ISTANA NURUL IMAN: The World's Largest Palace
The world’s largest Royal Palace is found in our neighboring village called Brunei. The Istana Nurul Iman is where the handsome Sultan and his families live *families in plural form, wink wink*. He also uses it for State functions, running the country, or whatever the heck he pleases. The office of the Prime Minister is also here so he can keep an eye on him*self*. LOL!
How large is the “largest”?
The Istana Nurul Iman was completed in 1984. It cost around US$1.4 Billion ONLY (in those days!). The total floor area is 2,152,782 sq ft. That’s 28 football fields! Whoa! And half the size of the entire Vatican City! And if you fancy building a pyramid as big as in Giza… you can fit 4 of those in the Istana Nurul Iman.
It is larger than the Buckingham Palace in London and the Royal Palace in Madrid.
Well… it only has 1,788 rooms to start, thank you very much. The 257 bathrooms would keep you squeaky clean all day. It has a Throne Hall, a banquet hall that can accommodate 4,000 guests; a mosque that can fit 1,500 people. It has 5 swimming pools, 564 chandeliers, 44 stairwells, and 18 elevators. Did I mention central air conditioning? Ok, add that too. There.
I heard the Sultan is not much into cars.
He keeps 165 Rolls Royce’s ONLY. And his collection of custom-made Ferraris, Bentleys, and Porsche says that he really doesn’t like cars much. Oh my god! His world famous 110-car garage is full! Where does he keep the rest? I want his contact number! Quick!
Giddy-yup delight. The Sultan keeps more than 200 Polo ponies in an air conditioned stable within the palace grounds. I wanna know who rides ‘em and where do they dispose tons of horse**** they gather everyday. Ha!
You wanna visit? Dream on dude! ~ The palace is not open to the public. Uhm, well, except on Hari Raya Aidilfitri where it is an open house to welcome Bruneians and visitors for a 3-day chow fest.
What's in a name? - Istana means "palace", Nurul means "light" and Iman means "believe".
How large is the “largest”?The Istana Nurul Iman was completed in 1984. It cost around US$1.4 Billion ONLY (in those days!). The total floor area is 2,152,782 sq ft. That’s 28 football fields! Whoa! And half the size of the entire Vatican City! And if you fancy building a pyramid as big as in Giza… you can fit 4 of those in the Istana Nurul Iman.
It is larger than the Buckingham Palace in London and the Royal Palace in Madrid.
Well… it only has 1,788 rooms to start, thank you very much. The 257 bathrooms would keep you squeaky clean all day. It has a Throne Hall, a banquet hall that can accommodate 4,000 guests; a mosque that can fit 1,500 people. It has 5 swimming pools, 564 chandeliers, 44 stairwells, and 18 elevators. Did I mention central air conditioning? Ok, add that too. There.
I heard the Sultan is not much into cars.He keeps 165 Rolls Royce’s ONLY. And his collection of custom-made Ferraris, Bentleys, and Porsche says that he really doesn’t like cars much. Oh my god! His world famous 110-car garage is full! Where does he keep the rest? I want his contact number! Quick!
Giddy-yup delight. The Sultan keeps more than 200 Polo ponies in an air conditioned stable within the palace grounds. I wanna know who rides ‘em and where do they dispose tons of horse**** they gather everyday. Ha!
You wanna visit? Dream on dude! ~ The palace is not open to the public. Uhm, well, except on Hari Raya Aidilfitri where it is an open house to welcome Bruneians and visitors for a 3-day chow fest.What's in a name? - Istana means "palace", Nurul means "light" and Iman means "believe".
Treasure of Brunei, Pride of Southeast Asia.
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14 Comments:
Philippine National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin was the designer of Istana Nurul Iman...I just can't imagine how much did he get from the sultan when he designed the place...gawd!
Pisanu, you said "The office of the Prime Minister is also here so he can keep an eye on him. LOL!"
He IS the Prime Minister. Hahah.
can the sultan adopt me as one of his kids?!?!
@ curbside_puppet: If you were a blood relative of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, why not! That would make you and the Sultan distant relatives too!
Reminded me of the Filipina who used to be a Princess there.
@ Mojo Potato: Whoa! One of our National Artists may just have become richer than all other Phil NAs!
If you're reading this, your Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah sir, can I have one S-type Mercedes please?
whoa a filipino designed it?? COol and how come this is the first time I have hear of this palace? Good job on researching and Featuring this..XD
I'll ask my cousin...how it is like to be one of the wives of the Sultan (*wink-wink!). :)
That palace is massive! It's like 9,606 times bigger than my place! LOL
OMG I would wanna hook up with the Sultan, can I have his number please? LOL. How many wives and mistress or girlfriends does he have?
Actually only his first wife lives in Istana Nurul Iman. As per Islamic law, when a man marries more than one he must provide to all wives equally. Thus, the second wife also has her own palace of course. Balance is key!
However, his sons and daughters do live in Nurul Iman, as do his grandchildren. There is another secret palace in the grounds of Nurul Iman visible from the river behind the palace, and that is where the Crown Prince reside. :)
I should also add, HM Sulan Hassanal has the biggest collection of customised Aston Martins, which is actually his favorite brand of car.
You have the ponies fact wrong. It is widely known throughout the country that the Sultan plays his Polo Games in the special Jerudong Polo Club.
Thats all folks.
OMG! There you go, folks! An input from an actual Bruneian! Wow!
To be quite honest, I am thrilled! You know why?...This is the legendary MAURINA of Turquoise & Roses! She's been sitting on my blogroll for almost a year now and finally, a cool comment. I'm all crimson.
Maurina, thank you very much and we'd like you to know it is always welcome and appreciated. =)
10,000 years to Brunei!
leandro got the project coz of his buddy zobel de ayala who plays polo with the sultan at the manila polo club. - lousy design, not much different from his other bldgs.
d.m.consunji built the palace - shoddy construction, made millions by using phil matls.
not all the rooms were finished, locsin ONLY did the exterior. the interiors was done by pinoys who cant say who they are coz of the waiver clause they signed.
i saw their forum link at http://www.manganton.blogspot.com/
ciao!
kiwi.pino
there were renovations or re-doing of interiors for the palace made during the early 90's by pinoy architects and interior designers, including doing the palaces of the brothers and sisters of the Sultan, plus their own private entertainment places.... the company was based then in Makati City with a mother company based in Brunei. One very interesting room done was the private sleeping quarters of the Sultan himself, which was so huge in terms of floor area, so big, so lavishly and opulently designed... and omg.... each furniture piece is a big fortune itself made by Italians but designed by Filipinos.... aren't they great?
Also, filipinos also renovated and re-did the interiors of his London house during the same time, with pinoys enjoying the perks of travelling back and forth in the said place, and even stayng there on the duration of works.
Lastly, there is not only one Filipina who became a wife of one of his brothers but also there is one very lucky former model who became a wife of one of the princes, and she's a great lady
how lucky for azrinaz mazhar hakim to marry this handsome sultan[he still look good for somebody who almost reach 60].. i envy her.. let me seduce one of the royal family.. hehe
PRAYER FOR
LATE
GRAND MOTHER
SANJAY DUBEY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUbY7-DxYns&feature=related
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