Istana

The Istana (“palace” in Malay) is the official residence and office of the President of Singapore. It is also where the President receives and entertains state guests, as well as the working office of the Prime Minister of Singapore. It is located within a large compound along the bustling Orchard Road.

The Istana was built in the 19th century and modelled in the neo-Palladian style, with a tropical layout incorporating features similar to those of a traditional Malay house. It is surrounded by verandahs and features louvred windows and panelled doors to promote cross-ventilation, giving rise to an airy and cool interior.

The complex was built by the British colonial government to house its governors. Completed in 1869, it was then known as Government House. During the Japanese Occupation (1942–1945), the house was occupied by Field Marshal Count Terauchi, commander of the Japanese Southern Army, and Major-General Kawamura, commander of the Singapore Defence Forces. In 1959, the building was handed over to the Singapore Government when Singapore attained self-government. It was subsequently renamed the Istana.

Istana Hari Raya Open House

The Istana grounds are open to the public several times a year in celebration of Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Hari Raya Puasa, Labour Day and National Day. I was hoping for some goodie bags, but received none. =)

The Open House was from 8.30 am to 6 pm. We reached the Istana at around 4 pm, but the queue to get in was still very long. Admission to the Istana grounds was free for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents, while foreigners had to pay an entrance fee of $1 per person. All proceeds from the entrance fees collected went to the Community Chest.

On the first Sunday of the month, there is a Changing of the Guards parade. The format of the ceremony is based on the British Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace in England.

Cameras and video cameras were allowed to be brought into the compound. Sorry, smokers—apparently our President is not camera-shy but cannot tolerate the smell of cigarettes.

Even though it was an Open House, not all areas were accessible to the public. In fact, only the middle portion of the Istana grounds was open to visitors. All the buildings, except for the ground floor of the main Istana building, were out of bounds. An entrance fee of $2 was payable to enter the main building.

The main thoroughfare, Edinburgh Road, is lined with large umbrella-shaped rain trees that provide plenty of shade. On the left side of Edinburgh Road is the Swan Pond, so called because of the swans that inhabited it in the 1970s. The Swan Pond is the largest of the four ponds within the Istana grounds. The others are located around the Japanese Garden, Victoria Pond and Marsh Garden.

About 500 m down Edinburgh Road from the Main Gate is the Centre Gate. It consists of a guard post in the centre and two gates on either side. The intricate cast-iron Centre Gate was built in 1931 as a receiving post for visitors. Directly behind the Centre Gate is a miniature Japanese garden surrounded by several pine trees.

About 50 m down the road from the left gate is Sri Temasek (“splendour of Temasek”), the official residence of the Prime Minister of Singapore, although none of Singapore’s Prime Ministers have ever lived there. Sri Temasek is out of bounds to the public.

About 50 m down the road from the right gate is The Villa, also known as the Attorney-General’s House. Prior to 1984, The Villa was used to accommodate state visitors. Among its many illustrious guests were Premier Deng Xiaoping of the People’s Republic of China and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia. Further down the road from The Villa is the Military Guardroom. It is used by the ceremonial guards when they are not performing sentry duties.

In the middle of the Istana compound is a 105 mm Japanese cannon, a symbol of the liberation of Singapore following the Japanese Occupation. The gun was presented to Lord Louis Mountbatten after the Japanese surrendered in 1945.

The highlight of the visit is the Istana Main Building, which consists of a central three-storey tower with two-storey side wings. The building has six function rooms used for ceremonial and entertainment purposes. The offices of the President and his staff are also located within this building.

You might notice that the flag flown on top of the Istana is not the national bicoloured red-and-white flag. The standard used by the President of Singapore is a modification of the national flag. The crescent and stars are larger and centred on a field of red. The standard is flown at the Istana from 8 am to 6 pm, or until the President leaves for his private residence. For an entrance fee of $2, visitors could tour selected function rooms in the Istana building and view a special display of gifts presented to the President and the Prime Minister.

At the back of the Istana compound is Victoria Pond, where there is a statue of Queen Victoria. The statue was a gift from the Chinese community to the colonial government during the Jubilee Year of Queen Victoria’s reign, as a memento of their loyalty and gratitude for the benefits of her rule. There is also a huge field between the Swan Pond and Edinburgh Road. I wonder if this forms part of the nine-hole golf course within the Istana grounds.

There is a very large car park on the edge of the compound between the Main Gate and the Centre Gate. The car park looks like a typical one found in an old army camp. Perhaps it is used by staff and visitors. At the back of the car park is a toilet.

The Istana grounds are almost like a small botanical garden. More than 70 species of trees and numerous other plant species can be found there. A few nutmeg and clove trees still grow within the grounds of the Istana, remnants of its past as a plantation site.