City: Bukit Merah
Top Things to do in Bukit Merah
Top 8 Architectural Buildings in Bukit Merah, Singapore
The Singapore cityscape looks like it was ripped from the pages of a science fiction comic book. If you’re hungry for a true Singapore experience, sample the myriad street foods or take a cultural cooking class. The Botanic Gardens and the Gardens By the Bay offer a slice of horticultural heaven, and the observation deck of the Sands SkyPark makes you feel like you’re high above the clouds. The banks and walkways along the Singapore River bustle with local activity.
Restaurants in Singapore
1. Blair Plain Conservation Area
2. NUS Baba House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 117 reviews
NUS Baba House is a heritage house which exhibits the Straits Chinese material culture in a domestic context, providing the unique experience of visiting a Straits Chinese family home dating back to the early 20th century. It facilitates research and learning about the history, culture and evolution of the Peranakan community, as well as architectural traditions, urban changes and conservation efforts in Singapore. The gallery on the third floor hosts temporary exhibitions encouraging discourses on cultural encounters, hybridity and their contemporary implications in Singapore and beyond. - English Heritage Tours Tuesday – Friday, 10am - Mandarin Heritage Tour : First Monday of each month, 10am Self-guided Visit: Saturday, 1.30pm / 2.15pm / 3.15pm / 4pm
Reviewed By katjak109 - Singapore, Singapore
I have been living in Singapore for a while now, but only recently managed to visit NUS Baba House. One of the reasons why I had put it off was that guided tours are only taking place during the week, when I am at work. However, I would highly recommend it also on a self-guided visit during the weekend like I ended up going to in the end. The house is beautifully restored bringing Peranakan heritage to life in its original setting. Even if the visit is self-guided, a short introduction will be given and several volunteer stewards are stationed around the house to answer questions. Actually the one piece of advice I would give is: do ask questions! We learnt so much about the house, the inhabitants and what life was like in a Peranakan household by talking to them. The volunteers were super knowledgeable and had so many interesting stories to share. A big thank you to them!
3. Wat Ananda Metyarama
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Wat Ananda Metyarama is the oldest Theravada Buddhist tradition Temple in Singapore. The founder of Wat Ananda Metyarama is Venerable Luang Phor Hong Dhammaratano (Phra Dhammaratano Bandit). He came to Singapore in 1920 with his disciple, Samanera Boonler. Upon noticing that there is no Theravada temple in Singapore at that time, they aspired to build one.
Reviewed By Krubee - Singapore, Singapore
Wat Ananda Metyarama is the oldest and first Thai Buddhist temple in Singapore following Theravada Buddhism. Built in 1920 and located along Jalan Bukit Merah Road situated on top of a small hill it is my holy place to pray, make merits, retreat and meditate to enlighten my spirits and free myself of stress and problems in the presence of Lord Buddha. The temple is distinguishable along Jalan Bukit Merah road on an elevated small hill with its Golden Pagoda and Red pointed roofs. An elegant traditional Thai temple staircase made of red tiles where two Green Naga Serpents are guarding both sides of the stairs. Different colors of crystals also adorn the stairs. There are 2 ways to enter the temple - via the stairs or via the vehicle driveway. If you don't have a car via the stairs is recommended and it's also a very holistic experience entering this way by foot. Half-way through the stairs you would see 2 Golden Angels or Thepphanom praying and facing towards the gate stairs. They also serve a guardians and protector of the temple. As you reach the gate you would see a beautiful mural depicting the life of Lord Buddha. And as you made your way up to your left you could see 3 Buddha statues: A small Grey stone Japanese Buddha, a leaning and seating White Chinese Lady Buddha. You have to go to the driveway for vehicles before you enter the main temple. Because of the current pandemic, QR code check-in is a must and temperature checks are required upon you enter. Once cleared the attendant will put a small dot sticker in your top clothes. A Golden Chinese Buddha is placed right at the center of the main entrance and on its sides are the incense for offerings and small fire lamps to lit them up. Behind is the entrance to the main altar both left and right. The monks are seating at the right entrance to give prayers and receive offerings. On your left is the entrance in the main alter. Before entering you must leave your footwear just before the steps. The main temple is very beautiful showcasing traditional Thai temple altars. The floor is wood with a huge red carpet at the centers. The walls