Fort Canning Park

Fort Canning Park is positioned at the junction of Canning rise and Fort Canning Road at the central part of Singapore. Approximately 60 meters up, this small hill is the only natural high spot in the district. The park is known for its imposing views over Singapore and its historical significance that goes back for earliest times.

During the earliest time, the hill was called Bukit Larangan which means "Forbidden Hill" in Malay. Believed to be a holy site where the palace of ancestral kings was located. In 1822, Sir Stanford Raffles built his modest thatch-roofed residence which later became a residence for Singapore’s diplomats and governors. In late 1859 due to security concern the house was torn down to make way for the Fort. The fort was named after Governor-General and First Viceroy of India, Viscount Charles John Canning. In 1926, the Fort Cunning Reservoir was built to feed water pipes connecting homes in the city. The first botanical garden of the country was also established on this hill as well as the first lighthouse and the oldest cemetery of the country.

Today Fort Cunning offers visitors a wide range of activities to engage in while exploring the lush greenery and expansive lawns. The fort century walk offers visitor a glimpse of the Chinese and Malay historical records. A walk around the Forbidden Hill bring take you back to the era of the five kings and the golden age of the 14th Century. Here you can also see the Keramat Iskandar Syah (the sacred place) that served as the burial ground of a venerated leader; The archeological excavation site is another great interest within the fort, an actual archeological excavation site in which thousands of artifacts were recovered dating back during the Malay Kingdom; The Spice garden, a replica of the original 19 hectare botanical garden that was established during the time of Sir Stamford Raffles; Battle Box, an old World War II bunker located 9 meters underground that displays wax dioramas as well as a multimedia showcasing the surrender of the Singapore; and The Fort Cunning Green is a former burial ground of Christians who lived in Singapore.

Getting There
Take the MRT to Dhoby Ghaut Station, Clark Quay or City Hall MRT station and walk towards Fort Canning Road.

Singapore Botanical Garden

Singapore Botanical Garden is one of the main attractions of the city-state. This 150 year old botanical garden is the only one in the world that opens from 5 am till midnight. The 63 hectares garden was established in 1859 by an Agri-Horticultural Society to serve as a leisure garden and ornamental park which was later on handed over to the government for maintenance and management.

The garden boasts an assortment of botanical and horticultural attraction with rich history and exuberant flora. The garden possesses the largest collection of orchids in the world with more than1000 species and 2000 hybrids of orchids. The garden also has a 6 hectare tropical forest.

The Singapore Botanical Garden is divided into three sections - the Tanglin Core which includes the Swan Lake, the Swill Ball Fountain, Sun Garden and Swan Lake Gazebo; the Centre Core where the National Orchid Garden is located as well as the Symphony Lake, this areas serves as a tourist belt of the Gardens; and the Bukit Timah serves as a recreational centre of the garden, located here are the Eco Lake, the Jacob Ballas Children Garden, medicinal plants as well as fruit trees.