Famed as one of the most modern countries in Asia, Singapore in not known for great monuments that date back several hundred years. Highly urbanized, even its original rainforest environment is hard to find. But the small island nation is dotted with landmarks that tell a unique story about how Singapore came to be the way it is now.
Although known to be occupied since the 2nd century AD, Singapore rose to the attention of the world when trade across the Malacca strait began to prosper. Previously a remote outpost of the Sultanate of Johor, the East India Company and Britain took over in the early 1800s. The true history of Singapore begins here. Its population came to be an eclectic mix of many Asian ethnicities, arriving for plantation work, trade or brought by the British for service of the Straits Settlements. The Second World War saw it come under Japanese occupation, but Singapore remained a British colony until independence. The sites that tell this story are marked with a blue plaque by the National Heritage Board.
As Singaporeans only started to build long lasting buildings after the arrival of the British, most historic sites show the colonial times of the country. But one natural monument is the Batu Berlayar or Dragon’ s Teeth Gate, a granite outcrop that used to be a beacon for ships sailing into the Keppel Harbour. Colonial locations like the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club, the Raffles Institution, and the Cathay-Lord Mountabatten’s office, bring a charm of a forgotten time to life and pay tribute to those who created the city. Religious sites like the Central Sikh Temple – built for Punjabi members of the British defence forces, the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd – of French Roman Catholic heritage, and the Ban Siew San Temple with dragon sculptures and an ornate roof, are fine testaments to the cultural variation that is seen in Singapore.
World War II was a hard time for this country, and its monuments remember the soldiers who fought bravely and fiercely to defend Singapore. Machine gun pillboxes set up for the defence of Pasir Panjang Ridge and Kranji War Memorial commemorates the battles between the invading Japanese and the colonial forces, aided by many local volunteers.
These quaint locations offer a way to understand a nation that is fast moving into the future. As one of ‘Asia’s four tigers’ in economics, it still welcomes travellers of trade. Your stay in a serviced residence Singapore city will feel less like a visit and more like home, which makes it a great alternative to hotels. Business and family travellers can enjoy the convenience of a hotel and the privacy of home in Riverdale Residence Singapore. Their stylish yet comfortable interiors make them a good choice from the short stay apartments Singapore offers.