including the ceiling depict murals of Buddha and his path to enlightenment. At the center lies the huge Golden statue of seating Lord Buddha as well as a couple of smaller standing statues mostly in Gold as well in standing and praying positions. There are also 2 Lotus flower lamp holders place on each side in front of the altar. Offering of flowers, candles and other gifts are placed in front just below the altar. There is an offering box as well on the left side below the altar and you could get free water as well. Safe distancing markers are placed in the floors where you could kneel and pray. If you would like to receive blessings from the monk as well as make offerings you could get a red packets place near the doors and offer to the monk by placing on the Golden plate. The monk will then provide his blessings and prayers to you. You need to fall in line in case several worshipers are there. In front of the main temple between the doors is a statue of the its founding monk. If you would like to make flower offerings, buy souvenirs or make offering there is a small store just to the left of the main entrance. I usually buy 2 Jasmine garlands one for offering and the other one to bring back home. To the right of the temple grounds lies the statue of seating Golden Four Faced Buddha with each representing different good merits for Health & Family, Good luck, Business and Education. Enclosed in Glass with Ornate Decor and surrounded by golden coloured grilled fences. 1 Lady Buddha and 1 more Buddha statues are placed in their own altars just further right of the Four faced Buddha. The temple grounds is also a columbarium and a monastery too. Truly, I felt very blessed and lucky to be able to visit, pray, make merits, reflect and meditate on this Holy Ground.
4. Tiong Bahru Estate
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 100 reviews
Reviewed By Kim025Singapore - Singapore, Singapore
The best way to have the Tiong Bahru experience is to do the self-guided Tiong Bahru Heritage Trail which consists of ten markers with detailed explanation. Marker No 3 along Outram Road shows the site of the graves of Tan Tock Seng, Chua Seah Neo (daughter-in-law) and Wuing Neo (grand daughter-in-law). Marker No 5 is the Monkey God Temple and the trustees of the Temple claim that this was the first temple in Singapore dedicated to the worship of the Monkey God. Marker No 9 is the site of the horse-shoe block at Blk 78 Moh Guan Terrace. There is also a pre-war air raid shelter at Blk 78. Access to this shelter can be done only with certain guided tour. Marker No 10 in front of Blk 33 describes the unique design of Tiong Bahru flats. Some features include the five-foot ways, back lanes, spiral staircase, the shophouses and kitchen airwell. Although the SIT flats in Tiong Bahru was meant to be a mass public housing project to alleviate the overcrowding problem in Chinatown, it did not happen as rents in TB cost about $18-$25 a month while that in Chinatown cost only between $3-$6 a month. Hence just like the present days, Tiong Bahru became a residential estate for the affluent and professional classes. Marker No 6 highlights the architecture of Tiong Bahru and the marker is situated at Sit Wah Road. Blk 81 and 82 along Tiong Poh Road are known as "aeroplane flats" because they look like the wings of an aeroplane. Tiong Bahru's pre-war flats were built in a modified form of a style called Streamline Moderne. Tiong Bahru market and Food centre are also well-known for the numerous famous stalls which provide delicious food in a well-ventilated environment at affordable price on the second level. The market at level 1 is also a very pleasant place to browse around as there are so many variety of stalls and most vegetables and fruits are so attractively packaged. I also bought arabica coffee beans from the coffee stall. There are many pork stalls too. There are also many popular F&B outlets here such as Loo's curry rice and Tiong Bahru Bakery. Glaicier cafe at Blk 55 sells local kuehs and pastry. There are a few Yip Yew Cheong's murals depicting lives in the sixties and seventies. A walk here enables one to use all the senses to see, taste etc.
5. Mesjid Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim
6. Tanjong Pagar Railway Station
7. College of Medicine Building
Overall Ratings
3.0 based on 7 reviews
Presently the Ministry of Health, the College of Medicine was opened in 1926 to teach western medicine, largely through the endowments of wealthy local merchants. Its grand facade features twelve heavy fluted Doric columns with eleven enormous doors behind them. High up on the walls to the left and right of the colonnade are bas-reliefs that symbolise healing, while a sculptured Roman eagle surmounts the central doorway. In restoration work between 1985 and 1987, a grand staircase was added to the main lobby.
8. Sana Gallery
Asia's Only Contemporary Middle Eastern Art Gallery, featuring new images and ideas about the region.
