Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
September 2, 2016

Istana Nurul Iman, which means the Palace of the Light of Faith, is the official residence of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. It is known to be the world’s biggest residential palace of any type and is said to be more than four times the size of the Palace of Versailles in France.

Designed by renowned Filipino architect Leandro V. Locsin, the exterior of the palace shows a mixture of elements — Malay with its vaulted roofs and Islam for its domes and arches. Its construction was completed in 1984 and carried over by Ayala International, a known Filipino construction firm.

Istana Nurul Iman opens its doors to the public only during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festivities in celebration of the end of Ramadan.

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