Bukit Timah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bukit Timah |
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The summit of Bukit Timah, the highest point in Singapore.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 163.63 metres (536.8 ft) |
| Listing | Country high point |
| Naming | |
| English translation | "Tin-bearing hill" |
| Language of name | Malay |
| Geography | |
| Location |  Singapore |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Hill |
Bukit Timah is a special area in Singapore. It is also home to a hill called Bukit Timah Hill. This hill is the highest point in Singapore. It stands about 163.63 metres (536.8 ft) tall. Bukit Timah is located near the center of Singapore island. It is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the main business area.
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What Does Bukit Timah Mean?
The name Bukit Timah comes from the Malay language. It means "tin-bearing hill." This name was first seen on a map in 1828. The map was made by Frankin and Philip Jackson. It showed the hill as the start of the Kranji River.
Building Roads and Early Life
In December 1843, a road was built up to the hill. People thought the air there was "cooler and fresher." It made them feel happy and healthy. So, it was a good place for a sanatorium, which is like a health retreat.
The longest road in Singapore is called Bukit Timah Road. It is 25 kilometers long. This road got its name from the hill. It runs from the north to the south of the island. The road to Kranji was finished in 1845.
Long ago, there were many tigers in the area. They were a serious danger to people. In 1860, nearly 200 people were killed by tigers. This happened near the gambier and pepper farms. The first time someone rode a horse across the island was in 1840. Mr. Thomson and Dr. Little did it along Bukit Timah Road. It took them four days.
Local Names for Bukit Timah Road
In the Hokkien language, Bukit Timah Road has different names. One name is tek kha kang a kinn. This means "the side of the stream in the tek kha district." This name only refers to the lower part of the road. Another Hokkien name is be chia lo bue. This means "end of the horse carriage road."
Bukit Timah During World War II
During World War II, the British Army lost Bukit Timah to the Japanese on February 11. This was a big loss. Most of their food and supplies were stored there. On 15 February 1942, the leader of the Allied forces, Lieutenant General A.E. Percival, surrendered. He gave up to Lieutenant General Tomoyuki Yamashita. This happened at the Ford Factory in Bukit Timah.
The Syonan-to Shrine
During the Japanese Occupation, Japanese soldiers built a shrine. It was called the Syonan-to Shinto shrine. Syonan-to was the name for Singapore during the occupation. This shrine was like a smaller version of a national shrine in Japan. It was built on Bukit Timah Hill.
Two war memorials were also built there. One was for Japanese soldiers who died. The other was for British soldiers who died defending Singapore. Students, Japanese commanders, and British prisoners of war would gather there. They would remember those who had died.
Before the Japanese surrendered, they quickly destroyed the shrine. They were worried that the British would damage it badly. Today, the place where the shrine stood is a "Historical Site." There are no plans to rebuild it. Only a cleansing pond and some stone paths remain.
Bukit Timah Today
After the Japanese Occupation, the farms in Bukit Timah changed. They became places for factories and tall apartment buildings. In the 1960s and 1970s, Bukit Timah was a big industrial area.
Today, these factories have been replaced. Now, you can find fancy bungalows, terraces, and condominiums. This makes Bukit Timah one of Singapore's best places to live.
Important Places in Bukit Timah
Bukit Timah is a very important area. The land here is quite valuable. The area has many different plants and forests. This is more than in other parts of Singapore.
The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is located here. It helps protect the plants and animals. The nature reserve was started in 1883. This reserve is one reason why land here is so valuable.
The Bukit Timah Race Course was a place for horse racing. It opened in 1933 and closed in 1999.
Many expensive homes are in this area. These include bungalows and tall condominiums. Many people from other countries, called expatriates, live here. Many wealthy Singaporeans also choose to live in this region. Because land prices have gone up, new condominiums are being built.
The area was later made bigger. This new part is called Upper Bukit Timah. The Keretapi Tanah Melayu train from Malaysia has a station here. This train line goes from Johor Bahru to Tanjong Pagar.
Images for kids
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The summit of Bukit Timah, the highest point in Singapore.
