Di dalam sistem pemerintahan Kesultanan Melayu, istana bukan sahaja dijadikan sebagai tempat persemayaman Sultan bahkan merupakan pusat pentadbiran negeri, ousat tumpuan acara adat istiadat kebesaran negeri, pusat perkembangan ilmu pengetahuan dan tumpuan utama kegiatan para karyawan menghasilkan daya kreatif seni, malah wujudnya sesebuah negeri itu adalah kerana terdapatnya sultan dan wujudnya istana. Berdasarkan pada hakikat ini, seluruh jentera pentadbiran negeri dan keutamaan tumpuan kegiatan seharian perlu dirujukkan kepada kepentingan istana dan menjujungi kedaulatan sultan.

Kebiasaannya seseorang raja bagi negeri yang makmur mempunyai sebuah istana yang dijadikan tempat persemayaman rasmi dan istana-istana yang didiami isteri-isteri baginda. Adalah menjadi kebiasaan bagi seseorang raja melayu tradisional mengurniakan sebuah istana khas kepada putera-putera baginda khususnya yang bakal mewarisi takhta kerajaan.

Adalah sukar untuk menggambarkan secara fizikal akan keadaan sebenar sesebuah istana raja-raja Melayu zaman tradisional krana istina-istana di zaman tersebut diperbuat daripada kayu yang tempoh ketahanannya sangat terhad.

Namun demikian di dalam Salasatus Salatin (Sejarah Melayu) ada menceritakan keadaan struktur bangunan dan ragam hias yang terdapat pada istana Suktan Mansur Syah yang dibina sekitar tahun 1465.

Sebuah istana raja-raja Melayu di zaman tradisional biasanya mempunyai singgahsana yang dilengkapi dengan bilik beradu, bilik khazanahpuri (dapur), bilik santapan dan taman larangan. Keluasan sesebuah istana itu bergantung kepada kekayaan seseorang Sultan dan negeri. Sesebuah istana raja biasanya berpagar keliling dan setiap ruang utamanya sentiasa dikawal rapi oleh pengawal istana yang diketuai oleh Bentara. Istana adalah tempat larangan bagi sekalian rakyat jelata. Hanya kerabat diraja dan pembesar-pembesar utama sahaja yang dibenarkan bebas keluar masuk tetapi hanya terhad kepada ruang-ruang tertentu sahaja. Rakyat hanya diizinkan dating ke istana apabila diadakan upacara- upacara keramaian khas seperti perkahwinan diraja, menyambut kelahiran seseorang puteri atau putera raja. Ketika diadakan keramaian, rakyat bergotong royong, memasak makanan, menyiapkan berbagai persediaan disamping berpeluang menyaksikan persembahan kebudayaan dan permainan rakyat.

Istana-istana kayu yang masih dapat disaksikan pada hari ini telah dibina pada awal kurun ke-20 dan struktur binaannya serta senibinanya telah disesuaikan dengan keadaan dan keperluan semasa. Namun demikian ragam hiasnya masih memperlihatkan cirri-ciri asal pertukangan Melayu tradisional.

The Istana (palace) in the Malay Sultanate’s administrative system was not only home for the Sultan, but also the center of administration. Cultural and traditional practices issued forth from the Istana. Knowledge and wisdom were developed and nurtured in the Istana. Arts and crafts and creative activities were centered on the Istana. Indeed a particular kingdom was founded around the Sultan and his Istana. Under these circumstances, the whole administrative machinery and a myriad of everyday activities were carried out with reference to upholding the integrity of the istana and the sovereignty of the Sultan. It was normal n a rich state for the Sultan to have one Istana as his official residence and several other smaller istanas for his wives. The Sultan would also provide an istana for his sons, especially the one chosen to succeed him to the throne.

It is impossible to reconstruct the actual atmosphere of a traditional Malay istana of the raja’s of old as these palaces were built of wood which has since succumbed to the ravages of time. Even so, the ‘Sulalatus Salatin’ Malay Annals) describes the structure and decor of the istana of Sultan Mansur Syah which was built around 1465. The ‘Hikayat Awang Sulong Merah Muda’ also describes a Malay Istana in poetry form. The istana of a Malay Raja usually consisted of a throne room, a suite of bedrooms, and the royal treasury, the kitchen, dinning hall and royal recreation area for the Sultan’s exclusive use. The size of the palace depended on the Sultan and state’s wealth. The istana would normally have a protective wall or fencing built around it with round – the- clock security by sentries under the charge of a Bentara. The istana was generally off – limits to the ‘rakyat’ (common folk). Only the immediate relatives of the Sultan and members of the gentry were allowed free movement in and out of the istana. Even so, most were restricted to particular areas of the grounds.

The rakyat were given access to the istana only on special public occasions, such as royal weddings or the birth of a prince or princess. During such occasions, the ‘rakyat’ gathered to cook, make other appropriate preparations, and participate in competitions and other sports.

Wooden istanas that can still be seen today were built around the turn of the 20th century. Their structures and décor have been adapted to contemporary needs and conditions although the décor still displays many fine features of traditional Malay woodcarving.