A walk through Orchard Road
Orchard Road the 2.2 kilometre strip is as iconic as it is eclectic. Just like New York’s Fifth Avenue, Orchard Road is just as recognizable a tourist haven as any other. From the glitzy malls like Ion Orchard to the retro maze of Lucky Plaza, you’ll find everything you will ever need in retail therapy, while shopping on Orchard Road.
The bustling boulevard, known colloquially to the locals as Orchard, is retail and dining paradise, with over 5,000 establishments offering the ultimate in a shopping paradise, Orchard Road is never short of sensory experiences to suit every palette.
However, be warned, as 5,000 establishments have already been hinted at, you’d be hard pressed to spend just a day there without losing your sanity. For as long as we at GOeureka can remember Orchard has been a one stop destination for virtually anything; from traditional eats to fine dining, designer goods and dirt cheap electronics, you would be at your wits end if you weren’t able to find just about anything you were looking for.
So how about a little history lesson instead? Being the epicentre of South East Asia’s shopping focused tourist destinations; Orchard Road is of humble beginnings, with its origins dating back to the 1830s` — an unnamed road taking root from fruit orchards, nutmeg plantations and pepper farms. The name Orchard Road had only been instilled 1958, where its first department store, Tangs was first set up, by local merchant C.K. Tang.
If there is any way through the retail jungle, begin your trek through Orchard here, at Tangs where the heart of the shopping district/strip takes shape.
With 5,000 establishments all ready and in wait, just takes some chances and if ever a case arises where, your thirst or hunger gets the better of would-be indulgences, stop for some food and drink. There are loads of stalls ready to greet any hungry traveller.
Ion Orchard, Far East Plaza, Orchard Central, 313 @ Somerset, Shaw House, Wisma Atria, Takashimaya, Paragon, Mandarin Gallery and Plaza Singapura are some of the more prominent names on the shopping districts 2.2km strip. So, tread carefully and plan your day, shopping begins at 11am, when most of the malls open for customers.
