Istana Iskandariah, Royal palace in Kuala Kangsar, Malaysia

Istana Iskandariah sits on Bukit Chandan hill with a rectangular form topped by one main dome and four smaller domes spanning three floors. The design blends European colonial architecture with pointed arches and onion-shaped domes that give it a distinctive appearance.

Istana Iskandariah was built on the site of the Istana Negara (State Palace) of 1895, which was demolished in 1933. Sultan Iskandar Shah initiated the new palace, completed in 1933, and it is named after him. After the Air Bah (Big Flood) of 1926, the residence was moved up to Bukit Chandan above the Perak River. Sultan Abdul Aziz moved in on Sultan Iskandar's death in 1938.

This palace serves as the setting for the enthronement ceremonies of Perak's sultans, where royal traditions and protocols have been upheld for nearly a century. These ceremonial events strengthen the connection between the ruler and the people while marking important moments in the state's governance.

The palace stands on Bukit Chandan, on the bank of the Sungai Perak opposite the town side, beside Kampung Padang Kawad; the building faces the sunrise and the river. It is a working royal residence and protocol palace for state honours ceremonies, so visits are limited to the exterior and the surrounding grounds.

The 1984 rear extension, 99 by 38.7 metres, was built to match the main palace so closely that the two read as one building; it added a second main dome and four more corner domes, giving the palace two main domes and eight smaller ones. Its ground floor houses the royal car garage, the first floor a Banquet Hall and the second floor the Throne Room, decorated with Bunga Kelumpang carvings.