Alwatzikoebillah Place, Royal palace in Sambas, Indonesia
Alwatzikoebillah Palace is a royal residence in Sambas featuring traditional Malay architecture with carved wooden details and landscaped grounds. The centerpiece is a courtyard with a flagpole and three cannons, accessed through two ceremonial gates at opposite ends.
The palace was constructed between 1933 and 1935 under Sultan Muhammad Mulia Ibrahim Syafiuddin, with funding from the Kutai Kartanegara Sultanate. The three British cannons displayed in the courtyard arrived much earlier, having been presented in 1813 as a diplomatic gift.
The palace courtyard serves as an active space where the Sultan of Sambas presides over traditional Malay ceremonies and celebrations that remain part of local life. The layout and grounds are designed to accommodate these ongoing ritual practices that define the sultanate's role in the community.
Visitors enter through either of the two gates and can walk freely around the courtyard and grounds at their own pace. The site is compact and flat, making it easy to explore all areas without difficulty or confusion.
Four pillars surrounding the central flagpole represent the four ministers of the Sultan, while two additional pillars symbolize the religious leaders who advise on governance. This arrangement reflects how the palace's physical design expresses the hierarchy and roles within the sultanate.
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