Haw Par Villa - Singapore
Haw Par Villa is a theme park located along Pasir Panjang Road in Singapore. The park contains over 1,000 statues and 150 giant dioramas depicting scenes from Chinese mythology, folklore, legends, history, and illustrations of various aspects of Confucianism.
Haw Par Villa - formerly known as the Tiger Balm Garden – is an 8.5-hectare Asian cultural park, the last of its kind in the world. Built in 1937, Singapore’s largest outdoor art gallery is the brainchild of Aw Boon Haw, millionaire philanthropist and marketing extraordinaire who gifted the world Tiger Balm. The eclectic park is a treasure trove of Asian culture, history, philosophy and religion – quirky yet enlightening at the same time. Since 2015, it has managed Journeys Pte Ltd, an award-winning heritage specialist passionate in preserving and bringing the heritage gem to greater heights.
Haw Par Villa is a culture park of Asia. Formerly renowned as Tiger Balm Garden; Haw Par Villa is a treasure trove encompassing culture, philosophy, religion and historical significance of Asia. This place is well-known as the most extensive outdoor gallery in Singapore to be claimed as the last of its kind creativity. Dating back to 1937, Haw Par Villa reflects minute aspects of Chinese mythology.
People visit here with their children to inculcate a sense of proper conduct and Chinese morality. You can be a part of either their Daily tour or Weekly Twilight Tour to explore the Villa entirely. Your entry into the Haw Par Villa shall be from the main gate which lies in the direction of Haw Par Villa MRT Station. As soon as you step in through the entrance of the Haw Par Villa, there’s a red brick road leading through a majestic archway.
The main attraction of Haw Par Villa is the Ten Courts of Hell, which is known to possess spiritual significance. As you keep on moving through these ten courts of hell, you need to be careful about your children as some places might be a little creepy for them. Besides the ten courts, Haw Par Villa has around 1000 statues lined across its 150 dioramas. The most significant of all the dioramas illustrates the White Snake Legend’s story, which in turn reflects one of the four great folktales from China.
Another small diorama presents an old lady breastfeeding from another woman who is younger to her. This wonder reflects the deep passion of Boon Haw for Chinese mythology and culture. Moving ahead, there are statues of giant crabs, an armed monkey brilliantly carved with a human face. You have tigers, dragons and leopards lurking all set in one corner while the rolling caves and hills at the other end.
All of them combine to evoke a great reflection and contemplation of Chinese mythology and its greatness. Elsewhere in the park, you will find a random distribution of the replicas of giant lobsters, goats, pandas, crab lady, and gorillas. Entrance Archway, Madam White Snake, Sumo Wrestlers, Jade House, Garuda, Statue of Liberty, Eight Immortals, Signature Pond, Pagoda Pond are some of the chief attractions here.
Their prime facilities are Haw Par Villa Visitors Centre, Vending Machine, Fish Feed Section, Toilet, Carpark, Bus Stop, and Train Station. In the end, do not forget to visit the memorials as there are only four of them – Parent’s Memorial, Aw Boon Par Memorial, Aw Hoe Memorial, and Aw Boon Haw Memorial. To sum it up, Haw Par Villa offers a great blend of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist concepts which perfectly depicts sin, hell, and finally the punishments. This is no less than a scary theme park, yet it is worthy of bringing in your children here for all the honest depictions.
The origins of Haw Par Villa
Located on a hill in Pasir Panjang, Haw Par Villa was once known as Tiger Balm Gardens. Lovingly built by Myanmar-born businessman Aw Boon Haw for his brother, Aw Boon Par, the park was named after the Tiger Balm medical ointment that the siblings’ father had created.
Following its construction in 1937, the grounds of the villa were opened to the public, reflecting Boon Haw’s deep passion for Chinese culture and mythology. Boon Haw personally supervised the artisans who created many of the park's original fixtures, in the hope that the park’s depiction of traditional virtues would provide moral guidance to the public.
When war broke out, the Aw family fled Singapore for Yangon (then known as Rangoon). The park was used as an observation point by the Japanese army, and it was only in the post-war years that Aw Boon Haw returned to Singapore, and began to rebuild the park.
