What if you plan to celebrate the beginning of the year in Singapore, i.e. in January? How is Singapore's weather in January and what are all the activities that you can do then? Here you have got all your answers.
Singapore Weather Conditions in January
Average Temperature
With 18 days of rain, the temperature ranges from 24 degrees Celcius to 30 degrees Celcius. If lucky, you can expect six hours of sunshine. Otherwise, the days are cloudy. An average rainfall of 238 mm has been recorded in January.
Is January a Good Month to Visit Singapore?
Places to Visit in Singapore in January
1. Rainforest Lumina
Part of the much loved Singapore Zoo, the second season of Rainforest Lumina is back with yet another exciting adventure for the visitors. It is a night-time exploration of a one-kilometre stretch of the tropical rainforest zone inside the zoo with neon illumination and be treated to a stunning audio-visual multimedia show. One can choose from eight different animals or Creature Crew members to accompany them on the walk. The slightly wet and windy weather of January gives the rainforest a washed, fresh and green look which adds to the lovely experience.
2. Chinatown
Leading up to the Chinese New Year in January (or February), Chinatown in Singapore comes alive with thousand lights and lanterns, numerous stalls and a feisty celebration with dragon dances. Chinatown itself is a place to explore as well. One can visit Pagoda Street for souvenir shops, or the Chinatown Complex with the country’s most impressive hawker stall collective, or the Siang Cho Keong Temple on Amoy Street to make a wish at the wishing well, or the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple which allegedly holds Lord Buddha’s left canine tooth within a stupa made of solid gold.
3. Singapore River Safari
Singapore River Safari brilliantly replicates the geospheres of the world’s seven most important rivers and houses and breeds the creatures in a near-perfect natural habitat. Noteworthy exhibits are the alligators and paddlefish in Mississippi, Indian gharials in the Ganges, African dwarf crocodiles of the Nile, catfish of the Mekong and the alligators of the Yangtze. Take time with the Amazon, as there will be not only the usual freshwater creatures but also piranhas, manatees, arapaima and pacu fish, which are especially found in this ecosystem.
4. Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay stretches for 101 hectares over reclaimed land adjacent to the Marina Reservoir and is divided into three zones - south, east and central. There are multiple biodomes, replicating particular climatic conditions and together housing more than 800 different species of flora. The garden area surrounding the domes is dotted with art installations and 18 Supertrees rising, ranging between 25 metres and 50 metres in height. They become an even more magnificent spectacle when lit up as part of the Garden Rhapsody light-and-sound show every night between 07:45 PM and 08:45 PM.
5. Jurong Bird Park
Jurong Bird Park takes a lovely shape in January, with more than 400 avian species all bright and fluttering in the drizzly-windy weather. The park is divided into several climatic zones. The Penguin Coast is right near the entrance, while the World of Darkness housing the nocturnal birds, Wetlands for water-birds, and Lory Loft for small and chirpy ones are located inside. There are various shows and activities to partake in as well, such as the Birdz of Play activity ground and the King of Skies show, which is a story on the art of hunting of the birds of prey.
Festivals in Singapore in January
1. New Year’s Day
The 1st of January is a national holiday in Singapore. It is marked by impressive countdown shows at different venues, the best of which is the spectacle put up at Marina Bay Sands. The Esplanade, Clarke Quay and Sentosa Island also rank among the best ones. The celebrations on January 1 begin with fireworks at midnight and they continue throughout the day in the form of special extravagant meals, champagne brunches and high teas in the afternoon held by many cafes and eateries across the country.
2. Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year usually falls between mid-January and mid-February. It is a traditional Chinese festival to mark the mythological incident of defeating the beast Nien, which attacked villages during the spring, destroyed harvests and could only be warded off with fire, noise and the colour red. Owing to this folklore, Singapore’s Chinatown decks up in bright street lights, beautiful red lanterns and other extravagant decorations. There are lines of stalls selling Chinese trinkets and homemade dishes, and the local Chinese community celebrates with the famous Dragon Dance and Chingay Parade. In 2020, Chinese New Year falls on January 25th.
3. Pongal Harvest Festival
Pongal is a festival tied to Indian heritage and is the celebration of agricultural prosperity, where the farmers thank the Sun God or Surya Dev, the Rain God or Indra Dev and the Holy Cow for their blessings of a rich harvest. Little India in Singapore comes alive during the four days of Pongal every year during mid to late January, and there are live performances, a brilliant display of lightings, interesting workshops to partake in, and stalls selling everything essentially Indian, from artefacts to spices to handmade gifts. In 2020, Pongal will be celebrated from January 15 to 18.
4. Thaipusam
Thaipusam celebrated either in late January or early February, is a Hindu festival largely celebrated by the Indians of Tamil descent in Singapore. It is dedicated towards the South Indian deity Lord Murugan or Lord Subramaniam, who represents virtue, youth and power. Thaipusam is celebrated with an elaborate procession with the statue of the Lord on a chariot, that starts from Sri Thendayuthapani Temple at Tank Road and ends at Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple at Keong Saik Road.
5. Singapore Art Week
Singapore Art Week is the annual celebration of visual arts in the country, with exhibitions taking place in multiple galleries, museums, art precincts and other similar venues across the Lion City. Artists and cultural connoisseurs from around the world come together to enrich the art scene of Singapore for a week and create a perfect ambience for the art lovers and enthusiasts to soak in during the first month of the year. In 2019, the festival delved into the concept of Minimalism in art. In 2020, it will be held from January 11 to 19.
6. Singapore Fringe Festival
Fringe Festival celebrates the local art scene with a vision to promote it at the core. It celebrates not only fringe theatre and other performing arts like music, dance and pantomime, but also paintings, sculptures and art installations of various kinds. In 2020, the festival will return with the theme ‘My Country and My People’ from January 8 to 19.
Being a tropical nation, Singapore encounters downpours frequently. Though it is one of the wettest months, Singapore's weather in January will not disappoint. Therefore, pack your bags and head towards it. Do not forget to keep loosely fitted clothes and a comfortable pair of footwear, because why not? Comfort comes first! Also, as a responsible traveller keep track of weather conditions to avoid any discomfort.
~This article is written by Nidhi Khurana and Anwesha Nag~