The Battlebox Singapore- Fort Canning Bunker

Fort Canning Bunker, Singapore Overview

The Battlebox is a war bunker dating back to World War II, now converted into a museum. Located at Fort Canning Hill, this former bomb-proof command centre/shelter is regarded as one of the prime touristic spots in Singapore, also known as Fort Canning Bunker. It was inside the walls of Battlebox that the British decided to surrender Singapore to the Japanese. Now, the Battlebox museum unveils true causes that led to the disastrous and largest capitulation in British History.

Entry to the Battle Box is exclusively through guided tours, which are conducted daily. There are two entrances to The Battle Box that also boasts of 27 rooms. Built 30 feet beneath the Fort Canning Hill, the BattleBox was constructed with reinforced concrete walls as three feet to withstand direct hits from bombs and shells. Since World War II, the Fort Canning Bunker was looted in the aftermath of the Japanese surrender and sealed closed due to safety concerns. Its location was also forgotten until a journalist rediscovered the remains and brought the museum back into the public eye. The Fort Canning Bunker later developed into a museum, representing the final days of the Battle of Singapore. The name BattleBox was given and formally opened in the year 1997, on the 55th anniversary of the surrender of Singapore.

The Battle Box Tours

A Story of Strategy & Surrender
This tour gives you a glimpse of the fall of Malaya and Singapore in WWII, and how an underground command centre functioned during the war.
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Maximum Capacity: 25 persons
Cost: Adult- SGD 20 Child- from 7 to 12 years- SGD 10

A Tour of Battlebox & Fort Canning Hill
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Timings: Every Monday and Thursday, no tours on public holidays: 2:00 PM
Entry Fee: Adult: SGD 32, Child (7 – 12 years): SGD 15

The Battlebox also provides customised and tailor-made school programs for students. It has seperate tours for Singaporean and overseas military groups. Battlebox also has special tours for companies that include team-building events and so on. Besides these, it offers private tours for those who request in advance.
Timings
Mondays, including public holidays: 1.30 PM, 2.45 PM, 4.00 PM
Tuesdays to Sundays, including public holidays: 9.45 AM, 11.00 AM, 1.30 PM, 2.45 PM, 4.00 PM
Entry Fee
Adult: SGD 18
Child (7 – 12 years): SGD 9

Construction of Fort Canning Bunker

Formerly known as the Headquarters Malaya Command Operations Bunker, the BattleBox concluded its construction in 1941. The journalist who discovered the BattleBox, claims it to have 29 room while other sources differ with an opinion of 22 rooms. The bunker was constructed to withstand attacks from bombs and shells. It included a telephone exchange which had a connection to all military and many civilian switchboards in Malaya. The telephone exchange also had various signals in operation rooms, sleeping cubicles and latrines. The Bunker also included a cypher room which was used for encoding and decoding encrypted materials of information.

Tips

Get your tickets at the Battlebox Visitor Centre 15 minutes before your tour timing.
Battlebox Tours are unsuitable for children aged 7 years and below.

How to Reach The Battle Box

Taxi: Take a taxi and halt at the traffic circle next to Hotel Fort Canning. The Battle Box Visitor Centre is just in the front of the circle.

MRT
From Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station Exit B: Get down here. Now, keep walking straight and then cross the road to take 9 Penang Road. Reach the sheltered promenade just in front of this road. Now, turn left and walk till the end of the pathway. Take the pedestrian ramp to walk up to Fort Canning Tree Tunnel. Then, cross the tunnel and take the spiral staircase erected at the tunnel’s end. After reaching the top, walk in the right direction and go straight up the staircase leading to Percival Road. here, there is a traffic circle just next to Hotel Fort Canning. In front of this circle lies the Battle Box Visitor Centre.

From Fort Canning MRT Station (Downtown Line) Exit B: Get down at this station and then turn to the right. Walk towards the escalator that lies at the bottom of Fort Canning Hill. Walk up the hill taking the escalators that are covered with glass. Go straight and then take right when you see the signpost. Battle Box is only 160 meters away from the signpost. Take the walkway and go straight till you arrive at the V-shaped road. This road will come before the Fort Gate. From here, turn left and walk straight till you reach another walkway in grey. Here, turn left and go down the slopey grey pathway. Just at the end of the pathway lies The Battle Box Visitor Centre.