From the 1940s to the 1970s, many members of the Aw family contributed to the park’s development. This included Boon Par’s son, Aw Cheng Chye, who made various additions to the park’s dioramas. His passion for travel led to the establishment of the park’s International Corners, which pay tribute to the cultures of the many countries he visited.
The space began to take its modern form in 1985, when the Singapore Tourism Board took over the management of the grounds, and began revitalisation work on the space. The park’s dynamic evolution continues to this current day.
Modern Tours, Ancient Traditions
While personal exploration of Haw Par Villa is rewarding in its own right, those looking to delve deep into the stories of Haw Par Villa should consider taking the tours provided by the park.
Culture lovers should check out ‘Finding Your Tao In Haw Par Villa: The Tiger Balm Garden Story’. The tour weaves the history of the park with the intriguing stories of Chinese folklore and philosophy. Alternatively, bold seekers of knowledge should pay a visit to Haw Par Villa at twilight, with ‘Journeys To Hell - Death And Afterlife in Haw Par Villa’. This tour focuses on the dioramas depicting the infamous Ten Courts of Hell, and will prove to be both riveting and revelatory.
Welcome to hell
The main attraction of the park is of course the ten courts of Hell. Enter the cave guarded by the grim and ominous ox-headed and horse-faced hell guards from Chinese mythology and take a not-so-relaxing stroll in the Underground. The concept of hell – and most of the exhibits in the park – is based on a combination of Buddhist, Taoist and Chinese beliefs and traditions.
Each court of hell is ruled by a judge, collectively known as the Ten Yama Kings and each level deals with a different punishment and also a different aspect of atonement. Just a heads up, it's not a very pretty sight. Gruesome tortures, bloody bodies and dim lighting add on to the experience of walking through this cave.
Haw Par Villa’s Ten Courts of Hell
The main attraction at Haw Par Villa (and the reason for the park’s infamous reputation) is the gruesome Ten Courts of Hell. In Chinese mythology, after a person passes away they arrive in the First Court of Hell. Here, King Qinguang looks at each person’s past deeds. If they are deemed virtuous, or at least their good deeds outweigh their crimes, they are led to paradise. However, those who are deemed evil doers are sent to the Mirror of Retribution and then punished in the relevant Court. This is where the nightmarish statues begin.
The Second Court punishes evil crimes such as stealing and gambling, by freezing people into blocks of ice. Children in Singapore seem to be amused by the notion, but there’s more to come. As you pass the Sixth Court of Hell, you’ll hear parents explaining to their children that cheating on their school exams or cursing is punishable by being thrown on a tree of knives.
By the Ninth Court of Hell when the children are thoroughly disturbed, they learn that participating in any other unlawful conduct not previously stated will result in having one’s head and arms chopped off. The laws and punishments in the Ten Courts are upheld by Hu Fa Shi Zhe, a greenish monster with immense eyes who can control ghosts and devils. Each of the courts depicts him carrying out the various punishments to hapless evildoers.
Haw Par Villa’s dioramas
There is more to Haw Par Villa than the Courts of Hell, however, as the park has over 1,000 statues set up across its dioramas. There’s a large diorama illustrating the Legend of the White Snake, one of China’s Four Great Folktales which depicts the story of a young boy who accidentally takes pills giving him immortality and upon throwing them up in the sea, forever intertwines his life with the snake who eats them and adds 500 years to his life.
Another smaller diorama (albeit still life-sized), shows a grandmother breastfeeding from a younger woman which is inspired by a myth about filial piety, wherein a young woman looks after her aged great-grandmother-in-law for many years and on her deathbed demands: “I want all the sons and grandsons and their wives to be as filial and respectful as this daughter-in-law has been.”
The truth is, we’ve barely scratched the surface for all of the wonders at Haw Par Villa. Luckily, admission to the park is free so you can go more than once to truly enhance your moral education as the Haw brothers had hoped.
