Heritage Trails :: NHB Marked Trails :: Fort Canning Trail

A nature nestled in the heart of the Civic District, Fort Canning Park standing atop a slope, provides a good respite from the city’s hustle and bustle. Fort Canning Park, the most historical part of Singapore, was where the governing powers once seated. Malay and Chinese records hinted that the royal palace of the ancient Malay rulers probably stood on the summit of this once “Forbidden Hill” (also known in Malay as Bukit Larangan). Archaeological digs near the Keramat Iskander Syah further attested to the existence of a 14th century Malay kingdom, Temasek. The British governors had also made their residence on top of this hill, and hence the term “Government hill” was derived. Raffles, impressed with its beautiful view, chose to build his bungalow and establish the first botanical garden here in 1822. The hill was converted into a fort by the colonial government around 1860, and was re-named Fort Canning bearing the name of Viscount Charles John Canning, Governor-General and the first Viceroy of India. Since then, Fort Canning served as a military base until the 1970s - first by the British, the by the Japanese during World War II, and finally by the Singapore’s armed forces. Today, Fort Canning has become a popular city park frequented by visitors for art performances, events and other concerts.