Water Lily Garden
Water lilies in their natural aquatic habitat — from the giant Amazon Water Lily to the Sacred Lotus — with lily-leaf-shaped shelters and a walkway that ripples like water.
Terminal
T1
Location
Transit Area, Level 2
Hours
24 hours daily
Admission
Free
About the Water Lily Garden
The Water Lily Garden at Terminal 1 features water lilies in their natural aquatic environment, offering a serene outdoor space perfect for a quiet moment between flights. The garden's design draws directly from the form of the water lily itself — every architectural element echoes the natural shapes found in the ponds.
Garden shelters are designed in the undulating shape of the water lily leaf, providing shade while remaining visually connected to the pond below. The meandering tiled walkway resembles radiating ripples on water after a pebble is tossed into a pond, guiding visitors through the space with a sense of gentle motion that mirrors the surface of the ponds.
Featured plants include the Amazon Water Lily — one of the largest aquatic plants in the world, with pads that can grow over a metre across — alongside the Sacred Lotus and the Screw Pine. These species were chosen not only for their visual impact but for their cultural significance across Asia.
As an outdoor garden, the Water Lily Garden offers something the enclosed gardens cannot: fresh air and open sky. It's a place to breathe deeply, feel the tropical breeze, and watch myna birds dart between the ponds before returning to the climate-controlled interior of Terminal 1.
The Sacred Lotus holds deep cultural significance across much of Asia. In Buddhist and Hindu traditions it symbolises purity and spiritual awakening — rising immaculate from muddy waters. Beyond its symbolism, every part of the lotus is practical: the seeds and rhizomes are eaten, the leaves wrap food, and the petals flavour tea. The Screw Pine, or Pandanus, is another culturally important plant found here. Recognisable by its aerial prop roots and sword-shaped leaves, it has been woven into mats, baskets, and thatch across Southeast Asia and the Pacific for centuries, and its fragrant leaves are used in cooking and perfumery.
The walkway design is perhaps the garden's most poetic detail. The tiles radiate outward in concentric rings, precisely mimicking the ripples that spread across still water when a pebble is tossed into a pond. Walking this path, you trace the garden's central metaphor — a single point of impact sending gentle motion outward, just as the water lily sends its pads across the surface. Keep an eye out for myna birds foraging near the ponds; they are regular visitors to this open-air corner of the terminal.
Featured Aquatic Plants
Amazon Water Lily
Victoria amazonica
One of the world's largest aquatic plants, with pads spanning over 1 metre across. Native to the Amazon basin, these giants can support the weight of a small child on their buoyant leaves.
Sacred Lotus
Nelumbo nucifera
Revered across Asian cultures for millennia. Every part of the lotus is used — seeds and rhizomes in cuisine, leaves as food wrappers, petals for tea, and the flower itself in religious ceremonies symbolising purity and enlightenment.
Screw Pine
Pandanus
A distinctive tropical plant with aerial prop roots and sword-shaped leaves. Culturally important across Southeast Asia and the Pacific — woven into mats, baskets, and thatch, while its fragrant leaves flavour both food and perfume.
Highlights
Amazon Water Lily
Sacred Lotus
Lily-leaf-shaped shelters
Rippling walkway design
Natural aquatic habitat
Outdoor setting
Visitor Tips
Outdoor Garden
An outdoor garden — great for fresh air between flights. You may feel the tropical warmth and humidity, so dress comfortably.
Blooming Season
Best visited during blooming season when the water lilies and lotus flowers are at their peak. Watch for myna birds near the water edges.
Access
Located in the transit area of Terminal 1 — a boarding pass is required. Open 24 hours. Use the interactive map to find your way.
Rain Closures
As an open-air garden, the Water Lily Garden may temporarily close during heavy rain for safety. Check the weather before heading over — if it's pouring, plan to visit another indoor attraction first and return later.