MacRitchie Reservoir Park, previously known as Thomson reservoir is Singapore’s oldest reservoir. It has an interesting history behind its establishment. It was the donation of the philanthropist Tan Kim Seng that helped in its establishment. The park is a 12 hectare land which is a popular spot for nature lovers and sports enthusiasts. It is an ideal place for recreational activities as it offers bird watching, hiking and water sports activities by renting canoes or kayaks. You can also just go for a morning or an evening stroll in the park to refresh your mind and rejuvenate your body.
About MacRitchie Reservoir Park
Earlier most of the Singapore was covered by forest lands. This changed after the British establishment as the need for freshwater grew and they began clearing out substantial amounts of the forest. The British however failed to supply the fresh water.
It was tan Kim Seng’s donation that led people to move ahead with this plan but unfortunately due to poor skills of planning the money was insufficient. Finally after a lot of struggles the reservoir was constructed and this eventually led to halt in deforestation around the reservoir.
During the WWII, the Japanese army built a Shinto Shrine in the middle of the park. But when the British reclaimed Singapore, it was demolished. Now the ruins of the Shrine remain but visitors are asked not to reach them and instead follow the trail created for them during their hikes.
Nature Reserve Opening Hours: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
TreeTop Walk Opening Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 9am-5pm; Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays: 8.30am-5pm
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How To Reach MacRitchie Reservoir Park
MacRitchie reservoir park is located on 181 Lornie road. To reach the park by public transit you can take busses numbered 855, 852, 167, 166, 165, 162M, 162, 157, 156, 132, 130, 93, 74 and 52, to 980, where they would drop you at the bus stop which is nearest to the park – 51071. You can either take the Circle Line to Caldecott MRT and from there walk for ten – minutes to reach your destination. These routes lead you to the main entrance and also the interesting points of the park. Otherwise there are several other entrances you can enter through.
The closest train station to the park is Marymount, approximately 1 km away. You can either choose to walk for 10 minutes or take a bus numbered as 855, 852, 165, 74 or 52 to get to the park from Marymount MRT Station.
The park also has a green two – storey car parking lot where you can park your vehicle too.
The Changi airport of Singapore is roughly 23.5 kms away from the MacRitchie reservoir park. You can either reach directly from the airport to the park via a rental vehicle or you can go to the MRT station and from there reach the park via train.
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Things To Do In MacRitchie Reservoir Park
1. Bird watching
The park is also a bird sanctuary and you can enjoy seeing all the different varieties of birds. Bird watching is no doubt one of the best things to do in this nature park. Of all the things, a camera is something you cannot forget to carry to this place.
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2. Tree top walking
Going to a forest reserve or a park, we walk on the ground weaving through the herbs and shrubs and looking up at the canopy of tall trees. But what if the trees are beneath your walking level? This is what tree top walks at the reservoir are. It is a unique experience. You can rejoice walking on a suspension bridge that is 250 metres long spanning from Bukit Peirce to Bukit Kalan, the two highest points in MacRitchie Park. At the bridge’s highest point, it is approximately as high as seven stories above the forest floor.
3. Hiking
Hiking trails of 3.2 km and 4.8 km are available and are usually used in cross –country meets. Each day a maximum of 100 persons are allowed for the hike. If the quota is reached for the day then you will have to opt for another day. So, making prior reservations would be the best option.
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4. Water sports
You can rent paddles, kayaks and canoes if you are interested in water sports. There is also a designated area for beginners and another area for experienced paddlers in this gorgeous place to visit in Singapore.
5. The macaques of Lower Peirce
The long tailed macaques are a feature of the MacRitchie Reservoir Park. It is known that macaques are very similar to us humans. They live in a complex social network with kin, friends and foes just like us. You can register for a walk where you can learn more interesting parts about the macaques.
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6. Walking trail
This is a 11 km trail where you walk to take in the lush beauty around you. No maps are required as you have to follow the map boards and directions notified on your trail.
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Places To Stay In MacRitchie Reservoir Park
- MacRitchie reservoir park doesn’t offer place for stay for tourists. But there are 5 star hotels nearby MacRitchie.
- Oasia Hotel Novena located in the Novena district provides direct basement access to Novena MRT station. It is 2.9 kms away from MacRitchie reservoir.
- Days Hotel by Wyndham Singapore At Zhongshan Park is also located in the Novena district and is 2.5 kms away from MacRitchie reservoir. Apart from this it is also surrounded by a retail mall and restaurants.
- Ramada by Wyndham Singapore At Zhongshan Park is located 2.3 kms away from MacRitchie reservoir. It is a 10 – minute walk away from Novena Medical Hub .It also has amenities such as an outdoor swimming pool, a gym and a shopping mall within the same building.
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Singapore is more than just a sophisticated modern city. Singapore actually originated from all the forests and wilderness. And this has been beautifully preserved as various parks, especially the MacRitchie Reservoir Park, which is the oldest in the city.
So, don’t think much and plan your trip to Singapore with Tips Clear right away for an experience of a lifetime!
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