Trip to Singapore - 4 : Southern Ridges Nature Trail

13 September 2015

The southern ridges consist of 9 Km beautiful track that offers splendid views of Singapore and nature. This place is again not so famous among tourists but being a nature lover who loves to walk in open and green spaces to breathe some fresh air, I was very much attracted towards it.

There are various small nature trails interconnected by bridges each having identity of their own but still they are called as Southern ridges.

Below route that starts with Marang trail and terminates at West coast park. It passes through numerous famous places in sequence below:

Marang Trail à Mount Faber Parkà Henderson waves àHilltop walkàForest walkàAlexandra Archà Hort parkàKent ridge park.

Sequence that I covered as part of my walk is as below (took me 2 hours to cover below 4-5 km track at leisure pace) :

 Marang Trail à Mount Faber Parkà Henderson waves àForest walkàAlexandra Arch

The Marang Trail obtained its name from 

the Marang fruit, more commonly 

known as Johey Oak

There are many entry and exit points. Most famous entry is either through Marang trail or directly starting from Mount Faber Park if you are not interested in taking too many stairs ( Marang to Mount Faber consists of only .8 km but with elevation of 70m) and ending your journey at Alexandra Arch passing through Henderson waves and beautiful forest walk.

I started my trail from Marang trail which is simply exit ‘D’ from Harbour Front MRT station. This trail is less than 1 Km and should take you to an elevation of 70 meters (equivalent of a 24-storey building) at top of Mount Faber which is 2^nd highest point in Singapore. It is bit difficult and I was sweating profusely when I reached at the top but the views were worth it. Cable car was starting from this point to take you to Sentosa Insland. But today I was on my mission of visiting southern ridges. 

This sudden elevation is the reason that many people booked cab till Mount Faber and starts their walk from this place.

View of Cable cars on their way to Sentosa Island Via Harbour Cable point

Mount Faber Park. Very Clean. Cars and Tourist
Buses were quite frequent on this track. It has
dedicated shaded place for peddlers.

After capturing some panoramic views and continue my path, I reached Henderson waves, structure not to be missed.

Me posing at Henderson Waves

Various small tracks of Southern ridges and their distinct identity

 It’s the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore         and constructed in wave like fashion.           It would be difficult for me to further describe it in words so sharing its pictures. Wave forms will be lit from 7 pm -2am every day and looks magnificent. 

View of the city from Henderson Bridge

Continuing on my path and saw numerous paths going in different directions with proper signboards however at 1 or 2 places they were missing so I had to wait until I saw some joggers to inquire the route to forest walk. It was quite easy.

I was very excited once the Forest walk started. It looks amazing. It consists of 1.3 km track of crisscross metallic structure that offers you an unique experience of walking through the forest at a height of 3 to 18 meters from ground. It was descend for me so I didn’t feel tired. This part of the route I enjoyed most and covered with very easily.

1 point to note that I saw most of the people going in opposite direction and it looks to me that that path is also quite famous among locals. Then there is Alexandra Arch that connects to the HortPark but as this point, I took exit and begin to wait for bus for my Hotel at Orchard Road. Lighting hours for Alexandra Arch are  7 pm – 12 am daily when LED lights keep on changing and keep you spellbound.

Alexandra Arch

It is at this location famous B-school SP Jain Institute of management is located having main branch at Mumbai.

I took this exit from Alexandra Arch to take Bus
 from SP Jain School of management.

Finally, I can say this trail is not as difficult as MacRitchie trail and offers numerous entry and exit points. People can directly come by Cab to see the Henderson waves.

Finally, when I completed this track I started dreaming of covering this trail in a rainy season with carrying umbrella and thought how beautiful it will be. Thought not the entire track, but Forest walk is pretty much safe in a rainy season. Also, Forest walk is lighted from 7 pm – 12 am & 5 am – 7 am daily. Seeing this , I came to know this place is more famous for evening and night time walks as compared to morning walks.

This place is worth and every nature lover must visit this to experience bliss especially in a densely populated urban jungle of Singapore.

Also, Henderson waves and Alexandra Arch along with the Forest walk were selected for the competition to seek the best concepts for bridges. Being at such places, one can imagine cultivating greenery and nature is a culture and if people really want they can create gardens and nature friendly places anywhere. Shortage of space is not an excuse for the government to shy away from developing the parks. This is 1 important lesson that every country should learn from Singapore.

  

For the more information refer the below site literally having all the details one wants to refer before beginning his trail: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/

If you like to read about my other blog on MacRitchie trail, refer here

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Trip to Mruguvani National park : Hyderabad

Recently, I visited Mruguvani National Park on my route back to Hyderabad from ChilkurBalajitemple. We have completed the Darshan and Parikrama at ChilkurBalaji temple by 7:30 and reached here at 8:15am after having our breakfast. 

We, me and my wife, had started really early from our Home at around 5:30 in Kondapur in Activa to Chilkur Balaji. I also came to know that Mruguvni national park also located there so, I thought to visit it also.

This board is at the entry of the park

Let me state some facts about myself before reviewing this place and upset your mood about visiting this place:

·    

• I am a nature lover, loves travelling and also kept the theme of the blog as Travelogues
• Understands that travelers are generally not very demanding instead they are flexible
• Not much is required by any destination to impress the traveler; travelers are impressed by the sheer simplicity and differences of any place

Having said all this, still I would not recommend this place to anyone unless you are a nature lover and serious Bird watcher of very topnotch quality. The point I am trying to make is that do not plan specifically for this park but you can always visit this while coming from ChilkurBalaji. I am sharing some pictures of this park which are really beautiful but can be deceptive also.

The first disappointment was that Park open at 9am which is very late by any measure for such parks.Not only this, as we entered the park, we came to know that most of the forest area is closed by the forest officials and the only area available to walk is even far far less than what is available in any city park in/outside your apartment. To give you an idea, its area is even smaller than public area of Botanical garden of the Hyderabad. 

One can enter in forest area through Safari bus which was not working from last 6 months which we came to know from some of the other enthusiasts roaming in the park. However, when I asked the management about Why Safari bus in not in operation, one old guy gives me different excuse. He told me that driver was on leave that day due to some personnel emergency. They can easily get away with such excuses when they know that same person will not come here again.

Beautiful painting at the entrance of the Museum

After roaming and enjoying the nature for half an hour, we went back to Museum but it was still closed. Watching us standing there, 1 person came and opened the lock. 

Right now, this place is serving the interests of few photographers and bloggers only who love outdoor activities and Bird watching. However, the huge potential of this park to attract the tourists can’t be ignored but this place is very badly managed. When we were leaving at 10 am, I saw some young couples entering in. I bet that this park is not even good for love making.

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