Events at Haw Par Villa
Haw Par Villa keeps on scheduling different competitions and activities for entertainment and engagement of their visitors. Ninebots Experience is one of these events to introduce you to the mysterious world of Eclectic Cultural Park. For corporate bonding and school groups, you have something called ‘Journey to the End and Back Escape Game.’ This event will be full of riddles and puzzles distributed throughout the park. Outdoor sunset yoga, Tai Chi sessions, Kombi Van Rides, Urban Sketchers, and Vintage Carnival are some of the critical features of Haw Par Villa Fiesta.
If you desire for some creative food and music, head towards the Noise Invasion Festival. Signature Pond, Experimental Music Workshop, Face Painting, and the Great Wall of Art are some of the key attractions here. Besides, there are many live concerts and performances scheduled by the Haw Par Villa officials. Feast Zones and Art Market are yet other worthy events to be a part of. Also, do not forget to keep track of their different workshops to boost your creativity and feed your desires.
Attractions at Haw Par Villa
Haw Par Villa is bundled with heaps of attractions. Here is what you are going to witness at the Haw Par Villa:
1. The Main Archway:
As soon as you step in at the main entrance of Haw Par Villa, there’s a red brick road with a majestic archway. People capture some architectural beauty of this archway to collate memories of Haw Par Villa
2. Laughing Buddha:
As you move further, there’s a big laughing buddha statue towards your first left, which forms the primary attraction of this place. It is in the sitting posture and has great spiritual importance in Chinese culture.
3. Sumo Wrestlers:
Moving ahead, you can witness two sumo wrestlers in wrestling position and ready to beat each other and win the competition.
4. Mermaids:
Next, you have mermaid exhibits which might be interesting for your children to learn about them.
5. Ten Courts of Hell:
Although last to appear, Ten Courts of Hell is the vital attraction of Haw Par Villa. Every court here has got some significance underlying its contribution in the afterlife phase.
6. Horse Face and Ox-Head:
These two are considered to be the guardian of the Ten Courts of Hell. Both of them have a human body; however, the Horse Face owes a face of the horse while the Ox-head owes the head of an Ox. According to Chinese mythology, these two are the first beings which a human soul encounters on its journey in the afterlife.
Besides those mentioned above, Hell’s Museum, 5-storey Pagoda, Sun Wukong, Vices & Virtues, and Memorial are other attractions here.
Tours & Programmes at Haw Par Villa
1. Tours: Haw Par Villa organizes two different tours – Day tours and exclusive evening tours.
- Day tours: Finding your Tao in Haw Par Villa and Cultured Leopard, Rising Tiger are two-day tours here. The first one allows you to explore culture, religion, history, and philosophy of Asia. This tour lasts for an hour and will cost you around 10 Singapore Dollars per adult and 5 Singapore Dollar per child. The second tour is Cultured Leopard, Rising Tiger. This tour lasts for around 2. 5 hours and will cost you around 25 Singapore dollars per adult and 12.50 Singapore dollars per child.
- Exclusive Evening Tour: Journey to Hell is a unique evening tour organized at the Haw Par Villa. It introduces you with the concepts of death, and what happens after it. This tour will last for around 2 hours and will cost you around 20 Singapore dollars per adult and 10 Singapore dollars per child.
2. Team Bonding Program: The Great Haw Par Villa Heritage Race is an exclusive program celebrated here at the Haw Par Villa. Here, you can challenge, talk, or quiz your fellow companions to win the race against you. One racing event will last for a duration of around 2 to 2.5 hours.
Things to Do near Haw Par Villa
1. West Coast Park
Keep children of all ages busy on some of the best play equipment in Singapore. The park, on the southwest coast of the island, also boasts jogging and cycling trails, bird watching, fitness equipment, a dog run, barbecue pits and overnight camping. Open fields are popular for kite flying and pick-up soccer matches. All three car parks are easily accessible from West Coast Highway. Bus service is also available.
The National Orchid Garden listed on the World Heritage site list of UNESCO is located on the uppermost hill in the Botanical gardens of Singapore. The Garden houses more than 2000 varieties of hybrids and species residing here. It has a beautiful display of flowers extremely well-kept and spread over 8 acres and divided into 4 separate colour zones.
