Residence of the Sultan of Istan-Mankeleda

• Address: Jln Menteri Besar, Bandar Seri Begawan BA2112, Brunei Darussalam;
• Website: istananuruliman.org;
• Phone: +673 862 3734.

Do you think the biggest Sultan's palace is in the most famous and rich Arab country - the United Arab Emirates? And here not. The largest residential residence of the head of state, than the palace of the sultan Istan-Mankeleda (Istan Nurul-Iman) in Brunei , there is no one in the world. It is several times larger than the scale of Buckingham and Versailles Palace and impresses with its refined eastern architecture, complemented by a picturesque exterior and luxurious interior decoration.

History of construction

1. The residence of the Sultan of Istan-Mankeleda was built in record time - in just two years. The best world experts were involved in the implementation of the country's main architectural project.
2. The exterior composition was created by Leonardo V. Loksin. He managed to harmoniously combine traditional Islamic traditions, European style and authentic Malay architectural features in the design of the facades of the palace.
3. The main designer of the interior of the residence of the sultan Istan-Mankeleda was Huang Chu - the famous designer who worked on the cult hotel in Dubai - Burj Al Arab.
4. The materials used in the construction and decoration were selected very carefully. The best world suppliers were selected. Granite and textiles imported from China, glass from Britain, marble from Italy, carpets from Sadov Arabia.
5. The grand opening of the palace took place on a historic day - January 1, 1984 - the day when the state of Brunei became sovereign.
6. In the residence there is not only a sultan with his family and numerous servants. Here also live and work important government bodies, including the Prime Minister of Brunei.

Impressive figures

• for the construction of the residence of the sultan Istan-Mankeled, more than 1 billion dollars were spent;
• in the entire building there are 44 marble staircases;
• in the palace there are 1,788 premises (among them there are only 250 bathrooms);
• total area of ​​buildings - 200 000 km²;
• The mosque accommodates 1500 people on the territory of the residence;
• The banquet hall has 5000 seats;
• 38 types of marble were used to create internal and external decor;
• in the air-conditioned stables, equipped with the latest technologies, there live 200 horses of the Sultan;
• there is an underground garage with a total area of ​​1000 km ² (there are about 110 cars in it, among which there are both ultra-modern models and rare retro cars);
• on the walls of the palace hang paintings painted by famous world artists who are worth a fortune (for example, only for one painting of Renoir the sultan at one time paid $ 70 million).

How to get to the residence of the sultan Istan-Mankeleda?

You can enter the territory of the most luxurious Sultan's palace in the world absolutely free of charge, but only once a year. The doors of the residence open to all who wish immediately after the month of Ramadan. Muslims are allowed entry for 10 days, representatives of other faiths will be able to enter the palace only in the first three days.

Immediately get ready for the fact that you have to endure a huge queue. There are a lot of people who want to see the great sultan personally. Every day, the palace is visited by about 200,000 people (for reference, only about as many people live in the capital itself). In addition, you will need to undergo a small medical examination. The fact is that the head of state and members of his family are very cordially welcome these days open doors to all guests, freely communicate with all visitors, without limiting their personal space. Therefore, the people of Sultan Istan-Mankeleda are not allowed to have signs of any diseases in order to protect the ruler from accidental infection.

At the exit from the palace you will be offered a snack and will present a memorable gift. All children are given small green bags with coins.

How to get there?

To reach the residence of the sultan Istan-Mankeleda is possible only by car. There are no public transport stops nearby. Distance from the airport is 14 km. The fastest and most convenient way is to move along Lebuhraya Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. On the final roundabout, take the western direction and follow Jalan Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha to the signpost.