Information
Landmark: The IstanaCity: Central Region
Country: Singapore
Continent: Asia
The Istana, Central Region, Singapore, Asia
Overview
The Istana serves as both the President of Singapore’s home and workplace, with white columns and wide lawns stretching in front of its gates.This landmark ranks among the country’s most important heritage buildings, standing as a proud emblem of Singapore’s government and hosting grand state events beneath its high, echoing halls.In Malay, “Istana” means “palace,” a nod to its past as both a seat of power and a place where important decisions still echo through its halls.Between 1867 and 1869, workers laid brick and stone to create the official home of the Straits Settlements’ Governor during British colonial rule.It was first known as “Government House” and took its design cues from the grand, airy colonial mansions the British built in India.In 1959, after Singapore gained self-governance, it was renamed The Istana, its white columns bright in the tropical sun.After Singapore gained independence in 1965, it became the President’s official home, where whitewashed walls caught the morning sun.Colonial Engineer Major John Frederick Adolphus McNair designed the Istana, blending Victorian elegance with Palladian symmetry and airy tropical colonial touches, like wide verandas that catch the breeze.White facade, green roof-the mansion rises two stories high, its walls dressed in ornate trim that catches the late afternoon light.The surrounding gardens stretch across 106 acres, with quiet lakes, winding flower paths, and a nine-hole golf course tucked between the trees.Sri Temasek is a colonial-style house tucked inside the Istana grounds, serving as the Prime Minister’s official residence, its whitewashed walls gleaming under the tropical sun.Official Residence and Office of the President: The President doesn’t live here full-time, but the building hosts state dinners, speeches, and other formal events.State Events & Diplomacy: Welcomes foreign leaders, presides over formal ceremonies, and hosts state banquets where glasses clink under soft candlelight.Cabinet Meetings: Sometimes the room hosts official gatherings, from policy discussions to the swearing-in of ministers and judges, where the air smells faintly of polished wood and fresh ink.The Istana isn’t open every day, but on certain public holidays-like Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali, Labour Day, and National Day-it welcomes visitors for its Open House, where you can stroll past swan ponds, admire themed floral displays, explore sculpture-dotted gardens, and, for a small fee, step inside the grand Main Building.The Changing of the Guards ceremony is a time-honored military ritual held right at the main gate, with boots striking the stone in crisp, steady rhythm.Cultural performances and exhibitions bring Singapore’s heritage to life, from the beat of a lion dance drum to the colors of traditional Peranakan embroidery.You’ll find it on Orchard Road, Singapore 238823, just a short walk from Dhoby Ghaut MRT’s Exit B. Entry’s free for Singaporeans and PRs, but visitors from abroad pay a fee to get inside.The best time to go is during an open house, when you can wander the grounds and hear the gravel crunch under your shoes.The Istana stands as a symbol of Singapore’s political heritage, where grand white halls meet lush lawns and centuries of history intertwine with the work of governance.
