Istana Seri Menanti
Istana Seri Menanti
3.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Istana Seri Menanti and nearby attractions
The area
Reach out directly
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
21 reviews
Excellent
2
Very good
10
Average
5
Poor
1
Terrible
3
Jonathan Chong
Subang Jaya, Malaysia9 contributions
Dec 2019
Actually, the Istana Seri Menanti is quite far, on the way to Kuala Pilah. Not as much items display, only some informations and history about the Istana. Because it is still under renovation. But we still allowed to go inside and the 2nd floor of the Istana.
What I liked most is the architectural of the Istana, it is beautiful. And there a souvenir shop. With a small contribution you can play the old traditional games, i.e. throwing slipper on to an arranged slipper, walking on coconut shells, playing "congkak", etc. It is quite a nice place to take photos. The visit can be covered in half a day.
What I liked most is the architectural of the Istana, it is beautiful. And there a souvenir shop. With a small contribution you can play the old traditional games, i.e. throwing slipper on to an arranged slipper, walking on coconut shells, playing "congkak", etc. It is quite a nice place to take photos. The visit can be covered in half a day.
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jo-Ann
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia17,050 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
Nothing much of a museum. Just posters. No furniture. No decor. Just a 4 storey wooden structure of old palace. Supposedly built without using metal nails in the olden days. 3rd and 4th floors are off limits. There’s a cafe and souvenir shop there as well.
Written July 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SOH KIEN PENG
Singapore, Singapore9,672 contributions
May 2014 • Family
It was one of the finest wooden Malay royal architectural palace I have seen but it has not many visitors. It is not near the town city and need to have a car to visit the attraction. There is no entrance charge but you cannot take photos of the interior.
Other than the Istana, there are other attractions around Kuala Pilah where the common people in Kuala Pilah knew better and visit and deserved to be mentioned.
The Ulu Bendul Recreation Park along the road to Kuala Pilah about 16 km away is one such attractions that attracted more visitors during weekend than the sultan palace. The park is a natural swimming complex with water flowing down from the mountain collected in the various pools. It is cooling and refreshing to swim in the natural water pools. There are streams and water falls in the park for your relaxation. There is also no entrance charge to the recreation park.
There is also a well-maintained Hindu temple in Kuala Pilah town; a mosque (Masjid Jamek) and an old Chinese temple (Temple of the 3 Saints). The Chinese temple and the mosque are located side by side. There is this Arc of Martin Lister that was erected opposite the Chinese temple. It was constructed in remembrance of the contribution by Martin Lister towards the development of Kuala Pilah but I have no idea of this person and his contribution.
Kuala Pilah town has shop houses that were very old that were constructed long before the second world war. If you are interested in old architecture, you should come here to have a look.
I like the food at the town's hawker center - it is a food paradise with the roti canai, the turtle soup noodles, the traditional ice kacang, the Indian rojak, the satay etc. Each time I visited Kuala Pilah I must come here to eat all these yummy delicacies. These are the really original traditional food in Malaysia.
There are also few very good restaurants in Kuala Pilah. There is one restaurant opened by a Hongkonger who sold Hong Kong dim sim and I enjoyed his dishes and have good praises for this chef who has made Kuala Pilah his retired home. He brought many of his good food recipes from Hongkong to share with the locals here.
While Kuala Pilah is an old sleepy town, it has its beauty in being old, natural and relaxing.
Other than the Istana, there are other attractions around Kuala Pilah where the common people in Kuala Pilah knew better and visit and deserved to be mentioned.
The Ulu Bendul Recreation Park along the road to Kuala Pilah about 16 km away is one such attractions that attracted more visitors during weekend than the sultan palace. The park is a natural swimming complex with water flowing down from the mountain collected in the various pools. It is cooling and refreshing to swim in the natural water pools. There are streams and water falls in the park for your relaxation. There is also no entrance charge to the recreation park.
There is also a well-maintained Hindu temple in Kuala Pilah town; a mosque (Masjid Jamek) and an old Chinese temple (Temple of the 3 Saints). The Chinese temple and the mosque are located side by side. There is this Arc of Martin Lister that was erected opposite the Chinese temple. It was constructed in remembrance of the contribution by Martin Lister towards the development of Kuala Pilah but I have no idea of this person and his contribution.
