Haw Par Villa

Overview

Haw Par Villa is a free-admission theme park on Pasir Panjang Road built in 1937 by Aw Boon Haw, the creator of Tiger Balm. Its 8.5-hectare grounds contain over 1,000 statues and 150 giant dioramas depicting scenes from Chinese mythology, folklore, and Confucian moral tales — including the legendary Ten Courts of Hell.

Highlights

• Ten Courts of Hell: A walk-through cave depicting graphic punishments for moral transgressions in Chinese Buddhist mythology — unforgettable and unique.
• Journey to the West dioramas: Life-size scenes from the classic Chinese novel featuring the Monkey King.
• Hell's Museum (ticketed): An immersive underground exhibition exploring afterlife beliefs across world cultures.

History

Built as Tiger Balm Gardens by Burmese-Chinese entrepreneur Aw Boon Haw for his brother Aw Boon Par, the park was donated to the Singapore government in 1985. After decades as a quirky free attraction, the 2021 addition of Hell's Museum revitalised the site for a new generation.

Visitor Tips

• Not for young children: The Ten Courts of Hell contain graphic depictions that may disturb small kids.
• Best in the morning: The park gets hot after noon with limited shade.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours (add 45 minutes for Hell's Museum).