Colorful sculptures and scenes depicting Chinese folklore, mythology and life activities fill the 3.2-hectare area of the Haw Par Villa theme park in Singapore. The good thing about visiting this place is that entrance is free. So if you are in Singapore on a shoestring budget, this is one attraction to consider.
I haven’t heard of this place before as it was not a common attraction when one visits Singapore. I was flying to Palembang, Indonesia and the flights going there gave me an opportunity for a 2-night stay in Singapore. As this was my third time in the Lion City, I asked Singaporean blogger, Bernard Tan, who was one of my 29 co-winners in the Kerala Blog Express Season 4, for other attractions in his country that I can explore. Haw Par Villa came up. I read his blog post about it and I was instantly curious.
Getting There
As budget travelers, we commuted going to Haw Par Villa. From Geylang, we rode bus 51 that took us through more than 40 stops before we got to Haw Par Villa. Located at 262 Pasir Panjang Road, the park is also accessible by MRT via the Circle Line (orange line) through the Haw Par Villa Station. Since our hotel was a few blocks from the MRT and the bus stop was nearer, we opted to take the bus instead to get us there. It was a long ride but we didn’t mind as it gave us the opportunity to see more of Singapore. You can take bus number 175, 176, or 589 to get there or you can ride bus number 10, 30, 30e, 51, 143, 188, or 200 that stops opposite the Haw Par Villa station.
Tiger Balm Gardens
This property was built in 1937 by Aw Boon Haw, the person responsible for Tiger Balm, the medical ointment most Asians are familiar with, for his younger brother Aw Boon Par. That is why the theme park was used to be known as the Tiger Balm Gardens. The name “Haw Par Villa” came from the names of the two brothers Haw and Par.
Attractions
The theme park is known for its Ten Courts of Hell, which we didn’t enter. Instead, we roamed around the other displays around the park.
At the entrance, the Main Archway bearing the name Haw Par Villa. The giant laughing Buddha came to view a few meters away. There were scenes that depicted Chinese mythology while there was a whole wall that projected vices and virtues. Some of the scenes were weird but because they are so colorful, they come in weird in an attractive way. There was also a portion of the mermaids, with real turtles in a man-made pool. There was a portion where statues of animals were on display. Somewhere in the park is a memorial for the parents of the Aw brothers.
Haw Par Villa is a place where you can see the Chinese influence on Singapore. Amidst the modern architecture and attractions, it’s a breath of fresh air, something off-the-beaten-path that not many tourists have yet discovered, and very ideal for cheap travels or backpacking.
OPENING HOURS:
9:00 am – 7:00pm (last entry 6:00 pm)
TEN COURTS OF HELL OPENING HOURS:
9:00 am – 6:00 pm (last entry 5:45 pm)
Open daily, including weekends and Public Holidays
HAW PAR VILLA MANAGEMENT OFFICE:
262 Pasir Panjang Road, Singapore 118 628
OFFICE HOURS:
9.00am-6.00pm, Monday to Friday.
Office is closed on weekends and public holidays
Telephone: 6773 0103
Email (For general enquiries): [email protected]
Email (For leasing opportunities): [email protected]
Website: https://www.hawparvilla.sg