Malay Heritage Centre (Former Istana Kampong Gelam)

Once the residence of Malay royalty and also referred to as "Istana Kampong Gelam", the building was conserved and developed into the Malay Heritage Centre in 2005. As the first stop of the trail, you will be able to discover the culture, heritage and history of the Malay community in Singapore here.

The building was commissioned by Tunku Ali, the son of Sultan Hussein, when he returned to Singapore in 1840. Preceded by at least two istana buildings, it is distinguished by its unique architecture that combines traditional Malay motifs with the Palladian style.

In 1897, the court decided in a dispute between members of the royal family that the Kampong Glam property belonged to the British Crown. An ordinance was then enacted by the British government to provide an income for Sultan Hussein's descendants. The building continued to serve as residence for the family until 1999, when redevelopment plans for Kampong Glam were announced.

After its reopening in 2005, further renovations were carried out between 2011 and 2012. The redeveloped centre was launched in September 2012.