This national park is open daily and features beautiful lakes, animals, flowers and plants, including one of the region's first rubber tree orchards.
4. Gardens by the Bay
An integral part of Singapore's "City in a Garden" vision, Gardens by the Bay spans a total of 101 hectares of prime land at the heart of Singapore's new downtown - Marina Bay. Comprising three waterfront gardens - Bay South, Bay East and Bay Central - Gardens by the Bay will be a showcase of horticulture and garden artistry that will bring the world of plants to Singapore and present Singapore to the World.
5. Natureland Holland Village
Natureland Holland Village is an award winning Massage and Spa centre in Singapore. Experience true massage and therapy when you visit our outlet.
Hotels near Haw Par Villa
1. K2 Guest House:
K2 guest house is the best place to stay when it comes to customer satisfaction and affordability. Rooms here are quite spacious, with an attached bathroom and essential amenities.
2. Fragrance Hotel:
This is an outlet of economy hotel chains of Singapore. Their quality and affordable services and accommodation rate them amongst the budget hotels in town. Through their official website, you can check the availability of their hotel rooms during your visit to Singapore.
3. Park Hotel Alexandra:
To accommodate yourself here, you need to visit the backdrop of the Southern Ridges. They have a fully-equipped fitness center to ensure that you do not run out of your exercising schedule during your Singapore visit.
4. Santa Grand:
Santa Grand Hotel in Singapore promises you a luxurious stay at affordable pricing. Accommodating yourself here secures both your comfort and convenience. They do have their online room booking facility and a section wherein you can browse through their different offers.
5. Park Avenue Rochester:
This hotel is all over surrounded by lush green beauty to soothe you perfectly during your tiring hours. The pubs and café’s here are especially adored by all the visitors landing here. You can choose amongst their vast array of rooms – superior rooms, deluxe rooms, executive deluxe, executive premier, and two-bedroom suite. Like others, they do have promotional offers scheduled occasionally.
Restaurants near Haw Par Villa
1. Ju Shin Jung:
Ju Shin Jung is a Korean restaurant wherein you can opt for one out of the three menus – West or Guillemard or Robertson Walk Menu. Korean Style Charcoal Barbeque is their top-rated local delicacies.
2. The Wild Restaurant:
This restaurant serves fish, chips, burgers, and chicken wings. Burgers sold here are rated to be the best in town.
3. Michael’s Bar & Grill:
This restaurant is open on all seven days of the week. You can take unique advantage of their gift cards and have your favorite local delicacies and cuisines. Michael’s Bar & Grill also offers catering services. In case you have any celebration lined up during your visit to the Haw Par Villa, plan your catering here.
4. Hooha Restaurant & Café:
If your stomach craves for some mouth-watering fast food such as burgers, pasta or pizza head towards the Hooha Restaurant & Café. It’s the best of all fast food points in town. Nuggets, appetizers, garlic bread, and soups are some of the key dishes being served here.
Essential Information
Location: 262 Pasir Panjang Rd, Singapore 118628
Timings: Haw Par Villa opens sharp at 09:00 am in the morning and closes down by 10:00 pm at night.
If you are desperate to visit the Ten Courts of Hell, you need to walk in between 09:00 am to 06:00 pm.
Tips for Visiting Haw Par Villa
There are no admission fees to enter the Haw Par Villa. However, you need to pay a nominal fee to enter the Ten Courts of Hell. Also, there are charges for Daily Tour and Weekly Twilight Tour which you need to be aware of.
If you want, you can hire a tour guide to be with you throughout your entire journey through the Haw Par Villa.
You can book Haw Par Villa in case you need a venue for any events or celebrations.
As Haw Par Villa is an open-air park, prefer to wear comfortable walking shoes.
Haw Par Villa is dog-friendly. However, you need to lease your dogs. Muzzling of big dogs is mandatory as it will help the officials to ensure the safety of other visitors.
You can inquire about the guided tours, great reads, and general information at the Haw Par Villa’s Visitors Centre.
Haw Par Villa provides you with many facilities such as vending machines, toilets, train station, bus stop, car parking facility, and fish feed sections.
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