Despite being a city with cutting-edge development, Singapore also offers picturesque havens of greenery; Fort Canning Park is just such a place.
Getting There
This popular site is in the city’s Civic District, walking distance from properties like Grand Park City Hall. Alternatively, one can take a taxi or make use of public transport; for MRT access, get off at the Fort Canning Station (Exit B), while the Dhoby Ghaut (Exit B) and Clarke Quay (Exit E) stations are nearby too.
A Rich History
Those exploring from a nearby City Hall hotel Singapore has to offer will be interested to learn of the park’s history; once known as the Forbidden Hill, it was a site of royal palaces during the 14th century. Later, it was a place where the British built a fort and barracks and subsequently decided to surrender Singapore in World War Two.
Historical Gardens
Amongst the key highlights at Fort Canning Park are nine historical gardens each with something new to discover. Not to be missed is the Sang Nila Utama Garden that features elements of ancient royal gardens; also of note are the First Botanic Garden, Raffles Garden and the Artisan’s Garden with its archaeological dig site.
Things to Do
Apart from exploring these gardens, there’s more to do here including enjoying live events and laidback picnics. You can also visit Battle Box, once used for underground military operations or traverse the Ancient History or Colonial History trails. Don’t forget to head to the Fort Canning Spiral Staircase amongst the most Instagrammable spots in Singapore!
