Singapore River: Flowing Quietly Through Time

The Singapore River is a small river, whose flowing waters are witness to great history. On the mouth of the river was the old Port of Singapore, around which a small fishing village slowly transformed itself into a glitzy nation-state and an idea, which the world knows as Singapore. In the early years of Singapore, this port was a centre of finance, trade and commerce, and the river bears a silent witness to that happening period. Around this river, the first immigrants of Singapore eked out their meager living. Their toil created the edifice of today’s glamorous Singapore

The river flows from the central zone of the southern region of Singapore and eventually drains itself into the large ocean. The immediate upper portion of the watershed is known as the Singapore River Planning Area. The northernmost part of this watershed is the River Valley. The central region is the business area, and all the land enclosing this area is commercial.

This eleven-kilometer long river beginning from its source and merging into the ocean, is a spectacular sight for the visitors. Singapore River still serves as the lifeblood of the densely populated Singapore’s Central Business District. Sir Stamford Raffles initially landed on the north bank of the Singapore River and here only he founded his colony, which went on to take the shape of Singapore. Today, one can find many buildings of central government here in this area. The legacy of Raffles continues and so does the Singapore river…