Bukit Batok
Bukit Batok (Chinese: 武吉巴督, Tamil: புக்கிட் பாத்தோக்), officially Bukit Batok Town, is an urban planning area and satellite residential town located in the western part of Singapore. Bukit Batok is bordered with Choa Chu Kang to the north, Clementi to the south, Bukit Timah to the south-east, Jurong East to the south-west, Bukit Panjang to the east and Tengah to the west.
Subzones
There are 9 subzones in Bukit Batok, namely
Neighbouring Place
History
Earthworks to build Bukit Batok started in 1979. The first HDB estate blocks numbered Blk 2xx were completed in 1983, followed by 1xx and 6xx in 1985. Subsequently, the blocks at Bukit Gombak were finished in 1987, with Block 3xx ready for occupancy in 1989. Earthworks at Bukit Batok West began later.
Etymology
Numerous differing accounts describe the origin of the name Bukit Batok. Bukit means "hill" in Malay, thus the name of the town gives the impression of it being hilly. Batok, however, has several interpretations.
Hillview, Bukit Batok
Hillview (山景) is a private residential enclave nestled in the northwest of Singapore, overlooking Bukit Timah and the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. The word Bukit means hill in the Malay language.
Nature
Hillview is naturally endowed with lush greenery as it is encircled by the woodlands of Bukit Gombak in the North West, Bukit Batok in the South and Bukit Timah in the East.
Since the 19th century, Bukit Timah and its surrounding area, which are away from the hustle and bustle of the city, have been regarded as the perfect sanctuary and getaway for many in Singapore.
The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve was established in 1883 and is the last primary rainforest in Singapore. In 2014, a new eco-link bridge connected both the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, previously separated by a motorway. Environmentalist are hopeful that this will generate greater bio-diversity.
Besides the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, there are several other nature parks here, including Bukit Batok Nature Park, Dairy Farm Nature Park, Hindhede Nature Park and Bukit Batok Town Park. A new 80-hectare (200-acre) Chestnut Nature Park will be completed by third quarter of 2016. It will feature a 30 kilometres (19 mi) cycling loop along the Central Catchment Nature Reserve and a seven-storey Observation Tower for visitors to enjoy panoramic views of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
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