Sang Nila Utama Garden in Fort Canning Park

It is a small diversion on my walk home to go through Fort Canning Park.  As the name suggests it used to be a military establishment.  And like any good fort through the ages it was established on the highest bit of ground available in the area.

As the name also attests it is today a public park, garden, greenspace, and is located on the edge of the original civic administration district and part of the modern Central business district of Singapore.  Among other things within its carefully curated boundaries are the Raffles Garden dedicated to one Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles (whose name will be forever associated with modern Singapore.  For anyone not British enough to be marinated in that history here is a link to some info on the man.)

Apart from all the governorship stuff he did, he was apparently also a keen naturalist (that's a plant collector in his case).  Fort Canning Park has a garden dedicated to his devotion to this hobby and it is notably stuffed with potentially commercial tree crops - spices in particular.  Cynic that I am I do wonder to what extent his interest was motivated by the wealth that it might generate. (Maybe many hobbies are similarly motivated; I shouldn't be hard on the man.)

Considerably more charming in its appearance is the Sang Nila Utama Garden.  This area has been designed and planted out as a tribute to an earlier civilization that occupied this hill.  Archaeology has uncovered a 'kingdom' based here about 700 years ago, and the garden has been built up with 'ruins' based on remains of a grand gateway on a similarly aged ancient site in Java. The garden is an absolute delight with openings to draw one in and along, paths, gardens, potted specimen plants, a tranquil formal pond, and small sculptures representing animals, mythical creatures, and spiritual symbols.

Wood, water, stone - the foundation, say the Italians, of any good garden design.  Sang Nila Utama has all of those and greenery in abundance.  A refreshing place to spend a few relaxing hours on a hot day in Singapore.