The Muzeul Diraja Perak (Perak Royal Museum) occupies the Istana Kenangan, a small but extraordinary wooden palace built in 1926 as the temporary royal residence while the Istana Iskandariah was under construction. The palace was constructed entirely without nails or modern fixings — the timber is joined with wooden pegs and traditional Malay woodwork — and is panelled inside and out in delicate carved screens and lattices.
The exhibits inside cover the history of the Perak sultanate from the 16th century to the present, including royal regalia, weapons, ceremonial costume, and a small but very fine collection of kris (the wavy-bladed Malay daggers). The building alone justifies the visit; the collection is a bonus.