Small enough to walk around in less than an hour. The signs describing each scene are in English, Chinese, and Malay. There is an exhibition with extensive information about the founders of Tiger Balm, the gardens, and Haw Par Villa.

This is a great place to spend an hour or two. It is a bit bonkers but also quite educational. The statues and sculptures are very impressive and interesting and you can’t help being impressed by the amount of work that must have gone into them. I recommend taking a look if you’d like to see something a bit different, a bonus is that it is mostly free.

Set next to the metro station of the same name and set up a steep hill is this former theme park. There was an extensive number of colourful but fairly tired sculptures depicting different scenes. Alas many of them did not have any descriptions although there were a couple of fables as well as a Chinese Zodiac wheel depicting the personality traits of someone born under each sign which was amusing for us. There was also a statue of confucius. Perhaps one of the highlights was the large pond where you could buy a bag of feed for a $1 and feed the fish and turtles. Overall it came across a bit tired. The main reason we visited was for the Hell Museum.

My visit to Haw Par Villa, one of Singapore’s more unconventional attractions, was a thought-provoking experience. While some may find the statues and dioramas a bit tacky, they certainly add to the park’s unique charm. The highlight for me was undoubtedly Hell’s Museum, which bills itself as “the world’s first museum dedicated to death and the afterlife”. This museum offers an absorbing overview of afterlife concepts across various religions. Its comprehensive and balanced treatment of such a sensitive subject is a testament to Singapore’s reputation as possibly the most religiously diverse society in the world. The museum goes a step further by delving into funeral and burial practices, offering insights into how different cultures approach these rituals, including the adaptations made in Singapore due to its land scarcity. The experience was greatly enriched by the 45-minute guided tour, which is complimentary with the museum admission ($18 for adults). Our guide, Paul, was exceptional. He had a wealth of knowledge and enhanced the tour with his personal anecdotes, making the exploration of Hell’s Museum even more engaging. I highly recommend Haw Par Villa and Hell Museum in particular to anyone interested in a different cultural experience, especially those intrigued by the concept of the afterlife and religious diversity.