The Highest Point in Singapore – Bukit Timah Hill
At 163 meters (534 feet), Bukit Timah Hill is the highest point in Singapore. That doesn’t seem very high as I write it but it sure felt high as I was climbing it! I blame it on the humidity. This was one of our first adventures in Singapore and this Arizona girl is still trying to get used to humidity levels of 90%!
It might also have been because we had just come out of our two-week quarantine and the highest climb I had done in the last few weeks was getting into bed!
Bukit Timah Hill is located within the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. As you climb, you’ll be passing through a rainforest of original vegetation thanks to the preservation of this site since 1883 when it became one of Singapore’s earliest forest reserves.
Bukit Timah is often listed as Singapore’s #1 hike and it was quite crowded when we arrived. There are two trails to the summit so we took the least crowded (and longest route to the top). The trail twisted and turned through the forest as it climbed up the hill. Stairs had been built throughout much of the trail but other parts were dirt interlaced with tree branches.
The trail joins back up to the main trail just below the summit. Here you have the choice of following the main, paved trail to the top or tackling the 200 meter (656 feet) staircase.
I expected that we would have a good view of Singapore at the top but there was too much vegetation. That is one of the things I am enjoying about these urban Singapore parks. When you are in them, you feel like you are in the middle of a jungle. But every once in awhile you get a glimpse through the trees of the skyscrapers just a mile or two away and you are reminded that you are in the middle of one of the world’s most populous cities. Singapore has done a great job of preserving nature and not allowing urban sprawl to take over these peaceful spaces.
As we made our way down the paved trail, we came upon a group of monkeys who live in the park.
Once down at the base, we decided to add Hindhede Nature Park to our day. The trail into this park starts from the Bukit Timah Visitor Center and is an easy hike for those who don’t want to tackle the hill up to the Bukit Timah Hill Summit.
The trail through Hindhede Nature Park is paved and has raised boardwalks, making it accessible to everyone.
These two short hikes are a great way to spend a day! Click here for directions to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
