With its beautiful blend of modern infrastructure, lush green spaces, and tree-lined streets, Singapore is a dynamic metropolis offering travelers a wide choice of activities and original experiences. One of the must-sees during a stay in this city-state is a visit to its botanical garden, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Located in the heart of Singapore, the 74-hectare botanical garden are home to over 10,000 species of tropical plants and flowers. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 4, 2015, it is the only tropical garden in the world to be honored with this title.

Brief History 

The Botanic Garden was founded on its present site in 1869 by the Singapore Agricultural and Horticultural Society. Since then, it has been a vital center for plant science, research and conservation, particularly in connection with rubber plantations in Southeast Asia since 1875. 

The garden houses a large number of exotic plants, trees and flowers, as well as colorful birds and insects. This immense space is divided into different sections, the main ones being the National Orchid Garden, the Rainforest, and the Jacob Ballas Children's Garden.

Unique Features

The "National Orchid Garden" section has been part of the Singapore Botanic Gardens since 1859, and currently boasts 1,000 species of this flower and 2,000 hybrids. The adjacent Ginger Garden offers over 250 plant species.

The "tropical rainforest" is one of the few remaining remnants of the country's original jungle and boasts over 300 plant species. The tallest trees are around 50 meters high and have grown here even before Singapore's modern foundation.

Finally, the "Jacob Ballas Children's Garden" section is Asia's first garden dedicated to children. It offers a space for exploration, adventure and play, where children can deepen their knowledge of plant ecology and the environment through discovery and fun activities. 

Cultural Significance 

Today, the garden also provides botanical and horticultural support for the nation's greening plans, and consists of a research center for plant taxonomy (*) and biodiversity.

For an in-depth discovery of Singapore's immense beauty, the botanical garden offer a glimpse into its rich history and colorful heritage.

Note:

(*) Taxonomy is a branch of the natural sciences concerned with the study of the diversity of the living world. It involves describing and defining living organisms in terms of species, and organizing them into hierarchical categories called taxa.