Burial Grounds | MEMORIAM

Only a few plots of cemeteries exist in land-scarce Singapore today. But four or five decades ago, Singapore was a land of cemeteries. 60 cemeteries are estimated to exist in Singapore today. But as recently as 1978, there were 213 cemeteries in Singapore. As for now, the Choa Chu Kang Cemetery is the only cemetery in Singapore that is still open for burials. However, after 15 years, the remains have to be exhumed. There are three crematoria in Singapore – one government-managed crematorium, and two private crematoria. The deceased’s ashes may be stored in columbarium niches, stored at home, or scattered at sea. Recently, in 2021, Singapore opened its first in-land ash scattering facility. Cremated ashes may now be scattered in “Garden of Peace”, which is located at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery.

cemeteries

One of the oldest cemeteries in Singapore is the Fort Canning Cemetery. Fort Canning Cemetery was closed to further burials in 1865 and eventually converted into a park. Another old cemetery is Marang Cemetery, where one of the tombstones dates back to 1866. If you are ever jogging along Mount Faber, you might stumble upon Marang Cemetery. Feel free to pay a visit to the remaining cemeteries like Kubur Kassim Cemetery, Japanese Cemetery Park and the partially demolished Bukit Brown Cemetery if you have the opportunity to.

CREMATION and columbariums

In 1962, Singapore’s first public crematoria opened on Mount Vernon. But it was met with slow demand — it had only one service hall, which held about four cremations a week. Eventually, in 2000, the government designated Mandai Crematorium as the place for public cremations and Mount Vernon Columbarium ceased operations. The Mandai Columbarium and Choa Chu Kang Columbarium are two government-managed columbaria with niches available for sale. NEA will actually provide a free allocated standard niche at any of the two government columbaria for each claimed grave that is exhumed under its exhumation programme.

Ash Management

“Garden of Peace” is the first in-land ash-scattering facility in Singapore. It has features such as wheelchair access and seating areas. There was a consensus among stakeholders such as religious groups that the garden be respectful, dignified and open to all religious faiths. Singapore’s second in-land ash-scattering facility, the “Garden of Serenity” at Mandai Columbarium is expected to be operational in 2022.

Burial grounds past and present

*Click on the location pins to view various burial grounds

Muslim Tombstones

Muslim Cemetery

Chinese Burial Ground