It had been about 2 months since we last did a Sunday morning walk in a park. Since we woke up early today, we decided to go for a hiking walk at MacRitchie Reservoir, the oldest reservoir in Singapore. Originally known as the Impounding Reservoir, it was renamed in honour of James MacRitchie, the Municipal Engineer who played a major role in its expansion.
One of the more delightful surprises early in the walk was the Zig-Zag Bridge, winds in a gentle zig-zag pattern over the water, offering lovely views of the reservoir and surrounding forest. In Chinese architectural tradition, zig-zag bridges are believed to ward off evil spirits, which are thought to only travel in straight lines.
One of the most solemn and historically rich stops along the trail is Lim Bo Seng’s Tomb, located near the eastern end of the reservoir. Nestled in a quiet clearing just off the path, the tomb is a memorial to one of Singapore’s national war heroes. Lim Bo Seng was a leader of Force 136, a resistance group during World War II that fought against the Japanese occupation. He was eventually captured, tortured, and died in captivity in 1944. His tomb was built in 1946 and is one of the few traditional Chinese-style hero tombs in Singapore.
The Chemperai Boardwalk runs along the reservoir’s edge, offering a peaceful route perfect for families, casual walkers, and nature lovers. It’s an easy stroll, lined with lush greenery and accompanied by the sounds of birds and the occasional splash of fish in the water.
MacRitchie is a haven for biodiversity, with over 1,500 species of plants and animals recorded in the area.
The Chemperai Boardwalk eventually leads to the Lornie Trail, where things take a wilder turn. Unlike the structured boardwalk, Lornie Trail is an earthy path, occasionally root-covered, but undeniably rich in atmosphere. We walked under towering dipterocarp trees, surrounded by the deep green hues of the tropical rainforest.
It’s amazing to think that just beyond these trails lies the bustling Lornie Highway, yet here, all we heard were the sounds of nature, such as chirping cicadas, the occasional rustle of leaves, and the calls of birds hidden high in the canopy.
Our round-trip walk took about 90 minutes, with plenty of pauses to take in the scenery, snapped some great photos, and just be present.
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