The Gardens by the Bay

You stand at the bottom of the lush green mountain. Focusing on the water drops from the waterfall hitting your face, you feel cool in the humid climate. You could be in the middle of a jungle in the tropics after hiking for a day to get here. But you aren’t and you haven’t walked very far. Instead you are in an enclosed building in one of the worlds most famous cities. This is part of the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore and we were here for the day to take it all in.

History of the Gardens

In 2006, Singapore had a vision, an idea to change from a large urban hub into what they termed as a “City in a Garden”. The dream was to enhance the quality of life of residents by increasing the flora and fauna of the city. It was also envisaged that this would become the primary outdoor recreational space and a national icon of Singapore. After receiving 70 entries and exhibiting the two winning entries in the Botanical Gardens the project was started in 2007.

The first phase was completed in 2011, and the second phase which is the largest section opened in 2012. The second phase which is called Bay South Gardens was where we spent our day and is home to the conservatories and the Supertree Grove.

The Cloud Forest

Our first port of call was the giant structure of the Cloud Forest. Walking in you know this is not just an ordinary building or plant display. In front of you is a 42m high mountain covered with vegetation that usually lives in altitudes between 1,000m and 3,000m in the outside world. Gushing down the side of the mountain is a 35m high waterfall, the highest indoor waterfall in the world.

The Cloud Walk

Above you is the Cloud Walk which takes you around the outside of the mountain on your way back down. But first you want to get to the top. You can either take the elevator if you are not suited to walking, or go through the various sections on the way up. If walking take a few moments at each of the sculptures placed around the area to admire them.

The Lost World

At the top is the Lost World. This houses plants typically found at 2,000m above sea level. Here there is a display of carnivorous plants such as pitcher plants and the Venus flycatcher. Some of the plants have magnifying glasses beside them so you can view them in detail. There are also some displays done from Lego or re-enactments of the civilizations that call these places home.

Making your way down from the Cloud Walk you can access the Tree Top Walk where you can get close to the canopy of the trees. It may be a little un-nerving looking down at the people below from your suspended platform but the fear soon goes when you start focusing on the plant life around you.

You will then come to the Crystal Mountain where you can learn a little about how the earth makes crystals and go on to the Cloud Forest Theatre and Gallery.

The Flower Dome

The Flower Dome is home to plants that enjoy the dry and semi-arid climates, for example the Mediterranean. There are a number of displays here including Olive Grove, Californian Garden, Mediterranean Garden, Australian Garden, and South African Garden.

At a higher level is a section holding Baobabs and cacti. Personally my favorite was the cacti garden. With so many varieties in one place they just looked incredible.

As we were leaving we came across an area which was done in a Japanese style and had cherry blossoms and miniature Japanese garden displays in viewing cases. These were really well done and you could spend a long time just admiring the skill and craftsmanship that went into making them.

The Supertree Grove

The Supertree Grove is not just artistic but also very functional. The ‘trees’ are fitted with technology that mimics the actual function of real trees such as air intake and exhaust, water collection, etc. Ranging from 25m to 50m tall, they are surrounded by a 128m long elevated walkway so you can get a good view of the gardens.

At night between 1945 and 2045 the Garden Rhapsody kicks in. This is a light and music show and really brings the grove into life!

What Else is in the Gardens?

Apart from the above you can spend many more hours in the Gardens. There are also various outdoor gardens such as the Serene Garden based on a Japanese Yen Garden, or the Heritage Gardens which are based on Singapore’s history and culture. If you have kids they can be kept occupied at the Far East Organization Children’s Garden.

For food and snacks there are plenty of food halls, cafes, and restaurants in the area.

Conclusion

The Gardens by the Bay are one of Singapore’s most visited attractions and it’s easy to see why. They are not only a thing of immense beauty but also an incredible feat of engineering and architecture. With so much to see you will be kept busy here for many hours. It may take a toll on your legs afterwards but the feeling of tranquility and peacefulness you get from being immersed in the plants and vegetation is worth it! If you have even one day to spare in Singapore, definitely visit the Gardens by the Bay!

 

– Information if you are planning this activity

Website for The Gardens by the Bay: https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en.html
Cost: S$28 for the conservatories, S$20 for the Floral Fantasy, and S$8 for the skyway.
When to do: The Gardens are open from 0900 to 2100 daily all year round.
Duration of activity: If doing the full gardens plus the walkway it’s best to set aside a full afternoon and part of the evening.
What to bring with you: Nothing required but remember to bring water as the humidity can be high. 
Location: For the location in Google Maps please click here.

Our Singapore Travel Guide

• For our Singapore Travel Guide with information for people looking to travel to Singapore please click here.