Muzium Diraja Istana Lama Seri Menanti — Attraction in Negeri Sembilan

I have always wanted to visit the Muzium Diraja Seri Menanti since I was a child, but I only made it to the realization during recent holidays.

The museum, once known as Istana Seri Menanti was the old royal palace of Negeri Sembilan before the current royal palace. Situated at Kuala Pilah, the museum is opened free for visitors. The museum is quite large in buildings, however only the main palace is opened for visit.

The main palace has four tiers where the third and the fourth tiers are accessible through a steep staircase at tier 2. There is a main hall which serves as an information center with a lot of information regarding the architecture of the palace and Negeri Sembilan's royal customs.

The tour in the palace just takes approximately 20-30 minutes. Downstairs from the main palace, there is a souvenir shop, congkak area and a cafe for visitors to buy food and drinks.

So far, I have only been to Melaka palace, old National Palace and Seri Menanti Palace. I wish that the Negeri Sembilan government can take appropriate actions to promote the old palace with more information for visitors to see, i.e. traditional dance of Negeri Sembilan, Negeri Sembilan traditional garment for rental and...

First of all, I would like to compliment the architecture of Minangkabau, especially the ones in N.Sembilan. I love to drive around the countryside of N.Sembilan, and in many occasions, I would stop to take pictures of the unique houses around the area. The Istana Seri Menanti is an excellent visit because it allows you to experience in real life the feeling of living in such a house. The museum ground also features a smaller house at the site. After all, the Istana is a palace. Ordinary people will not own such a large house. Therefore, the smaller place beside the Istana gives you a good sample to experience living in such a beautiful design. However, it would be great to see better preservation done on the Istana. Some of the roofing areas are severely aged. Some lighting might improve some of the darker corners. Also, if an illustration is drawn for explaining the different usage and functions of each room, it will significantly enhance the experience. I hope one day, some developer will develop houses like this in a new "Taman" setting. I don't mind...

Is it just me, or do you also feel that unique vibe when you enter a historical place? It gives you a special sense of connection to the location and all the significant events that might have happened there. The burden of the past, all the human emotions captured and stored in the place, creates an awe-inspiring feeling.

I guess that's the first impression I get from this place. The Istana Lama Seri Menanti is stunning and over 100 years old. It showcases incredible local wood crafting abilities and skills, serving as a historic home for their ruler. By all odds, withstand the test of time.

When you think about it, nowadays we often take for granted what we bring into the future. We can take photos and videos, hoping to preserve our memories. Back then, they had to build something with the hope that it would last a lifetime, which makes it even more special. We should be more appreciative of our history. If you're ever in the area, make sure to drop by and experience it...