The Old Palace of Seri Menanti

 The Old Palace of Seri Menanti

A masterpiece of Minangkabau architecture. Located at a small town named Seri Menanti, in the Kuala Pilah district, it is a Royal Museum today. This old palace was completed in 1908 by 2 highly skilled carpenters. It is believed that this 4-storey wooden building was made without the usage of metal nails. The carpenters only used nails made from chengal wood. It served as a palace until 1932.

The grounds are beautifully maintained.

 View from the first floor of the palace

 View from the 2nd floor of the palace

 3rd and 4th floors are off limits. The steps looked so steep!

Back view of the old palace

 This old palace is in the Malaysian Book of Records as The Tallest Timber Palace.

 In the grounds of the old palace lies a small interesting-looking wooden house which belonged to Tukang Kahar. Tukang Kahar was one of the carpenters responsible for the building of the old palace until completion in 1908. This house was built with only 20 poles.

 

 Replica of Batu Bertikam or Batu Batikam. It means Stabbed Stone. 

According to a legend, the hole in the middle of the stone was punctured by Dato Perpatih Nan Sebatang. It is proof of the existence of the Minangkabau kingdom back then as this was done for a peace treaty.

Replica of Batu Kasur or Kasur Stone.

This stone is from Minangkabau, West Sumatera. This stone was used as a test of endurance of the princes before becoming a ruler of Negeri Sembilan. They have to sleep on this stone for 7 days and 7 nights with only nettle leaves (daun jelatang) used as lining. 

The original Kasur Stone can be located between towns of Batusangkar and Pagaruyung in West Sumatera.

 

 This is a Takhta Rencana. Vehicle used in rituals that involve the Ruler of Negeri Sembilan (Yang di-Pertuan besar Negeri Sembilan). This vehicle was used in his coronation ceremony. 

Negeri Sembilan literally means 9 states. It is believed that it was referring to the 9 villages in the 14th century by the Minangkabau people from West Sumatera. Minangkabau was derived from the words Menang and Kerbau - meaning, Winning Buffalo.

The Minangkabau people brough with them their Adat Perpatih, their own traditional societal customs, when they settled in Negeri Sembilan. They believed that women are of higher social status than men. Ownership of property and land were passed from mother to daughter, a law that still applies today.