Enter an enchanting garden in bloom

Whether you are a nature lover or someone with a curious mind, a visit to Singapore’s iconic Gardens by the Bay should set you up for an educative and colorful experience. It is where you can see the plant kingdom in a whole new light.  And there is no better place to start than the Flower Dome.

Welcome to Garden of Wonder

Gardens by the Bay is a stunning nature park, spread over 101 hectares of reclaimed land right in the heart of Singapore, right next to the equally famous Marina Bay Waterfront.

Whether it is spectacular architecture, innovative horticulture practices, or environmentally sustainable design, Gardens by the Bay offers plenty for those who are willing to spend some time exploring this lush green park. With so much effort, it has been winning pundits over while earning awards too.

With themed gardens from different regions of the world, several climates and habitats are showcased in its cooled conservatories. No wonder it has been drawing tourists and locals alike since opening its doors to the public in 2012.

Your complete guide to Gardens by the Bay

This blog focuses on the Flower Dome, one of many attractions at Gardens by the Bay. However, if you want a more comprehensive guide to all the attractions, you can read the full blog here.

You can also read individual blog posts on each of the attractions, including the mesmeric Floral Fantasy, the stunning Cloud Forest, the suspended OCBC Skyway and iconic Supertree Grove and Observatory, and the Garden Rhapsody Light and Sound Show.

You can also check out the timing and ticket prices for each of the conservatories and shows, at the Gardens by the Bay website which has all the information to help you plan your trip.

Mesmerize your senses

It is the largest of the three cooled conservatories. It has 3,332 glass panels across an area of 1.28 hectares. It is home to several exotic plants and flowers from the Mediterranean and semi-arid subtropical regions across all five continents, including magnolias, orchids, and olive trees that date back more than a thousand years. And in 2015, it entered the Guinness Book of Records for being the largest greenhouse in the world. This is the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore.

What strikes you immediately after you have walked in from the tropical outdoors is the chill. We can thank the dome’s unique climate control system that allows for this unique microclimate that can sustain a range of flora in a cool and dry environment. Once you have let your body acclimatize to the sudden dip in temperature, the next thing you notice are various flowers imaginatively decorated. Mesmeric is the word that comes to mind.

On an interesting note, while walking through this dome, you might suddenly realize that there are no columns at all. This is to ensure that there are no shadows that can bring down the temperatures inside the conservatory, thereby affecting the natural habitat. How cool is that?

Step into wonderland

Once you are done with the photo-ops, then proceed to discover this floral wonderland. The Flower Dome is spread across different gardens and has over 100,000 varieties of flowers and orchids. Never mind if Botany was never your strong subject back in high school. Take your time and explore the walkways on the ground, go under the tree canopies, and discover a condensed version of our world through its many plants and flowers in their natural habitat. What amazes me is the amount of meticulous attention that has gone into recreating this dome.

There are also many sculptures spread throughout Flower Dome. However, there is one that will pique your interest. It is imaginatively titled “La Famille De Voyageurs” by an artist named Bruno Catalano and shows a family with their travel bags. The Travelling Family is a gift from Changi Airport and is meant to convey a sense of belonging, a feeling of having left a bit of oneself behind while moving on with lots of beautiful memories.

And yes, do keep an eye out for the various animal sculptures, peering at you from behind a tree.

Your getaway to another world starts here

Gardens by the Bay is located at 18 Marine Garden Drive, Singapore 018953. Thanks to its central location, in the heart of the city, and its proximity to the Marina Bay Sands resort and the Central Business District area, it can be easily reached by various modes of public transportation.

However, I found it most convenient to hop onto Singapore’s super-efficient MRT system. It is one of the best forms of public transport I have used in this city. Once you get off at Bayfront Station, look for signs directing you to Gardens by the Bay. Brace yourself, it is quite a long walk, and depending on how you pace yourself, should take about 10 minutes. As for those of you keeping track of your daily count of steps, smile at yourself and march on. Once you reach the end, walk down a flight of stairs, and you will have reached Gardens by the Bay.

While it is open on all days of the week, check for specific timing, depending on which day you plan on visiting. You can visit the official Flower Dome page to know more about opening hours, ticket prices, things to do, and lots more.