Visitors to Istana treated to refreshed heritage tour

Under the noonday sun, volunteer guide Gan Lai Chui passed round a stalk of the bread flower plant for tour participants to smell the pandan-like fragrance exuded by its white, star-shaped flowers.

- Joyce Teo

The climbing plant was a favourite of Madam Kwa Geok Choo, the wife of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, said Mrs Gan, 77.

This and other historical anecdotes were recounted during the hour-long refreshed heritage tour that visitors to the Istana on Oct 20 could join. The Istana was open to the public in celebration of Deepavali, which falls on Oct 31 this year.

Other factoids included how the Istana, which is the office of the president, was shaped by its different inhabitants over the decades.

Built in 1869, the Istana includes gardens and other buildings in a space the size of about 60 football fields.

For instance, visitors were taken to the quiet, tree-lined Japanese Garden, which was the brainchild of the late Mr Lee. He had wanted a place on Istana grounds to test-bed plant species that could be introduced to Singapore, said Mrs Gan.

Visitors also strolled through the Inclusive Garden with its tall planters. The garden was mooted by Madam Halimah Yacob during her term in office to cater to a wider range of visitors to its grounds, such as seniors, wheelchair users and people with disabilities.