+ Istana | Kampong Glam

Istana Kampong Glam beside Sultan Mosque

Believe it or not, it was my first time stepping into the Istana, as if tracing my roots.

It was the official residence of Sultan Hussain Muaazzam Shah ibni Sultan Mahmud. He was and Temenggong Abdul Rahman, ceded all Malay sovereign rights to rule Singapore to British India Company.

In return the British rebuilt the palace in 1840 and recognised that Kampong Glam enclave or Kota Raja to remain in the Sultan's family and his decendents with annual stipend.

Believed to be designed by George Coleman, the island's first European architect.

It has 3 arches on the front and decade and windows that are similar to other historic buildings here - previous Parliament House and Armenian Church.

The Istana compound was landscaped beautifully and the whole Istana was protected witha perimeter wall. Kampong styled houses were built around this for the Sultan's kins.

Not until a year ago the Istana was lived by the Sultan's royal decendents, but now has been restored and turned into a Malay Royal Heritage Museum.

On the left of the main entrance, stands a large grand house traditionally painted in royal colour - yellow, the locals called it Gedung Kuning or Yellow Mansion.

Once occupied by Sultan's decendants up to Tengku Mahmud, Tengku being Prince.

It was sold upon his death to a local Javanese businessman Haji Yusof and his decendants. Now it is turned into a Traditional Malay Restaurant - Tepak Sirih unfortunately.

All this enlightenment of our Malay heritage when we "stumbled" upon it from our walk for dinner from purchasing our display console from La Cafa at Furniture Mall.