Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani are one of the most famous couples in India. Their luxurious mansion, Antilia, has always been in the news due to its ultra-modern architecture and state-of-the-art design. Rs 15000 crore Antilia is considered to be one of the most expensive homes in the world.
However, there are a couple of exceptional homes that are giving Mukesh Ambani's Antilia a tough competition. These homes are immense and luxurious. While Antilia has a stunning design, its building features, and a location in Mumbai, visiting some of these other homes is extraordinary and uniquely opulent in a manner that is beyond what one would find in even the most expensive house in India, with hundreds of rooms and large grounds.
We're talking about the Istana Nurul Iman, the royal palace of Hassanal Bolkiah, who has served as the Sultan of Brunei since 1967 and has been the Prime Minister of Brunei since the tiny nation gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1984. Like only a handful of other leaders left in the world today, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is one of the few absolute monarchs in the world. He has substantial power in his country. He is known for living a luxurious lifestyle, which, in part, is supported by his unrivaled wealth, which is estimated to be approximately $30 billion (over Rs 3,000 crore), making him one of the world's richest royals.
According to the GQ India report, the Istana Nurul Iman Palace near Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, is the place of residence of the Sultan of Brunei. It was designed in 1984 by Filipino architect Leandro V. Locsin. The palace has a total area surpassing 2.15 million square feet and contains over 1,700 rooms, a banquet hall that can accommodate 5,000 visitors, over 250 bathrooms, a mosque that can hold over 1,500 worshippers, five swimming pools, a garage, and an air-conditioned stable for the Sultan's polo ponies.
The Sultan of Brunei conducts state ceremonies, celebrations and political affairs in this building because it is his official residence. Architecturally, the palace reflects concepts of Malaysian architecture combined with Brunei's Islamic culture. The Palace's dome-shaped form is covered with 22-carat gold, and this gold was also used for the interior, which was done by Khuan Chew, who also designed Dubai's Burj Al Arab.
In addition to the colossal Istana Nurul Iman Palace, the Sultan of Brunei has an astonishing fleet of 7,000 cars, including 450 Ferraris, 600 Rolls-Royce cars, 380 Bentleys, and a rare gold-plated Rolls-Royce with an open roof, among others. The Economic Times reports that Sultan's car collection is valued at about $5 billion (approx. Rs 41,900 crore).