It stands on a 13-acre (50,000 m2) site, located on a commanding position on the slope of a hill of Bukit Petaling overlooking the Klang River, along Jalan Syed Putra.

The palace was originally a double-storey mansion called The Big House built in 1928 by a local Chinese millionaire, Chan Wing.

But the most extensive upgrading was carried out in 1980, as it was the first time that the installation ceremony of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was held at the Istana Negara.

After the Istana Negara was moved to the new palace on Jalan Duta in December 2011, it was later used for a royal exhibition called Raja Kita, in conjunction with the installation of Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah as the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 2012.

Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim said the practice will help retain the old palace as a must-visit tourist destination.

[3] Several rooms and halls at the old Istana Negara will be open to visitors to learn of their use to the previous thirteen Kings who lived in this old royal palace.

On each side of the arch, are two guard posts to shelter two members of the cavalry in their full dress uniform similar to the ones at Buckingham Palace, London.

It is thus for the same purpose that the Singgahsana at the Balai Rong Seri of Istana Negara has been artistically and elaborately designed to reflect a structure that embodies traditional Malay values of the highest quality, befitting the official use of His Majesty The Yang di-Pertuan Agong in carrying out his duties as the Head of State.

The overall design of the Singgahsana is of an upright structure to symbolise that all human beings ought to constantly remember and bow their Creator, that is, Allah the Almighty.

The inscription of the word Allah, Muhammad and a verse of the holy Quran signify the position of Islam as the official religion of the Federation.

Works Minister Shaziman Abu Mansor said the palace is now "Kuala Lumpur's most amazing architectural achievement, surpassing even the Twin Towers".