The best places to visit in Singapore

Singapore
An exotic melting pot of cultures, this city of skyscrapers and forests, it is said that this island and the animal that inspired its name which happens to the be Lion was discovered in 1299 by Sumatran Prince Sang Nila Utama who gave it the name 'Singapura' meaning Lion City. Since then this nation has grown to be among the highest-visited destinations both in Southeast Asia and worldwide as people come to experience its cultures, food, enclaves and above all the attractions that make up this country


  1. Singapore River
    This river is not just an estuary that flows into the ocean between the Indian Ocean and the South China sea, it is where Singapore’s history began in the late 13th Century when the island was discovered by Sumatran Prince Sang Nila Utama. Upon coming up the river and entering the surrounding forests, he saw what he thought to be a Lion and since then, the Lion has become synonymous with Singapore



    - Merlion
    A representation of Singapore’s history as a fishing village and the animal seen by Sang Nila Utama that was thought to have inspired Singapore’s name, this giant half-Lion half-fish animal which pours water from his mouth into the sea is a guardian of the Singapore River and one of the most recognizable icons throughout Singapore. In addition, there is also a smaller Merlion behind



    - Cavenagh Bridge
    One of the oldest bridges in Singapore, this is also the country’s only suspension bridge that is present in its original form. Originally known as the Edinburgh Bridge for the Duke of Edinburgh during British rule in Singapore, its name was changed to Cavenagh Bridge in honour of Major General Orefeur Cavenagh the last India-appointed Governor of the Straits Stettlements (British Terretories of which Singapore was among) who governed from 1859 to 1867. A notable symbol of the bridge is a Lion icon



    - Bumboat Ride
    More of an activity, a boat ride on the river is both a cruise and a way to think back to Singapore’s history, particularly that of statesman and governor Stamford Raffles who was part of the East India Company and discovered the island in 1819 making it part of the British Empire. His post in the nation established it as modern Singapore and it attracted trading ports from all around the world, particularly from China and India, both of whose people have made up the majority of the population today





    - Dragonboat Race
    This event takes place in June each year on the neighbouring Marina Bay. Participants from all over Asia compete with Singapore in a boat race involving boats which are designed like dragons. After the winning celebrations, more are followed with dragon and Lion dancing and a band playing their music







  2. Singapore City
    Where once ginger and nutmeg grew, today thanks to British influence which is still present, Singapore thrives as a modern metropolis that develops at a rapid pace from jungle to world city in only 200 years


    - Cricket Club
    This is one of the premier sports and social clubs in Singapore which was established in 1837. Over years the club has had three clubhouse buildings on the Padang. Today the SCC has over 3, 000 members. Cricket, rugby, football and field hockey are played on the Padang and the club also has facilities for squash, tennis, lawn bowls, billiards and snooker


    - Parliament House
    Built between 1995 and 1999, the Parliament House is instantly recognizable for representing and housing the Parliament of Singapore One way to note what it stands for is the appearance of the Coat of Arms which was unveiled in 1959 and is a shield containing the flag of Singapore which is adorned by a Lion and a Tiger


    - Orchard Road
    Located in the city’s Central Area, this is the most elegant and important shopping street, an upscale shopping centre where department stores and boutiques mingle with street vendors and flower sellers even malls. Notable shops include the Palais Renaissance, Ngee Ann City, Plaza Singapura Far East Plaza and Orchard Point


    - Raffles Hotel
    Named after Sir Stamford Raffles and is regarded as ‘The grand old lady of the East’. It was reopened in the early 1990s after extensive renovation. Exquisite jewellery shops and bars as well as a large peaceful inner courtyard enrich the old yet noble hotel décor that treated dukes, kings and presidents to its hospitality. The Ashanti bar is where for years it has been customary to throw peanut shells onto the floor and it is also popular for the Singapore Sling



    - Orchid Garden
    A large number of blossoms make up this garden and as its name suggests, it is well-known for its orchids. An air humidity of 80% is ideal for these plants Japanese koi a kind of fish are found in the gardens’ pond and can be watched and fed in addition to observing the flowers




  3. Singapore Zoo
    Probably the best zoo in the world with a successful breeding and conservation programme, this zoo is the first ‘open zoo’ in that animals such as Orangutans, Tigers and Lions do not feel confined or caged yet are meant to feel like they are in their natural environment because their environment is surrounded by a landscaped ditch thanks to cleverly designed viewing and living areas that blend in perfectly with the tropical vegetation


    - Wild Africa
    This section of the zoo is devoted to the wildlife of Kenya, and Southern Africa such as Lions, white rhinos and zebras. Antelope species here include springbok, eland and nyala while meerkats as in the wild are always attentive. Apart from viewing the animals, there are also elements that represent the cultures of Southern and East Africa and information on Africa’s Big Five, Elephant, Lion, Buffalo, Leopard and Rhinoceros



    - Cat Country
    Wild Africa beginning with the Lion exhibit directly flows into this part of the Zoo which as its name suggests is representative of the wild cats of the world namely leopards and jaguars which are told apart from size and spots



    - Fragile Forest
    Representing rainforests around the world, this section of the Zoo houses birds and mammals as well as reptiles and insects who are adapted to a tropical environment



    - Elephants of Asia
    Where one can observe and feed elephants that come from Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Sumatra



    - Treetops Trail
    Replicating a rainforest habitat, Treetops Trail showcases animals at different layers of a forest. Animals of all species great and small are found together, as they would in the wild



    - Tiger Trek
    Represents the lord of the jungle, the tiger, in this case the white tiger which is a white variant of the Bengal tiger



    - Primate Kingdom
    Where primates need not be king of the jungle to rule their own kingdom



    - Frozen Tundra
    Modelling the frozen sprawl of the Arctic in the North Pole

  4. Chinatown
    Representative of those Chinese who emigrated here in 1819 and those who have remained here have made Singapore their home, making Singapore is the only place in the world out of China where ethnic Chinese constitute a majority of the population


    - Sri Mariamman Temple
    The oldest Hindu Temple in Singapore devoted to the Goddess Mariamman as well as the Hindu God Vishnu



  5. Little India
    Embodiment of those Indians who migrated here and whose descendants have lived here since making Indians Singapore’s third largest ethnic group. Everything here brings to mind the sight, sound and sense of the Indian Subcontinent

  6. Chinese Gardens
    An insight into Chinese and Japanese culture such as the star signs of the Zodiac and legendary Chinese figures such as Confucius

  7. Sentosa
    The first theme park in Singapore


    - Merlion (no longer active as of 2019)
    The half-Lion half-fish icon of Singapore that once proudly stood to guard Sentosa


    - Images of Singapore
    Showcases the history and culture of Singapore


    - Secret Scented Garden
    Exotic smells in an wonderful garden


    - Fantasy Island (no longer active as of 2001)
    A waterpark that once was the highest-visited attraction in Singapore


    - Siloso Fort
    A fort that is a reminder of the history surrounding World War II in Singapore



    - Underwater World (no longer active as of 2016)
    An insight into the marine world


    - Musical Fountain (no longer active as of 2007)
    A watery wonder that represented the world of Sentosa







    The End


    1. Insight Guides Singapore

    2. DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Singapore Top 10

    3. Lonely Planet Pocketbook Singapore

    4. Lonely Planet Six Degrees Singapore

    5. Expoza Travel - Singapore

    6. Hunt for the Red Lion

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