Fort Canning Park is one of Singapore’s most renowned leisure and cultural locations. Fort Canning is a hillock which is just over 60 m tall, and although it is of modest size inherits an eventful historical legacy. The park features meticulously landscaped lawns and attractive verdant greenery. Today it is an attractive venue for concerts and musical shows as well as educational, historical, cultural and entertainment features. Events such as art festivals, theatre carnivals and night time cinema are regularly held here.
Stamford Raffles, one of the founders of Singapore, constructed his residence atop the hill in the 19th century. However strategic concerns led to the demolition of this residence and the construction of a fort on the site. This fort was called Fort Canning in honour of the Viceroy of India, Charles John Canning.
Many attractive features of interest may be seen at Fort Canning Park. The Spice Garden emulates the initial botanical garden created by Stamford Raffles, and features many exotic spices.
The unmistakable Gothic Gates with their impressive and rather forbidding appearance are a popular landmark, and lead into the beautifully maintained Fort Canning Green, a location which was once a cemetery. Another feature at the park is the cupolas, which most likely originally functioned as resting places.
Meanwhile Fort Canning Centre was once the British Army’s barracks, and now houses the Singapore Dance Theatre. In the vicinity you will also see the Battle Box, which includes underground bunkers which once served as the headquarters of the Commander of the British Forces during World War II. An interesting feature nearby is a sally port, a hidden doorway. Another military item is the 9 pound cannon which in fact was not intended for wartime use; it was used as a time signal and a salute. Not to be missed is the Keramat Iskandar Shah, a sacred site devoted to Iskandar Shah, the final ruler of Singapore in the 14th century, who was forced to flee to escape an assault from the Siamese.
When making a Singapore hotel reservation for a Singapore city centre hotel an excellent choice would be the Copthorne King’s Hotel Singapore, a convenient rest offering comfortable accommodations and courteous hospitality.
Umanga Kahandawaarachchi is a passionate travel writer who writes under the pen name, Maggie Tulliver. Her field of writing covers a wide array of content and articles related to travel and hospitality industry.
