THINGS TO DO IN SINGAPORE
Known as the Lion city, the Garden city and the Red dot, singapore is one of the most popular tourist destinations of South-East Asia. So if you’re thinking of a short holiday not too far from India? Look no further than Singapore – the dynamic city-state, a short flight away from all major cities in India. A heady combination of Chinese, Indian, Malay and Western influences, Singapore is truly a cultural melting pot. Delicious food, high street shopping, contemporary arts – find all this and more. Here’s a three day itinerary to experience the best of Singapore.
Book a direct flight to Singapore and try and get there early to make the most of your short vacation. Begin your holiday in Singapore’s cultural heart – Chinatown. Dotted with pagodas, mosques and shops, it is a bustling ethnic neighbourhood. You can take a walking tour of Chinatown or if your visit coincides with either the Singapore Heritage Festival or Mid Autumn Festival, you’ll have plenty to do. Shop for some ethnic products and artifacts here. Then, head to Kreta Ayer’s Food Street or to one of the trendy restaurants in Telok Ayer for lunch. Visit Orchard Road, Singapore’s shopping district, for high-end shopping in world-class malls housing multi-national brands.Orchard road gets it’s name from the all the surrounding orchards that existed during the 20th century. After rehabilitation, The Orchard Road is flanked by pedestrian shopping centres, upmarket cafes, coffee chains, nightclubs and hotels. It is also the official site of residence and office of the President of Singapore, The Istana.
Chinatown houses some of the most beautiful temples, cultural heritage buildings and monuments
Later in the evening, head to Singapore’s number one nightspot – the unique Night Safari; this is the world’s first wildlife park that you can visit at night. A guided tram ride takes you through 40 hectares of lush forests where you can see animals in their natural habitats of Human tropical rainforests that is only open at night.The park is divided into seven geographical zones, which can be explored via different means. If you prefer, you can go on a walking trail where you will come up close to leopards, badgers and civets. The Wallaby Trail is the newest addition to the Night Safari that takes you through the Australian outback to see some fascinating nocturnal animals.
At the Night Safari visitors have the opportunity to see the mystical White Tiger and other animals in their natural habitat
Day 2
Head out to explore the city’s Civic District with its imposing buildings housing the City Hall, the Parliament House and Supreme Court. The Padang Cricket Club is also worth a visit. Then, head to see one of Singapore’s most important landmarks – the Merlion statue in Merlion Park. The park was initially designed to act as an emblem of The Singapore Tourism Board. Take your picture with this mythical part lion, part fish creature. The picturesque Marina Bay with its long promenade, the Marina Bay City Gallery and the 101-hectare
The 101-hectare Gardens by the Bay offers amazing views of the Marina Bay skyline
Later, take a tour of Sentosa Island. The island has a 2-kilometre stretch of artificial, sheltered beach and plenty of attractions for all age groups. These include 4D Magix (a 4-dimensional theatre), the Songs of the Sea show, the Underwater World (an underground oceanarium also featuring scuba diving) and Dolphin Lagoon with daily ‘meet-the-dolphins’ sessions. The Tiger Sky Tower is worth a visit for its panoramic views as is the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom – an outdoor conservatory housing thousands of species of butterflies and insects. The Jewel Cable Car Ride that takes you from Sentosa Island to Mount Faber on the mainland is another highlight.
Ride the movies at Asia's only Hollywood theme park, Universal Studios in Sentosa Island
Day 3
Visit Asia’s only Hollywood theme park Universal Studios, and lose yourself in the magical world of movies. The state-of-the-art rides take you on a journey through Hollywood favourites including Shrek, Madagascar, Jurassic Park, Revenge of the Mummy, Transformers, Battlestar Galactica and many others. Stroll down Hollywood Boulevard and its Walk of Fame. With loads of restaurants and food courts to choose from, you will be spoilt for choice.
