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Photo: National Parks Board, Singapore and author

Eye-catching A yellow beauty named after Shah Rukh Khan

This orchid is a light brownish orange with a blush of purple, and forms part of a spray 60 cm long. And, is named Dendrobium Amitabh Bachchan. Another's character is true to the person it is named after: Ascocenda Shahrukh Khan. It flowers with vigour, and puts out blooms that are a passionate red-orange.

These orchids named after the Indian matinee idols are but two of the many that grace the VIP garden at the National Orchid Garden, a part of the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Happily, the garden has much more going for it than just celebrity glitter.

Right at the entrance are endless rows of flowers in deep violets, blushing pinks, perky yellows, and dignified whites that wow visitors from across the globe.

A smattering of alien tongues makes its way into your ears as guides explain to people from diverse nations as to what makes the garden special.

And, the fragile beauty of the orchids does a good job in breaking geographical barriers. Who really needs a language to appreciate Nature at its prettiest?

Photo: National Parks Board, Singapore and author

The flower named after Amitabh Bachchan

The garden is the perfect hangout for the individual tourist. Just take off on your own, and stop by to admire a well-laid out celebration of orchids.

The strategically-placed information boards ensure you never get lost in this sprawling tribute to orchids, where you can currently find over 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids.

The orchid is the national flower of Singapore, and that explains the city-State's fascination for this flower.

One corner is devoted to the Vanda Miss Joaquim, a hardy and free flowering plant named after Agnes Joaquim, in whose garden the hybrid was discovered in 1893.

It was selected as the National flower in 1981.

The VIP Garden is a must-see. With representation from almost every continent and field, every tourist has something to look forward to in this section.

All the flowers here are attractive hybrids. There's a pink one named after golf player Annika Sorenstam, and another named after Nobel laureate Sydney Brenner.

The orchid that takes its name from chimp champ Jane Goodall looks petite, just like her.

There's another white flower with pale pink veins named after the world's favourite princess - Dendrobium Memoria Princess Diana. It was planted on September 22, 1997, exactly 22 days after her death.

Right next to that is an orchid that takes electrifying performer Ricky Martin's name.

From 1957, the Singapore Government has been honouring state visitors and other VIPs "to promote goodwill and foster ties between nations" by naming orchid hybrids after them.

Some of the high-profile orchids here include those named after Queen Elizabeth, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Nelson Mandela, Japanese Emperor Akihito, Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and U.S. First Lady Laura Bush.

Photo: National Parks Board, Singapore and author

Visitors at the National Orchid Garden

The best part about the VIP gallery is the wealth of information the display boards pack in. They explain everything about why the garden was set up, the method used to create hybrids, the date and occasion on which an orchid was named after a celebrity, the date of pollination and when it put out its first flower.

Other places to visit are the Tan Hoon Siang Mist House, where rare orchid cultivars are displayed amid tropical foliage, and the Orchidarium that simulates a tropical rainforest and is home to wild orchids.

And, do make it a point to pick up the well laid out brochures available free of cost at the entrance.

They provide a peek into what the garden offers, and can help you decide which sections you want to visit. For, hold your breath, the Botanic Gardens is spread over 52 hectares (nearly 130 acres), and can take quite a while to cover by foot. The orchid section that falls in the Central Core is three hectares (7.41 acres), and takes about two hours to complete by foot. Also, check out the Ginger Garden nearby.

Visitor information The garden is open from 8.30 a.m. to 7 p.m. (the last ticket sales is at 6 p.m.) Admission fee is Singapore $ 5 for adults and Singapore $ 1 for students and senior citizens (60 years and above).

It is free for children below 12 years. For details, visit http://www.sbg.org.sg/

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