Bidadari

Located in the central region of Singapore, Bidadari Estate is envisioned to be an urban oasis where residents can rest, relax, and connect with family and friends in a garden setting. The proposals for Bidadari aim to capitalize on its rolling greens, rich heritage, and convenient transport connections to provide a high-quality living environment. It has become one of the most popular new housing areas in Singapore when the first batch of Built-To-Order flats was launched in 2015. An ecologically-sensitive regional park situated at the heart of Bidadari Estate is the Bidadari Park. The park design will draw on Bidadari's history, and preserve the social memories and ecological importance of the site. Residents can immerse themselves in nature and take a break from the bustling city life in this greenery.

Public transport and amenities in Bidadari

The word bidadari means "fairy" in Malay, which was in turn derived from the Sanskrit word vidhya dhari, which means a "nymph of India's heaven". The bidadari are depicted as kind fairies and genies that preside over the union of flowers. Before the area started to develop, one landmark was The Bidadari Christian Cemetery which was officially opened in 1908 by The Municipal Government. The cemetery continued to accept burials till 1972. 

In 1996, the government announced that the site of the Bidadari Cemetery had been earmarked for development. The future Bidadari Estate benefits from its rich heritage and existing greenery. One of its key features is the pedestrianisation of the Old Upper Aljunied Road into a Heritage Walk to better preserve the canopy of mature trees along this road. The Heritage Walk will also incorporate stories of the history of Bidadari and the contributions of prominent figures in the neighbourhood.

Stay - Bidadari Estate

HDB announced plans for a housing estate at the site of the former Bidadari Cemetery in 2013, and BTO flats offerings started in 2015. If you thought the history of the land as Singapore’s largest gravesite would spook new home buyers, you thought wrong. The demand is really high thanks to its central location as part of the mature estate Toa Payoh. 

Bidadari Estate has been among the most sought-after in the past few years’ BTO launches. As one of the newest BTO towns expecting 10,000 housing units upon completion, Bidadari is just bursting with potential. Bartley GreenRise will be the last BTO site to be ready and is estimated to be completed in the second quarter of 2025.

As per the first quarter of 2021, more than 2,000 BTO Housing Board flats have been completed, with families progressively moving into their new homes. These flats are spread across three projects including Alkaff Vista, Alkaff LakeView, and Alkaff CourtView, which were launched for sale by the HDB in 2015. As for condominium developments, several upcoming projects you can look into are The Woodleigh Residences, Park Colonial, The Tre Ver, and Myra.

Shop - Bidadari Estate

Everything you would need for daily life would be located pretty close to you in Bidadari. The area is surrounded by plenty of shops and is located near several major malls, NEX, Poiz Centre and Woodleigh Mall, for your other regular needs.

Eats and Drinks - Bidadari Estate

While the quaint neighbourhood is being developed very rapidly, Bidadari is also an undiscovered gem when it comes to restaurants and cafes. Whether you are planning to invest in a property there, or simply want to check out a new neighbourhood this weekend, 99.co has rounded up the best places to wine and dine in the Bidadari neighbourhood.

• Yeo Keng Nam Chicken Rice

Hidden amongst a row of motor and car workshops is Yeo Keng Nam Chicken Rice. Its Hainanese Chicken Rice, famed for its juicy chicken slices, is cooked in small batches throughout the day to ensure freshness.

• Wimbly Lu

Tucked away along a cafe stretch at Jalan Riang, this whimsical eatery is popular amongst the area’s residents for brunch & desserts — particularly its chocolate desserts, ice cream, and waffles. It operates from a refurbished old shophouse, flanked by a huge glass ceiling and a courtyard that makes the perfect place for a relaxing weekend brunch.

• Hong Chang Frog Porridge and BBQ Fish

This unassuming eatery located at the junction of Upper Serangoon House is known for its frog porridge. Its Kung Pao Claypot Frog Legs are succulent and tender, with a fragrance that complements the smooth texture of the porridge.

• Plonk on Maju

This Australian bistro-bar in Serangoon Gardens is one of the area’s best-kept secrets. Sit back and chill out with a beer (or “plonk”, as they call it in Australia) while listening to the different live musicians on their upper deck.

• Cafe Football Singapore

This sports pub is aptly located at The Arena, a stylish new sports park with a wide variety of sports and fitness facilities. In fact, Cafe Football Singapore is the first franchise in Asia, partly owned by Manchester United greats Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville. It has become a locale for many residents living in the area.

Learn - Bidadari Estate

Having a top school around is good for the neighbourhood and residents alike. The good news is that Bidadari is in a great schooling district and is in the vicinity of several reputable schools. In fact, most of these schools fall within short distances from the Bidadari Estate. Some examples include the Cedar Primary and Cedar Girls’ Secondary, Bartley Secondary, St. Andrew’s Junior School, and  the Maris Stella High School which has been known over the years for its high standards among schools in Singapore.

Move - Bidadari Estate

Outstanding connectivity to the transport networks is one of the key reasons for the high popularity of the Bidadari neighbourhood. Bidadari is situated nearby to three different MRT stations: Woodleigh, Potong Pasir, and Bartley, which collectively give residents access to two different MRT lines, the North-East Line and the Circle Line. 

The Bidadari Estate will be also the home ground of Singapore’s first underground bus interchange. This interchange will be tucked away from the street view and will sit below a neighbourhood garden & car park flanked by blocks of flats.

On top of that, the Upper Aljunied Road has been realigned, and three new roads (Bidadari Park Drive, Alkaff Crescent, and Woodleigh Link) have been constructed to serve the estate. In addition, Bidadari also has easy access to major expressways: the Central Expressway (CTE) and Pan-Island Expressway (PIE). The Estate is also only a 15- to 20-minute drive away from Singapore’s central business district.

Parks and Gardens - Bidadari Estate

The existing memorial garden that acknowledges the former Bidadari Cemetery, along with a number of Singapore’s prominent pioneers, will be integrated into Bidadari Park. In addition, to recreate the sense of tranquility and capture the memories of the former Alkaff Lake Garden, a new Alkaff Lake will be created in a garden-like setting within the Park for the enjoyment of the community.

Alkaff Lake was a feature of Bidadari in the 1930s, before it was filled up in 1964. The new Alkaff Lake will act as a retainer for stormwater to prevent floods in the area, before slowly discharging the water to Marina Reservoir. The Bidadari Park will retain the greenery that allows migratory birds to rest and feed while transiting through Singapore along with the East Asia-Australasian Flyway network. You will be able to spot rare birds from September to March every year.

You will be able to stroll along the Heritage Walk under the cool shade of the large retained trees which used to be along the Upper Aljunied Road. You can find out more about Bidadari's past from storyboards along the way too.

The undulating terrain will be retained as much as possible to preserve the greenery, hydrology, and nutrients within the soil, and minimize environmental footprint. Young and old folks alike will be able to easily access the park and appreciate the mature greenery.