Fort Canning Hill

Fort Canning Hill

Fort Canning Hill is a small hill about 48 metres high in the southeast portion of the island city-state of Singapore. It is the highest elevation within walking distance to the city’s civic district within the Downtown Core. The Malays called the hill Bukit Larangan or Forbidden Hill since olden times. This is due to the belief that it is the place where the kings of ancient Singapore were laid to rest.

About Fort Canning Hill in brief

Summary Fort Canning HillFort Canning Hill is a small hill about 48 metres high in the southeast portion of the island city-state of Singapore. It is the highest elevation within walking distance to the city’s civic district within the Downtown Core. The Malays called the hill Bukit Larangan or Forbidden Hill since olden times. This is due to the belief that it is the place where the kings of ancient Singapore were laid to rest, and it was believed to be haunted. A settlement on the hill in the 14th century was named Ban Zu by the Yuan dynasty traveller Wang Dayuan. Sir Stamford Raffles built his residence there, which was also used by other Residents and Governors. It became known as Government Hill until it was renamed Fort Canning in 1861 when a fort was built on the site. Today, the hill is the location of the Fort canning Reservoir and Fort Canner Park. It was once the centre of ancient Singapura, and was occupied by a palace with various buildings of political, religious and commercial significance. In 1928, a cache of Javanese-style gold ornaments dating to the mid-14th century were discovered while workers were excavating for the Fort Canners Reservoir. A series of archaeological digs that began in 1984 have uncovered evidence of workshops for glass and gold that dated to the 14TH century, and a ceremonial or religious area near the summit.

In the early period of the 19th century Singapore, a stream was used to provide clean drinking water for all ships stopping at the port until the demand exceeded the capacity. On 6 February 1819, Major William Farquhar, Major Abdul Rahman and Major William Hussein Shah signed the Singapore Treaty with Sultan Hussein Shah. The Singapore Treaty was signed on the top of the hill, marking the birth of Singapore as a British settlement. Before leaving on the next day, Farququhar drew up the first gun and set up the post to hoist the hoist on the Union Union. The British Resident and Commandant of Singapore was appointed as the first Resident and Commander of Singapore on the same day. On the day of the treaty, Farqhar climbed up the hill with a few Malays, accompanied by a few Malays, and signed a few instructions for the British administration of the new settlement. The hill was later renamed Singapore Hill and later Singapore Hill by the British Government. It has been used as a popular venue for music shows and concerts since the 1970s and 1980s by the Singaporean music industry. It also hosts a number of international music festivals and music festivals, such as the Singapore International Music Festival and the Singapore Music Festival, which takes place every year.