A slice of Sentosa's past

With attractions such as Universal Studios Singapore and Adventure Cove Waterpark, Sentosa certainly lives up to its tagline "State of Fun". But long before there was Resorts World Sentosa, the island formerly known as Pulau Blakang Mati was a British military base and a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp. The island was renamed Sentosa and transformed into a tourist destination in 1972.

A new heritage trail introduced by Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa now takes visitors through the resort grounds to discover its natural splendour and storied history.

There are 11 pit stops on the trail, which takes an hour to complete on foot. It starts at the hotel lobby and ends at the resort's glass pavilion, a popular spot for weddings. Stops along the way include a petai tree, one of 26 heritage trees on Sentosa; the resort's courtyard and verandah suites; former barracks that have been lovingly restored; and Sentosa's last two air raid shelters from World War II.