Read this Singapore travelogue written by traveller Jayanthi Chandrasekaran and learn about her amazing experiences.
Singapore, though famed for its skyline of glass and steel, offers an equally compelling story in its green heart. Beyond the city’s bustle lie pockets of calm—parks and reservoirs that allow one to pause, breathe, and find rhythm in nature’s slower pace. My visit to four of the Nature parks (entry free), namely East Coast Park, MacRitchie Reservoir, Bukit Batok Nature Park and Pasir Ris Park, unfolded like four unique chapters in a story, yet bound by the same spirit of retreat.
East Coast Park was about five minutes by walk for me from my daughter’s home. Every morning, I looked forward to my walk in the park as it opens onto an expanse of sea (Singapore Strait) dotted with ships waiting to dock—a sight so uniquely Singaporean. The park itself is lined with swaying coconut palms and casuarina trees that cast dappled shade on winding cycling and jogging tracks. Along with walkers like me, skaters and cyclists weave smoothly along the dedicated lanes, while anglers stand patiently on jetties with fishing lines dipped into the water. Gazebos and benches line the walkway, facing the sea and providing convenient spots for people to rest and enjoy the view. East Coast Park’s sights capture both the energy and serenity of Singapore’s seaside charm, be it the sunrise painting the horizon in warm hues or the dark clouds of thunderstorm hanging over the waters.
Pasir Ris Park, meaning ‘white sand’ in Malay, is a gem on the north-eastern coast of Singapore. Compared to the East Coast, this park evokes a softer rhythm. True to its promise, the shoreline unfolds gently, devoid of the East Coast’s buzz. This beach park provides many family-friendly facilities in addition to a vast mangrove forest.
The boardwalk within the mangrove became the highlight of the day. As we stepped into its shaded walkway, surrounded by roots arching into muddy water, mudskippers darted, crabs scuttled sideways around the tangled roots out of the mud and herons poised gracefully.
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As it was a Sunday, many families brought their picnic baskets. Apart from the lush greenery, colourful flowers and the shady trees, the park also boasts of a bird watching tower, a kitchen garden and supports cycling, skating and so on. It was a clear day, and from the Pasir Ris Beach we could have a glimpse of Malaysia across the Johor Strait.
The Bukit Batok Nature Park is a site shaped by history and time. Once a granite quarry, it now breathes tranquillity. The first impression is one of stillness—the mirrored quarry pond reflects the cliffs dramatically towering above, their rugged outlines softened by creepers and ferns.
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Joggers passed with an easy familiarity, but we lingered at the World War II memorial, pondering over the coexistence of nature and memory. As we climbed the stairs to the viewing platform, we were rewarded with a sweeping vista of the park and city beyond—a reminder that in Singapore, nature always lies in conversation with urban life.
MacRitchie Reservoir at once feels like the beating heart of Singapore’s green belt. It’s the city’s oldest water catchment area and an emblem of how Singapore integrates utility with beauty. The boardwalk curves gently along the edge of the water, flanked on one side by dense greenery and on the other by calm waters.
Every few steps offered new discoveries: monitor lizards basking lazily, dragonflies darting above lotus blooms, and playful macaques watching with curious eyes. The highlight is the ‘Tree Top Walk’, on a bridge suspended between two towers which sways slightly as we walk across, high above the canopy. From up there, layer upon layer of rainforest stretching endlessly is a feast to the eyes and a reminder that Singapore is still a jungle island at heart.
In essence, Singapore’s true beauty lies not only in its architecture and efficiency, but in its ability to let nature breathe alongside its people.
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