via SG Magazine, 27 March 2024: The National Heritage Board’s latest initiative, the Changi Heritage Trail, invites locals and tourists alike to explore the unique blend of culture, history, and natural beauty in Changi, Singapore. This self-guided trail, comprising three thematic routes and 23 heritage sites, offers a deep dive into the area’s past, from its kampong days and historical landmarks like the Sree Ramar Temple to the strategic military significance of the region. Highlights include stories of childhood mischief, the rich tapestry of Changi’s communities, and the transformative development of Changi Airport.
Changi holds many cherished memories for its residents. For those who lived in the kampongs, they were fond times. Isiah Majid, who grew up in Kampong Ayer Germuroh, recalls climbing rambutan trees, wading out onto the beach during low tides, and playing in the sea. Longtime resident K V Thalapathy shares that as a mischievous child, he would “steal” sugarcane from the plantation near his kampong, and play in the flooded football field when it rained heavily.
There are also important historical landmarks and buildings in this northeastern part of Singapore. Walk along Changi Village Road and you’ll come across Sree Ramar Temple. Completed in 1946, the Hindu temple houses a tree shrine considered sacred by Hindu residents of Changi Point, as well as shrines to non-Hindu deities Buddha and Guan Yin.
