Google Sightseeing takes you on tour of the world as seen from satellite, using the free Google Earth program, or Google Maps in your web browser. Each weekday your guides James and Alex present new weird and wonderful sights as suggested by readers.

The editors: James & Alex

The Sultan of Brunei

Posted by Alex, Monday, 16th October 2006

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The ostentatious Istana Nurul Iman palace is the official residence of the one-time richest man on the planet, the Sultan of Brunei.

Arguably this is the largest residential palace in the world, and possibly even the largest residence of any type. Beneath the golden domes and sculpted ceilings are reputedly some 1,788 rooms, 257 bathrooms, 5 swimming pools, a 1,500 person mosque, 564 chandeliers, 51,000 light bulbs, 44 stairwells, 18 elevators and of course, the Sultan’s staggeringly awesome, and totally unmatchable car collection is probably here somewhere too.

He also seems to have an awful lot of satellite dishes. How much TV can one guy watch huh?

Over in England, we’re informed that this is might well be the Sultan’s London residence. Which we were perfectly happy to accept when we saw for ourselves the beautiful waterfront location, the ominous-loooking gates, the private basketball court, and not forgetting the modest collection of cars parked outside.

OK, so it’s not the world’s largest palace . . . but that little holiday home has got to cost some serious money, right?

Thanks to Victor K. and Glenn.

9 Responses to 'The Sultan of Brunei'

  1. 1. rob says:

    Much more interestingly, I’m enjoying the multiple football games above the Sultan’s London Home! :D

  2. 2. rob says:

    He also has a rather long name: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassanal_Bolkiah

  3. 3. Gert-Jan says:

    What are the semicircles to the south?
    Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

  4. 4. Patrick says:

    OK….I take back what I said in my earlier post about the site going downhill. Sultan of Brunei stuff rocks.

  5. 5. Robert says:

    Contour lines of a hill, I think, but I’ve never seen them so clearly. Actually, I think that’s terracing that makes the lines so clear.

  6. 6. Lee says:

    Sod that, it’s his own personal life size subuteo stadium!

  7. 7. Patrick says:

    Kind of disapointing really. One would think with THAT much money he would build that palace on an island or something….farther back in the jungle you know? away from the city.

  8. 8. hac says:

    Let’s not forget to add the Sultan’s little brother’s $60M Las Vegas “home”.

    Placemark: Linkage / Google Earth

    If you zoom in on the placemarker, and follow the gates around the property, you can see just how immense this place is

    lvlife.com article on the home

  9. 9. Ezal says:

    I’m Bruneian and In the sultan’s palace there is many Cars such as Rolls-Royce, many of them even the concept one anb Bentley,Hummer,McLaren F1, and many fancy,big and expensive cars…..

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