Things To Do In Katong
What Are the Best Things to Do in Katong?
If you ever decide to step away from Singapore’s busy cities, Katong is an excellent, pleasant area. Sure, it doesn’t house the country’s known attractions, but it has a charming atmosphere and many things to do for a small neighborhood. Moreover, it’s a unique location filled with many historical buildings. With that in mind, here are some of the things you should do when you visit Katong:
Have Fun Outdoors in East Coast Park
East Coast Park extends along the shoreline for kilometers. It’s an excellent, relaxing place to visit if you’re looking to get away from the town’s hubs. You can go for a run, rent a bicycle, or walk along its well-built pathways.
It has many cafes along the way that you can stop at to enjoy the view of the Singapore Straits. You can also do many other activities, from hosting barbecues and picnic tables by the coast to visiting the children’s playground.
Keep in mind that this place does get somewhat busy over the weekends, especially on Sundays. It’s open at all times, and it’s free of charge, except for the stores you can find in it.
Visit the Sri Sepnaga Vinayagar Temple
This temple is dedicated to Vinayagar (also known as Ganesha,) one of the best-known deities in the Hindi pantheon. It’s an attraction you can’t miss if you ever visit Katong.
The history dates back to 1850 when people found a statue of this deity by a pond near the site. It was lying next to a Champak tree, which stands for Senpaga in Tamil. This is what gave the place its name.
You can notice how gorgeously decorated the temple is from the road. It has two large Dwarapalakas standing nine feet tall that serve as the entrance’s guardians. Visiting the Vinayagar temple at any moment during the day may instill in you a sense of calmness and peace.
This temple has numerous unique characteristics. It has an ornate entrance tower (Gopuram) that takes after the Chola dynasty’s architecture. The roof lets you see both the Gopuram and the Vinayagar statue. Moreover, it houses the largest gold-covered Vimanam in Singapore.
Eurasian Heritage Center
One of the smallest yet earliest communities in Singapore is the Eurasian people. This heritage center delves into their history and culture in three different galleries. They are significantly informative and leave you with an excellent understanding of the community. The galleries are “Roots of Our Community,” “The Eurasian Showcase,” and “World War II – The Eurasian Story.”
You can learn about the origins, language, different celebrations, traditional music, and dancing of the Eurasian people there. If you’re a cultural history buff, visiting the Eurasian Heritage Center is one of the best things you can do. Afterward, you can enjoy some cultural food from the local restaurant there. It opens from Tuesday to Sunday between 9 am and 6 pm and is free of charge.
Katong Antique House
If you enjoy looking at beautiful antiques, you might enjoy this place. However, you can only visit it with an appointment. Peter Wee, a fourth-generation Peranakan, runs the store. He’s one of Singapore’s leading authorities in its culture. When you visit, he offers excellent insights into the Peranakan culture and others that also influenced him.
After you finish your walkthrough, you can enjoy a tasty collection of Peranakan food sold in front of the house. Moreover, if you like collecting cultural items, there’s a collection of antiques and books available. The fee is SGD $15 per person, but it can vary.
Why Outdoor Adventure
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- Experience: Locavit liberioris possedit
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- Guide Experience: Spectent tonitrua mutastis
What You Get
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- Private Hike: Locavit liberioris possedit
- Transportation: Diremit mundi mare undae
- Great Facilities: Spectent tonitrua mutastis