The sultan's National Palace, or Istana Negara, is an incredibly beautiful building rising on a hill above the river. The two-story palace with arched windows and columns is crowned by two towers with yellow domes, combining colonial style and local architectural traditions.
The building was constructed in 1928 by the Chinese millionaire Chang Wing and was formerly called simply the Big House. During World War II and after it, the palace changed hands, but it always remained the residence of the governments in power in Malaysia. In 1957, the house was bought by the authorities of Malaysia and since then became the National Palace and the official residence of the sultan.
Until 2011, visitors were forbidden from entering the grounds of the National Palace. However, tourists and local residents loved taking pictures against the backdrop of the beautiful gates with guardhouses, the palace, and the adjacent park. The changing of the foot and mounted guard of the Royal Guard, held at the gates of the palace grounds, invariably attracted many spectators.
In 2011, the sultan moved to a new, even more beautiful and spacious residence, and since 2013 the building of the old National Palace has housed the Royal Museum.
In 2012, the Raja Kita exhibition dedicated to the reigning king and his family was held here. In the future, some rooms of the palace are planned to be opened to visitors so they can learn how the ruler of Malaysia lived for many years.
