Why Singapore Remains Unforgettable on an Asian Cruise
Both an urban center and its own republic, the island city-state of Singapore is one of Asia's most exciting destinations. The city was originally established as a trading post of the East India Company in the early 19th century and has since grown into an international hub of trading, culture and history.
Here are some of the amazing sites waiting for you in Singapore when you book an Asian cruise vacation.
Orchard Road
If you're looking to immerse yourself in modern-day Singapore, you won't want to miss an opportunity to visit Orchard Road. While the orchards that once lined the street prior to the 19th century are gone, the area has remained a shopping and entertainment hub that attracts tourists and city residents alike.
Orchard Road is the perfect place to wander through unique boutiques, enjoy wonderful restaurants and experience local culture on the busy streets and sidewalks. Featuring more than 800,000 square feet, you're bound to find something to your liking.
Little India and Masjid Sultan
One of the most exciting parts about visiting Singapore is the abundance of languages, cultures and religions centered in one place. In particular, Little India provides travelers with an intriguing blend of shops, restaurants, artisan businesses and historic buildings. Spicy aromas, sitar music and fine silk garments hanging in storefront windows make a trip to Little India one to remember.
As you're exploring the streets of this neighborhood, you're bound to pass by the gilded domes of Masjid Sultan, the great Sultan Mosque. Built by Sultan Hussain Shah, the Ruler of Temasek (Singapore's earlier name) in 1826 with help from the East India Company, this impressive monument has stood as a primary center of culture and worship in the Muslim community ever since.
Chinatown, Thian Hock Keng and Sri Mariamman
In Chinatown, you can enjoy the delicious Chinese restaurants and shops featuring authentic wares and merchandise you won't find anywhere else in Singapore.
Within the folds of Chinatown stand two of Singapore's oldest and most important religious temples, Thian Hock Keng and Sri Mariamman. Thian Hock Keng was completed in 1842 by Tan Tock Seng and Si Hoo Keh of the Hokkien clan and has been a place for Chinese immigrants in Singapore to pray to Ma Zu, the Goddess of the Sea. The temple was constructed in the Southern Chinese fashion, comprised of wood, tiles, intricate carvings and statues of dragons and phoenixes.
Sri Mariamman represents the Hindu presence in Chinatown. The site was finished in 1827 for worshippers from the South Indian districts of Nagapatnam and Cuddalore. The temple is dedicated to the Goddess Mariamman, the deity of cures for epidemic illnesses and diseases and is recognizable by its ornate and colorful tower entrance.
Learn more about these amazing sites and more when you book an Asian cruise that calls in Singapore with Princess Cruises.