The paired bronze sundials are inside the National Orchid Garden at Singapore Botanic Gardens. Use the National Orchid Garden ticket entrance, then consult NParks’ sculpture trail map or ask staff for the pair. If you are being dropped off for this stop, NParks identifies the Tyersall Entrance as the most convenient approach.
The Gardens also has a 1929 sundial by Ursula Holttum in the separate Sundial Garden. When sharing a map pin, write “paired sundials inside the National Orchid Garden.” The two destinations have different entry arrangements and make different starting points for a walk.
- The pair is by John Close of Westwood Dials and was donated in 1995.
- National Orchid Garden hours are 8.30 am to 7 pm daily, with last ticket sales and entry at 6 pm.
- The featured Hasselblad photograph shows Bukit Timah Gate, an alternative starting point for a longer Gardens walk.
How to reach the paired sundials
Start by locating the National Orchid Garden on the official Gardens map. If you are already near Botanic Gardens MRT and enter via Bukit Timah Gate, leave time for the walk to the central part of the Gardens. For a direct drop-off, select the Tyersall Entrance and continue to the orchid garden ticket counter.
Once inside, use the sculpture trail map alongside the orchid garden’s own map. Ask for the paired bronze sundials if you need help. Searching for “Sundial Garden” on a phone can send you to the separate 1929 installation.
Which admission and opening hours apply?
NParks sells National Orchid Garden tickets at the entrance counter. Its published adult rates are $5 for eligible local visitors and $15 at the standard rate. There are separate senior and student rates, and children under 12 enter free. Check the current ticket page for proof of eligibility and any updates.
The National Orchid Garden closes at 7 pm, with admission ending at 6 pm. Give yourself enough time to get through the gate and see more than one stop if you arrive in the afternoon. The wider Botanic Gardens has longer hours.
Who made and donated the sundials?
NParks credits British sundial maker John Close, who worked under the Westwood Dials name. Mdm Looi Eng San donated the bronze pair in 1995 to congratulate the Gardens on the opening of the National Orchid Garden. The two interlocking forms make the work easy to distinguish from the single dial on Ursula Holttum’s carved pedestal.
For a quick look, compare the angles of the two forms before looking at any markings. Consider where the shadow falls and how the shape of the artwork makes that shadow easier or harder to read.
A short observation to try with children
A sundial uses the changing position of a shadow to indicate time. On a sunny day, have a child find the shadow and describe where it falls. If you return after visiting another display, compare its direction. A cloud may temporarily hide the shadow, which gives you an immediate example of when a sundial is difficult to read.
If the apparent time differs from a watch, ask what each device is measuring. A sundial follows the Sun’s apparent movement. A watch uses standard clock time for an agreed time zone. Leave an exact comparison for a dial whose markings and intended calibration you can verify.
What else to see inside the orchid garden
For an art-and-plants visit, pick one orchid display and one additional sculpture after the sundials. NParks lists the Cranes at the entrance fountain and the Fan Palm Fountain inside the National Orchid Garden. The first gives you an easy arrival landmark and the second offers another chance to look at how an artist uses a plant form.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the 1929 sundial?
The bronze pair is a separate work donated in 1995. Ursula Holttum’s 1929 sundial is in the Sundial Garden.
Where do I buy the orchid garden ticket?
NParks directs visitors to the ticketing counter at the National Orchid Garden entrance.
Which entrance works best for drop-off?
NParks recommends the Tyersall Entrance for the National Orchid Garden.