Haw Par Villa: great and amusing for the adults, slightly more
traumatising for the children. We take a hike in this oddball of a
place.
Attractions in Singapore are aplenty
from architectural gems to heritage monuments but if you
like something offbeat and slightly less touristy, Haw Par Villa
is your kind of place. Away from the crowds of Chinatown or Orchard Road, this
technicolour park sits on the West Coast of Singapore and known for
its statues and dioramas depicting scenes from legends and myths
that combines elements of Buddhism, Taoism, Chinese history and
mythology – the most famous being the 10 Courts of Hell. Think
Disneyland but a little bit heavier on the morals and conscience
aspect.
The villa was originally built in 1937
on the sprawling grounds of a magnificent villa by the sea by
entrepreneur and philanthropist Aw Boon Haw (whose name means
‘Gentle Tiger’). He’s perhaps best known for introducing the
topical ointment Tiger Balm to the world, for his younger brother,
Aw Boon Par (‘Gentle Leopard’). After the death of his younger
brother, Boon Haw demolished the villa. Their names are the first
you’ll see when you walk in the gates of the park – flanked with
statues of a tiger and leopard.
The Gentle Tiger and Gentle Leopard welcome
you to their glorious park. Photography: Delfina Utomo
The version we see today is a deviated
version of the original garden. After demolishing the house the
whole site was eventually passed on to the Singapore Tourism Board,
which expanded the park, added rides and made it a ticketed
attraction for the first time. But interest for the place decreased
and the tourists waned and once again it fell to
disrepair.
Even after the makeover, there are still
remnants of the old grounds, which are fenced and out of bounds for
visitors. With an MRT station of its own next to it, the park still
pulls its share of tourists and curious sorts today.
If you find yourself at this park, it’s
probably because of things you’ve heard and pictures you might have
seen of the terrifying, yet campy 10 Courts of Hell. Got a unruly
and undisciplined child you need to scare? That gentle reading of
Dante’s Inferno won’t do. Well known for being the place many
Singaporean children got dragged to to scare them out of being
naughty and even thinking of doing something naughty, the 10 Courts
of Hell exhibit is the main attraction of the park.
Warmest welcome… to hell. Photography:
Delfina Utomo
“I was brought here by my aunt as a
punishment. So imagine walking through the Gates of Hell as a kid
whose only crime was being hella cute with a hint of
mischievousness. Needless to say, it was a unique way of learning a
lesson (or two).”
Cam Khalid,
Lifestyle Writer
The ox-headed and horse-faced Hell Guards
greet you Photography Delfina Utomo
“My family’s idea of a family day out
was… Haw Par Villa. I was five when I first visited Haw Par Villa –
there were entry fees and all! As a kid, I couldn’t really register
what Haw Par Villa was and felt very confused at the giant statues
and how weird they were and all the things happening in the Courts
of Hell. It wasn’t fear, just a lot of confusion for me!”
Darissa Lee, Photographer
No biggie, just some sinners drowning in
the Filthy Blood Pond. Photography: Delfina Utomo
“It’s been 20 years since I went to Haw
Par Villa and I remember how meh I was about the Courts of Hell and
everything else in the park. I mean, I get why some parents might
use it as an opportunity to discipline a kid but it really is such
a strange park…”
Jacp Fong,
Account Director
Only Justice Bao can judge me. Photography:
Delfina Utomo
As an adult making my first visit to
this outlandish theme park of sorts, I was fascinated with the
macabre and camp factor of the exhibit. There’s a place in hell for
everyone, basically – it’s very specific – from tax evaders and
exam cheaters to tomb raiders (sorry Lara Croft) and ‘money lenders
who charge exorbitant rates’ (all the banks, watch out). While my
moral conscience was still intact, I admit that the end of the
tunnel was a welcoming sight.
And when it’s not focused on the
gruesome ways you’ll suffer in hell, the other statues and fixtures
in the park are worth checking out too. From vices and virtues of
Buddhism to various animals (koalas, seals, rats and snakes) with
strange expressions, and even mermaids (which are actually part of
Chinese mythology from 4 BC!), it was an enlightening experience to
stroll around the park.
Maybe just don’t go on your own, and in the scorching heat. Even
for someone who has never been before, I felt nostalgic for a place
I never got to experience in its time, in its glory
days.
The colours a repainted regularly for that
technicolor sheen that intrigues people Photography: Delfina
Utomo
Pagodas and buddha statues are plenty.
Photography: Delfina Utomo
Another odd find in the Vices and VIrtues
segment. Photography: Delfina Utomo
Among the chaos, there are pockets of peace
like this… Photography: Delfina Utomo
Some overly enthusiastic and expressive
seals. Photography: Delfina Utomo
The Vices and Virtues segment filled with
colourful dioramas. Photography: Delfina Utomo
Mermaids have been part of Chinese
mythology since 4 BC. Photography: Delfina Utomo
In memory of the time it was called Tiger
Balm Gardens Photography: Delfina Utomo
Haw Par Villa, 262
Pasir Panjang Rd, Singapore 118628