Fort Canning Park 
From Singapore Hotels & Singapore Lifestyle
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Fort Canning Park is a hill-top park. Rising up behind Stamford Road and Hill Street is a tree-covered bluff. The only natural high spot in the district, this is a hilltop oasis right in the city, with historical sites, peaceful paths and excellent views. Fort Canning Park, was once known as Bukit Larangan (Forbidden Hill), because no commoner was allowed to come up here. During the early years of Singapore's history, this strategic location was the site of grand palaces protected by high walls and swamps. The Majapahit princes who ruled Singapura in the 14th century were buried there - archaeological excavations in the area have uncovered remains from the period - and it was rumoured that royal spirits haunted the place.
When Sir Stamford Raffles arrived, the only reminder of the Sultan's long-gone kingdom was an earthen wall that stretched from the sea to the top of Fort Canning Hill. Undeterred by such superstition, the practical Raffles built his modest thatch-roofed residence atop the hill in 1822 and renamed it Government Hill. He had chosen the site for the same reasons as Singapore's early rulers - it had a good vantage point for spotting enemy movements at sea. It later became Government House, until it was renamed Fort Canning Hill after Viscount Canning of India, first viceroy of India, from whom Singapore's orders came as India was then the centre of British command in Asia.
In 1860, the British built a fort atop the hill, from where dawn, noon and dusk were announced each day by cannon fire. The two cannons have since been removed to Fort Siloso on Sentosa. Near the hilltop is the underground Fort Canning Reservoir built in 1926 to feed waterpipes connecting homes in the city. The reservoir was the site of a natural spring used as a bathing place by the 14th-century Malay royalty. Apart from being the first home of Singapore's rulers and the site of the first fortress, Fort Canning had the island's first lighthouse, the oldest cemetery and the island's first Botanic Garden (now the Spice Garden).
Little is left of the hill's historic buildings, but even after climbing up the exhausting steps it's a wonderfully cool retreat from the hot streets below and the park is designed with little pathways and quiet corners so that at times you'd hardly know you were in a city.
Today, the hill, a lovely oasis of green, has been designated a historical and cultural park. A walk up a flight of steps beside the former National Library leads past the Drama Centre, where many local plays are staged, to the Spice Garden on the site of Raffles' original botanical garden. Guided tours can be arranged through the At-Sunrice Cooking Academy, based in the monumental Fort Canning Centre, the former barracks building dating from 1926. Plants and trees are mostly labelled if you just want to wander around yourself for a pinch-and-sniff. Inside the Spice Garden is an archaeological dig, where under a wooden roof you can see the Javanese artefacts from the 14th-century Majapahit empire that have been uncovered there.
Walking through one of two Gothic gates of the old cemetary leads you into the pleasant park, where gravestones from the old Christian cemetery are embedded in the brick walls. The cemetery, in use from 1820 to 1864, was exhumed in 1970 to make way for the park, and its tombstones were embedded in its boundary wall. They contain many names associated with Singapore's history such as Coleman, Napier, the first law agent and Major Farquhar, Raffles' assistant; the other names of German, Russian, French, Armenian, Portuguese and American origins reflect the cosmopolitan nature of Singapore at that time. The park also contains an older tomb purported to contain the remains of Sultan Iskandar Shah, the last ruler of the ancient kingdom of Singapura. This has been consecrated as a Muslim keramat (shrine).
The park hosts several outdoor events each year including WOMAD (World of Music and Dance) and Ballet under the Stars and the occasional outdoor movie festival.
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War-Time Bunkers
Also on Fort Canning Hill is the Battle Box, Singapore's largest underground military operations complex during World War II. This warren of 26 rooms and tunnels now houses a fascinating hi-tech exhibition on the fall of Singapore in 1942. You can gaze through binocular-like lenses to view holographic figures tapping out Morse messages; the Japanese codes are still etched on the walls. However, this place often seems understaffed and since you can only go on guided tours you may find yourself waiting half an hour for the next tour.
Fort Canning Centre
Fort Canning Centre is also a hub of the arts in Singapore, with productions at both the nearby Drama Centre and the Black Box Theatre by Theatreworks and other prominent local groups. Fort Canning Centre also houses the practice studios of the Sinngapore Dance Theatre and a new culinary academy called At-Sunrice, which offers a guided tour through the lovely Spice Garden followed by a cooking class - bookings required. The academy also houses a cafe and shop offering Asian cuisine and handicrafts.
National Archives
At the foot of Fort Canning Hill is the National Archives where written and oral records of Singapore's history are kept.
Singapore Philatelic Museum
Further down at 23B Coleman Street is the Singapore Philatelic Museum, housed in a restored 90-year-old building. The interactive museum is a delightful treasure trove of stamps, first-day covers and postcards, with regular exhibitions held sporadically.
Eating
Flutes At The Fort, Hibiki Restaurant and Sake Bar, Legends Garden, Poppi, The Cafe
