Istana Negara refers to two separate buildings located in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. The original Istana Negara was situated on Jalan Istana (in Central KL) and served as the official residence of the King or Head of Malaysia (called the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in Malay). Spanning an area of around thirteen acres, the palace is situated atop a hill in Bukit Petaling and has a clear view of the surrounding area and the Klang River.
The original structure built here was a two storeyed mansion constructed in 1928 by Chan Wing, a local millionaire. It was used by the Japanese Governor between 1942 and 1945 during Japan’s occupation of Malaysia and then as a British mess hall after the Japanese surrendered to the British in 1945. The land was eventually bought by the Federal Government in 1957, the year Malaysia gained independence, to serve as the home of the Sultan of Selangor.
The second Istana Negara, which is situated on Jalan Duta in northern KL, was built to replace the first one. The palace design incorporates elements of Malay and Islamic architecture and commenced operations in 2011. Much larger than the original, the palace complex spans an area of nearly one hundred hectares and is divided into three zones- an Administrative Zone, a Royal Zone and a Formal Zone. While it is currently not possible to enter either palace, they have still become popular tourist attractions. Most tourists visit to take pictures of the palace, the gardens and the guards standing outside the compound.
KL is Malaysia’s most developed city, growing from a sleepy little village into a bustling metropolis within the span of 150 years. The city has a good public transport system and plenty of accommodation catering to different budgets. Tourists looking for accommodation in the Malaysian capital should think of getting a serviced apartment Kuala Lumpur.
A Kuala Lumpur service apartment, such as the Somerset Seri Bukit Ceylon Kuala Lumpur, combines the modern amenities found in a good hotel with the friendly comfort of a home thus providing guests with the best of both worlds. The apartments are ideally located close to popular sites such as the Petronas Twin Towers and the Starhill Gallery, as well as a monorail station.