Makara and Transportations of the Past: Fun Facts to Teach Your Kids About Asia's History

With the help of the Asian Civilisations Museum and the National Heritage Board, we take a closer look at a small excerpt of Asia’s history and learn more about the Makara and modes of transportation in the past.

The Makara

Image Source: iStock

Have you seen anything like this before? A Makara is a mythical sea creature used as a protective symbol. The Makara carving was used during important Hindu and Buddhist ceremonies. 

The Makara is made up of different parts from four different animals.

Image Source: National Heritage Board

1. Trunk of an elephant
2. Mouth of a crocodile
3. Scales of a fish
4. Horns of a goat

In Hindu legends, the Makara is a vehicle for the river goddess, Ganga. Ganga uses the Makara to travel around. 

Animals as a Means of Transportation

Image Source: Collection of National Museum of Singapore

Unlike today where our main forms of transportation are car, bus, train or walking in Singapore, animals were used as a means of transportation in the past.

Elephants

Image Source: Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons

Elephants were used by kings in India in processions and when they go to war.

Image Source: Collection of the Asian Civilisations Museum

Horses

Image Source: Retrieved from wdl.org

Horses were also widely used to transport passengers and goods in China.

Image Source: Collection of the Asian Civilisations Museum

Ox

Image Source: Collection of National Museum of Singapore

The ox cart, a two-wheeled vehicle pulled by oxen, was a common mode of transportation in Southeast Asia and China.

Popular Means of Transport in Old Singapore

Image Source: Collection of National Museum of Singapore

Ox carts were one of the earliest and most popular modes of transport in Singapore. They were used to transport passengers and goods.

Image Source: Collection of National Museum of Singapore

Before there were cars, horse-drawn carriages were a popular means of passenger transport in Singapore.

Activities

Try out these printable activities with your child to wrap up today’s learning!

Click on the page to print the page. | Image Source: National Heritage Board

Click on the page to print the page. | Image Source: National Heritage Board

We hope that you had fun learning more about the Makara and past modes of transportation in Singapore and the world!

To help your kids learn more about Makara and transportation modes of the past, visit the Asian Civilisations Museum website.

This article was contributed by the National Heritage Board and was edited and published for theAsianparent.