About

The Merlion Park located in the city-state of Singapore is a beautiful park installed with the unique Merlion structure.  The Merlion, a half-fish half-lion hybrid, Its name combines “mer” meaning the sea and “lion”. The “Singa” or lion head represents Singapore’s original name — Singapura — meaning “lion city”, and the fish is a tribute to Singapore’s history as “Temasek”, the ancient fishing village.

Merlion statue commanding presence standing 8.6 meters tall on the south bank of Singapore River. The Merlion statue attracts more number of tourists and has become a landmark in Singapore. With the head of a lion and fish-like body, the fountain-statue appeals to the onlookers. It looks amazing especially in the glowing lights turned on at night. From the viewing deck of the 2,500 square meter park, you can take a breathtaking view of the Merlion against the city skyline and the scenic Marina Bay. The area also comprises a promontory with terraced seating, as well as a boat landing point.

This statue was originally located at the Merlion Park along the Esplanade Bridge. The then Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew got the installation of the statue done ceremoniously on 15 September 1972. Now, this statue has been shifted to a new place, which is near the One Fullerton Hotel. The lion head represents the lion that was spotted by Sang Nila Utama, a Srivijayan prince. The Malay Annals records the incident took place when the prince had re-discovered Singapura in 11AD. The fish tail of the Merlion represents the ancient city of Temasek which means sea in the Javanese language. It symbolizes the fact that Singapore was initially a humble fishing village even though now it has turned out to be one of the most popular tourist spots in the world.

The Merlion Statue was built by the late craftsmen Mr. Lim Nang Seng from cement fondue. Mr. Lim built another smaller version of the Merlion measuring 2 meters in height and weighing 3 tonnes. The body of this statue was made of cement while the skin was made of porcelain plates and the eyes comprised small red teacups. One can enjoy the beautiful views of Singapore’s colonial district when strolling in Merlion Park. There is a souvenir shop within its precincts that sells Merlion T-shirts as well as other gift items.

Tips

• Take panorama shot to cover all attractions in one frame.
• try to plan your trip to Merlion Park with your visit to Marina Bay, they are within walking distance and can be enjoyed as a whole.
• Best to visit at twilight with the Merlion sprouting water towards the golden sunset.
•  Stand on the left of the Merlion for the commanding view of Marina Bay Sands. Stand on the right of the Merlion for the glory of the city skyscrapers and the Singapore Flyer.
• Take a river cruise from Clarke's Quay to get great photos from the water of the Merlions.
• Don't go midday, Singapore is very hot and humid. Try from 5 to 6 pm. Sunrise in sg usually is around 7 pm
  

Timings