Local Malays held this hill to be the abode of former kings, and called it Bukit Larangan, the Forbidden Hill.
Excavations show the hill has been inhabited on and off since the 14th century, when its residents were mostly affluent Malays. Chinese coins and pottery have been found, and in 1928 workers dug up a set of Javanese-style gold jewellery. A kramat on the hill is believed to be the tomb of the last of the kings, and in 1819 local Malays told the British that a royal palace had once stood here.
By 1822 Raffles had a bungalow on the hill and had laid out Singapore’s first botanic garden. A fort, completed in 1861, was mostly demolished by 1926. In 1942 Lieutenant-General Percival decided in a bunker here to surrender Singapore. Today the 18-hectare park is free and open 24 hours, with shady paths and a Spice Garden.
