walk towards the Japanese Garden, you can admire the large bonsai collection housed within a traditional Suzhou style courtyard. The timings of this bonsai garden is from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Spotted Komodo Dragon!
As you walk little further from the bonsai garden, you will be entering into the adjoining garden popularly known as Japanese Gardens. As the name rightly points out, the garden features arched bridges in Japanese style, rock waterfalls, colorful flowers and small ponds that are very distinctive from Chinese Gardens. It was a great time out from the urban lifestyle of Singapore. While we got a chance to see the quieter side of these gardens, the most recommended time is the Chinese New Year (Feb) and Mid-Autumn Festival (Sep) when the gardens are beautifully lit in red lampshades. Don’t forget to include this in your “Must See Attractions in Singapore!” It is definitely worth it!
Which is your favorite garden? What do you like most about it? Share it here…
