Negeri Sembilan

Negeri Sembilan: A Fascinating Heritage

The most distinct feature greeting visitors to the little state of Negeri Sembilan is its legacy of Minangkabau culture. Tales are told of a clash between western Sumatran settlers and the Javanese, where a Bull represented the Sumatrans and a Tiger, the Javanese. The incredible culmination of the battle with the victory of the Bull over the ferocious Tiger, resulted in the title Minangkabau, meaning ‘Victorious Bull’. Negeri Sembiland not only features picturesque Malay villages with their distinctive Minangkabau architecture and quaint townships but also the thrills and experiences of verdant rainforests, fast flowing rivers and cascading waterfalls. There is much to discover in the State of Negeri Sembilan, most notably, its special character and identity.

History & Culture

Negri Sembilan is steeped in history dating way back to the 15th Century when the Minangkabau people of Sumatra came to settle there. In the early days, Negeri Sembilan was not a unified State in the past. It used to be a loose confederation of nine fiefdoms. Initially under the protection of the Melaka Sultanate until its collapse in 1511 with the arrival of the Portuguese, Negeri Sembilan then...

Getting There & About

Negeri Sembilan is easily accessible from most parts of Malaysia and even Singapore via Highways and expressways. It is linked by train to Butterworth, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Seremban while east coast states are linked to it by rail from the town of Gemas. Frequent bus services are available to Port Dickson. Taxi services also link Seremban, the capital, to other major towns around the penins...

Heritage Discovery

Negeri Sembilan State Museum / Complex CentreLocated along Jalan Labu is the Cultural Handicraft Complex, comprising three main buildings: the Teratak Perpatih, the Ampang Tinggi Palace and the Minangkabau House, built in typical Minangkabau style. Teratak Perpatih features artifacts, handicrafts, traditional clothes, woodcarvings and photographs while the authentic Minangkabau House features the ...

Arts & Cultural Exploration

Adat Rembau Museum The Adat Museum in Rembau displays a fascinating array of cultural artefacts, from hand crafted antiques to community heirlooms to the unique Minangkabau ladies’ buffalo horn shaped headdress. Documents and charts provide insight to the tenets of Adat Pepateh, the matrilineal Minangkabau community’s law of inheritance. House of Pendita Za'ba Pendita Za’ba means “lear...

Great City Destinations

State Legislative Assembly Building Housed within the Wisma Negeri Complex, the building is designed in traditional Minangkabau style which is closely linked to the Pagar Ruyung Palace in Sumatra. The eight-pointed roof emulates the horns of the bull while the elegantly carved wood panels, interiors and furniture of the main chamber complement the traditional exterior....

Eco-Adventures

Negeri Sembilan has many recreational parks and forests. The 1,240-metre Gunung Hantu (Ghost Mountain) is a favourite among eco-tourists while the Ulu Bendol Recreational Forest is a paradise within the Angsi Reserved Forest. Other popular places to enjoy nature are the Lenggeng Recreational Forest at Lenggeng Village and the Serting Ulu Recreational Forest near Simpang Pertang. Ulu Bendul Recr...

Culinary Delights & Shopping

Traditional Negeri Sembilan food is hot and spicy, as one of the main ingredients used is the deceptively small bird eye chili, which packs a mean punch. Popular dishes include masak lemak lada api, a fiery serving not for weak stomachs, sambal tempoyak daun kayu which contains no less than 44 types of spices and a combination of various leaves cooked in thick and rich gravy and the lemang, which ...