Centrally located and dating back almost 160 years, the Singapore Botanic Gardens serve many important functions, writes David Bowden
IF a list were compiled on the most popular and visited travel sites and destinations around the globe, it would closely match the United Nation’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) list of World Heritage Sites.
The idea for the Unesco list began back in 1954 when nations around the globe pooled their resources to relocate the Egyptian temples of Abu Simbel and Philae, which were going to be lost to the world through the flooding of the Aswan High Dam.
Funds raised globally enabled archaeologists to relocate the temples, stone by stone and the idea to protect other culturally significant sites around the globe was hatched.
In the ensuing years, universally significant natural and cultural sites (and mixed sites -- those that have cultural and natural significance) were added and the Unesco World Heritage List evolved to now include 1,073 sites and I must admit, it has become my travel reference -- my theory being, if it’s good enough for Unesco, it’s good enough for me.
SINGAPORE SITE
On my last trip south, my initial thoughts were that forasmall island state like Singapore with its short history, it was inconceivable that it should have something of universal significance.
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I consulted the Unesco list to discover that the Singapore Botanic Gardens were on the list but it was the island state’s only listing (there are no historic streetscapes like Duxton Hill or Katong on the list).
Thinking about this, it made sense as the gardens have significance not only to the locals but also the many visitors who travel to Singapore. In the urban expanse of Singapore (one of the most urbanised countries in the world), this green lung serves many important functions.
SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS
The gardens are centrally located just beyond the western extremity of the Orchard Road retail and commercial precinct.
The 74-hectare gardens date back almost 160 years and are valuable for research, scientific experimentation, conservation, education and recreation. What started out as a ‘pleasure garden’
has developed into one of the world’s most respected botanic gardens with rubber seedlings having been first grown here back in 1877.
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While the original seeds came from SouthAmerica via Kew Gardens in London, they were nurtured here and disseminated around the region.
These early plantings contributed to one of Asia’s most valuable cash crops and could have been the source for the first rubber trees to be introduced into Malaysia (there is some conjecture as to whether Malaysia’s oldest rubber tree planted in Kuala Kangsar at the same time as the Singapore gardens was planted from a seed that came direct from the Kew Gardens or via Singapore).
Singapore Botanic Gardens are also home to gingers, palms, cycads and bromeliads. Tan Hoon Siang Mist House contains rare orchids and cultural artefacts of the country of origin of the respective orchids.
Visitors can admire Singapore’s national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim in the National Orchid Garden which covers three hectares and contains over 60,000 specimens from 1,000 species.
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This is considered the world’s largest collection of tropical orchids with 2,000 hybrids having been developed here (one of the latest hybrids is named after the Duke and Duchess of Cornwell who recently visited).
One of the lakes in the gardens, Swan Lake,has a resident family of Black Swans and is a great place to relax and watch these graceful birds that hail from Western Australia.
The Tanglin Core area has historic structures such as a bandstand, sculptures and heritage trees. The octagonal bandstand dates back to when bandmusic was played here for those strolling through the gardens.
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One of the great attractions of the botanic gardens is that they are not entirely there for the benefit of tourists as the locals regularly use the park for many varied functions such as relaxing, exercising or even practising tai chi and there are various facilities from a Visitors’ Centre, restaurant, children’s garden and shop.
The gardens are open daily from 5am to midnight; National Orchid Garden opens from 8.30am to
7pm (entry to the gardens are free but there is a small charge for the Orchid Garden).
NOVOTEL ON STEVENS ROAD
So once the decision was made to spend an extended period in the gardens, the next decision is to choose a base for my explorations.
The decision is made easier as Accor recently opened Singapore’s latest integrated lifestyle hub,
Novotel Singapore on Stevens and Mercure Singapore on Stevens.
The two-hotel complex features 772 guest rooms, 14 dining outlets, two pools, tennis court and a function space to accommodate 500 guests.
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Strategically located not far from Orchard Road, the two hotels offer guests a range of gastronomic delights, health, fitness and lifestyle options in the precinct close to the city’s best shopping and entertainment, conveniently accessible via the hotel’s shuttle service.
This hotel development combines two hotel brands within one as it provides two different types of accommodation at different price points and in relaxing surroundings.
Featuring 254 guest rooms, Novotel Singapore on Stevens offers three dining outlets: L’Aperitif Tapas Bar (signature cocktails and European and Asian tapas), Food Exchange (Thai, Indian, European and Singaporean cuisine) and for a refreshing drink by the pool, the Novotel Infinity Pool Bar.
Infused with local design and inspiration, the 518-room Mercure Singapore on Stevens is home to a gourmet cafe called Fudebar (serving superfoods, including healthy salads, sandwiches and artisanal coffees), while Winestone Restaurant offers Mediterranean food and a wide range of international wines.
The complex also features a series of pods housing an additional nine dining outlets where local and international cuisines from around the world are available. Thehotels are just a10-minute bus ride to the Botanic Gardens with directions and bus numbers provided by the hotel’s concierge.
FAST FACTS
NOVOTEL ON STEVENS
28, Stevens Road
Singapore 257 878
TEL +65 6491 6100
WEBSITEwww.novotelsingapore-stevens.com/
SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS
1 Cluny Road
Singapore 259 569
TEL 1800 471 7300
EMAILnparks_sbg_visitor_
WEBSITEwww.sbg.org.sg
HOURS8.30am-5pm