Kranji
| Kranji | |
|---|---|
| Name transcription(s) | |
| • Chinese | 克兰芝 |
| • Pinyin | Kèlánzhī |
| • Malay | Kranji |
| • Tamil | கிராஞ்சி |
  Kranji Location of Kranji within Singapore | |
| Coordinates: 1°25′22.08″N 103°45′1.44″E / 1.4228000°N 103.7504000°ECoordinates: 1°25′22.08″N 103°45′1.44″E / 1.4228000°N 103.7504000°E | |
| Country |
 Singapore |
Kranji is a suburb in northwestern Singapore, located about 22 kilometres (14 mi) from the city centre. It is connected to Kranji MRT Station and connects to bus service 170 for Johor Bahru.
Etymology
Kranji is named after a local tree, the pokok kranji or keranji (Malay for Dialium indum, velvet tamarind tree). Its abundance has rapidly dwindled since the first half of the nineteenth century.
History
The first Singapore-Kranji railway from Tank Road to Kranji was opened in 1903. In 1909, the Johor State railway was opened and in 1912 both these railways became part of the Federated Malay States railway, which had been formed in 1901. After the completion of the Causeway in 1923, the lines were joined to complete the unification of the Federated Malay States Railway. Previously a Railway ferry service had operated between Woodlands jetty and Abu Bakar pier from 1903 until 1923.
Kranji served as a military camp before the Japanese invasion of Singapore in 1942, and is now the home of the Kranji War Cemetery and Kranji War Memorial, commemorating the 30,000 Commonwealth personnel who died in Singapore, Malaya, Java and Sumatra during World War II.
In addition, it is now a prime residential area comprising mostly stand-alone properties. There are no towering apartment blocks, unlike most suburbs of Singapore. It is also an industrial area.
Highlights
The Singapore Turf Club operates Kranji Racecourse, the only horse racing race course in Singapore. It is located next to the Kranji MRT Station.
There is also a reservoir known as Kranji Reservoir, which was formed by the damming of the Kranji River.
Bollywood Veggies is an organic farming collective and information centre open Wednesdays - Sundays.
References
- Victor R Savage, Brenda S A Yeoh (2003), Toponymics - A Study of Singapore Street Names, Eastern Universities Press, ISBN 981-210-205-1
- Romen Bose (2006), "Kranji - The Commonwealth War Cemetery and the Politics of the Dead", Marshall Cavendish Editions, ISBN 981-261-275-0