Discovering Fort Canning Park: A Journey Through History and Nature

There was a time when I had a list of places that I planned to visit on specific dates marked in my calendar. There are many spots in Singapore I hadn’t really explored until I started contributing to the Worldmappin community. This community motivated me to venture out, take strolls, and discover interesting places and experiences to share with the Hive community. It's something I genuinely enjoy and always look forward to whenever the weekend comes around.

However, due to the unpredictable weather lately, I’m no longer able to properly schedule my trips or visits to the places I had planned to explore. With the current rainy season, I’ve decided to work around the rain instead. It feels less frustrating than hoping for good weather when I already know the chances of it are slim.

So earlier today, when the weather turned bright and sunny in the late afternoon, I decided not to waste the opportunity and headed to Fort Canning Park.

The nearest MRT station to the park is Dhoby Ghaut, which is about a 10-minute walk away. There are also bus services with stops very close to the park's entrance, adjacent to Hill Street. I’d say the park is very accessible from the city center and easy to find.

I started my stroll from the entrance on Hill Street, which I personally think is the best one.

I mentioned earlier that I personally think this entrance is the best because of the multiple stairs I had to climb to reach the top, lol. I've been needing exercise recently, and it feels like this hike satisfied my craving for it. Fortunately, there are resting benches on specific levels where one can take a break before moving on to the next set of stairs.

At the top level of the stairs, I saw a marker indicating that I was close to Raffles Garden, which is one of the areas in Fort Canning Park. There are plenty of gardens within the park due to Singapore’s historical preservation and green space initiatives. The entire park is dedicated to preserving its landmarks and the surrounding nature.

Finally, I reached the top step, where I was greeted by a beautiful sign, a fountain, and the symmetrical alignment with the Fort Canning Flagstaff and Raffles House. The layout of the garden is inspired by the time when Raffles was active in Singapore during the 19th-century colonial period.

There are benches in this area if you wish to rest before exploring the gardens.

A closer look at the Flagstaff and the House.

The Raffles House is a neo-classical style of architecture that was popular during the British colonial era.

On the right side of the garden stands the Fort Canning Lighthouse. In the past, it served as a navigation aid for sailors arriving and docking in Singapore. Nowadays, it is preserved as a landmark for this area of the city and to maintain its historical significance for the country.

From here, I continued my stroll to other areas of the park, which include a variety of gardens and old bunkers as well.

It was a long walk from here, but that was fine because there were interesting things to see along the way.

One of these is the actual cannon that was used to decorate the walls of Fort Canning. Although these are real, operable cannons, they were never actually used.

Along the walk, I encountered amazing century-old trees that seem like they don’t belong to this era. The trunks and the overgrowth of the roots are stunning and quite eerie as well.

From here I walked straight ahead to the spice gardens.

The ambiance in this area of the park feels different. There is a distinct aroma coming from the pandan plants that makes the area smell enchanting.

In this area is the Keramat Sultan Iskandar Shah, a site of religious significance in Malay culture.

The last attraction that I visited is the Artisan's Garden.

In conclusion, exploring Fort Canning Park offers a unique blend of history, nature, and tranquility, making it a perfect getaway within the bustling city. Each corner reveals captivating stories and stunning landscapes that enrich our appreciation for Singapore's heritage. I encourage everyone to take the time to visit and immerse themselves in the beauty and significance of this remarkable place.