Seri Menanti

Seri Menanti is a town, a mukim and a state assembly constituency in the Kuala Pilah District, in central Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. It is the royal town of the state of Negeri Sembilan and houses the seat of the Yang Di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan or Yamtuan Besar, the ruler of the state of Negeri Sembilan.[1] The royal palace is known as "Istana Besar". Luak Tanah Mengandung is part of Seri Menanti. Seri Menanti is not to be confused with Kampong Seri Menanti, Muar, Johor.

For the state constituency represented in the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly, see Seri Menanti (state constituency).
The current residence of the Yang Di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Yamtuan Besar, the Istana Besar Seri Menanti
Seri Menanti Old Palace

History

The Minangkabaus moved to the wider area of Negeri Sembilan during the 14th century. Around the 15th century they moved further inland from Rembau and explored the Seri Menanti area. Among the explorers was Datuk Puteh of Pagar Ruyung. According to legend, they found three stalks of fresh green paddy and thus Datuk Puteh christened the area Padi Menanti (literally awaiting paddy). Over time the name changed to Seri Menanti.[2] It is believed that the word "seri" means the Goddess of rice in the ancient Javanese tradition (in Javanese: Sri).

Raja Melewar arrived in Negeri Sembilan in 1773, installed and proclaimed as the first Yamtuan Besar in Kampung Penajis in Rembau. He later moved his palace to Seri Menanti which remains the royal town of Negeri Sembilan.

Notable and historical landmarks

The official Palace for the Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan is Istana Besar Seri Menanti. The palace complex consists of the Main Palace, the Throne Room (Balairong Seri), and the Royal Banquet Hall. The Istana Besar Seri Menanti was completed in 1932

The old wooden palace is known as Istana Lama, was built and officiated during the reign of Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhammad ibni Almarhum Tuanku Antah (who reigned between 1888–1933) is made in part of Chengal (Penak) wood Neobalanocarpus and ironwood or belian wood Eusideroxylon zwageri and held together using only wooden pegs. The palace took six years to build and was completed in 1908 at a cost of $45,000.00 at that time. The design has subtle hints of Minangkabau architecture, has five levels rising to a height of sixty-seven feet or approximately twenty meters high and has ninety-nine columns to support the main structure. The Istana Lama was a replacement for Istana Pulih which was burned down by British soldiers. The drawings and plans for Istana Lama were detailed by Mr Woodford (Public Works Department) based on the designs provided by two local craftsmen, Kahar and Taib. This palace was used until 1932 after which the Yang Di-Pertuan Besar moved to Istana Besar. The Istana Lama has been designated as a national heritage site and was converted into a Royal Museum in 1992 and is currently closed to the public to facilitate repairs and upgrading works which are expected to be completed in 2020.

Other landmarks include the Seri Menanti Royal Mausoleum, the Tuanku Munawir Royal Mosque (Masjid DiRaja Tuanku Munawir), the Seri Menanti Resort, and the eighteen-hole Royal Seri Menanti Golf and Country Club which also has two squash courts.

There is also the Ladang Alam Warisan located in Kampong Tengah which has horseback riding and horseback archery and lodging facilities. There are also several homestay providers.

Surrounding area

Among the villages in the area are Kampung Tanah Datar, Kampung Tengah, Kampung Gamin, Kampung Istana Lama, Kampung Sikai, Kampung Buyau, Kampung Batu Hampar, Kampung Mertang Seberang, Kampung Merual, Kampung Galau, Kampung Masjid Terbakar, Kampung Padang Biawas, Kampung Jumbang, Kampong Gunung Pasir and others. A few traditionally styled houses, a derivative of the Minangkabau design Rumah Gadang remain standing around Seri Menanti and in the adjacent villages. A significant portion of the land in Seri Menanti is Malay Reserve and Malay Customary Land or Tanah Adat.

Getting there

By Road

Seri Menanti located about 33.2 km from Seremban via Jalan Kuala Pilah-Seremban (Route 51) with a right turn at the junction at kampung Terachi on to N29. the town of Kuala Pilah is approximately 14 km away via route 51 and N24. The N24 continues to Senaling which is about 12 km away and connects on to Route 9 with Kuala Pilah (left turn), Johol and Tampin (right turn).

Local Services

The town consists of a row of wooden shop houses, a post office, a police station, a government clinic (Klinik Kesihatan), a general-purpose hall (Dewan Tunku Ampuan Najihah), a primary school SRK Tunku Laxamana Nasir and a secondary school SMK Tunku Besar Burhanuddin. There are several mosques in the Seri Menanti area.

  • Masjid DiRaja Tuanku Munawir
  • Masjid Lama Tanjung Beringin
  • Masjid Gunung Pasir
  • Masjid Kariah Kampong Parit Istana
  • Masjid Kariah Sri Pliah

The Tunku Besar of Seri Menanti

The incumbent Tunku Besar of Seri Menanti is Tunku Ali Redhauddin, the eldest son of the Yang Di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir. The title of Tunku Besar Seri Menanti is the most senior of the Putera Yang Empat (Four Princes). This is the third time in 120 years that the Tunku Besar Seri Menanti has been appointed.[3]

Local Events

January: Birthday day celebrations of the Yang Di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan. Celebrations start with an honour guard held at the main field and an Investiture ceremony at the Istana Besar. There are also cultural and sporting events held to celebrate his birthday which has included soccer, cycling and golf. There are other events throughout the year. In March 2017, it was the site of the CIMB CYCLE @ SERI MENANTI 2017 which comprised the 120 km Endurance Route and 35 km Challenge Route.

Heritage

In February 2009, the Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal announced that the Istana Lama Seri Menanti is among ten historical structures in Malaysia gazetted as a national heritage, along with Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur and The Stadthuys in Malacca.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Seri Menanti Palace of Negeri Sembilan" (PDF). Malaysian Australian New Zealand Association. March 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  2. "The Royal Town of Seri Menanti". Malaysia Story Blog. 31 July 2007. Archived from the original on 26 February 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  3. "Tunku Ali appointed Tunku Besar Seri Menanti". Bernama. The Star (Malaysia). 23 February 2009. Archived from the original on 12 February 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  4. "Heritage status for 10 sites". The Star (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 18 February 2009. Retrieved 15 February 2009.

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