Kuala Pilah town has shop houses that were very old that were constructed long before the second world war. If you are interested in old architecture, you should come here to have a look.
I like the food at the town's hawker center - it is a food paradise with the roti canai, the turtle soup noodles, the traditional ice kacang, the Indian rojak, the satay etc. Each time I visited Kuala Pilah I must come here to eat all these yummy delicacies. These are the really original traditional food in Malaysia.
There are also few very good restaurants in Kuala Pilah. There is one restaurant opened by a Hongkonger who sold Hong Kong dim sim and I enjoyed his dishes and have good praises for this chef who has made Kuala Pilah his retired home. He brought many of his good food recipes from Hongkong to share with the locals here.
While Kuala Pilah is an old sleepy town, it has its beauty in being old, natural and relaxing.
Written June 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anna H
Vilnius, Lithuania11 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
Location 6km away from main road.
Museum looks nice from outside.
Inside totally empty.
No furniture . Nothing.
Lack off history.
OK for walk outside and get coffee.
Nothing else.
Museum looks nice from outside.
Inside totally empty.
No furniture . Nothing.
Lack off history.
OK for walk outside and get coffee.
Nothing else.
Written August 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
yeochuan21
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia8 contributions
Oct 2016 • Family
Been here a few times and was not given admission - CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. So was able to see it from the outside and took pictures of this wonderful wooden architecture, supposedly to be built without nails. Tourism Board of Negeri Sembilan should do something to attract more tourists to come to marvel at this Minangkabau palace. I have been to those rather similar wooden palaces in Padang and Pagaruyung of Bukit Tinggi in Sumtera, Indonesia. They are beautifully maintained and are opened to the public for viewing the opulent lifestyle of the Minangkabau kings. So, why not the SriMenanti Palace in Negeri Sembilan do so?
Written April 26, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thurstonland
The Hague, The Netherlands136 contributions
Mar 2014 • Business
This place is a little out of the way if you are staying in KL. Is it worth the trip out? Yes - I would say it is - reason being you get to see some of the country and also get to know a lot more about the history of Malaysia.
The museum contains a lot of information on the history and culture of the area through it's display of many objects related to the royal household.
A number of school parties were there when I was but this did nothing to detract from the building it's self.
The view from the top floor is pretty amazing and lets you imagine what it would have looked like in it's former glory.
The museum contains a lot of information on the history and culture of the area through it's display of many objects related to the royal household.
A number of school parties were there when I was but this did nothing to detract from the building it's self.
The view from the top floor is pretty amazing and lets you imagine what it would have looked like in it's former glory.
Written October 31, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
李智优
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia49,918 contributions
Oct 2016 • Solo
Very dissapointed, it is still closing after some time. No sure when will it to reopen for public. Just snap a few photo around the Istana
Written October 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jasminelai
Seremban, Malaysia38 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
the renovation is still ongoing and closed to visitors only get to see the outside with all the scaffolding.
Written November 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Abg_Acid
Muar, Malaysia315 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
Its my 2nd visit within 3 year span and both time the Istana is closed due to a major repair. It seems tge Istana won't be opened for a long time to come.
Written September 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
foto_melaka
Melaka, Malaysia548 contributions
Jun 2014 • Family
As its name suggests, the Seri Menanti Royal Museum is a museum dedicated to the royal household for Negeri Sembilan and it is considered as one of the must-visit destination in Kuala Pilah.
The museum building had once served as a palace for the royal family, thus the many royal paraphernalia which are being exhibited here.
This five-storey wooden palace was built with wooden pegs and uses no nails or screws. It has 99 solids timber pillars, each standing 65 feet tall and furnished with matching furniture and bed chambers.
Apart from royal paraphernalia, various documents which illustrate the history and linage of the royal family are also on exhibit, thus providing a great insight into the lives of the royal family.
During your visit, note also the numerous intricate wood carvings on the palace walls which give this old palace its own unique characteristic. You will probably also note that the various openings along the walls contribute to the airy condition of this palace.
Some may feel that a museum is a boring place to visit but believe me, a visit to this museum will certainly put you in a better position to understand about the royalty. More importantly, you will certainly find the numerous items on exhibit as eye-opener.
The museum building had once served as a palace for the royal family, thus the many royal paraphernalia which are being exhibited here.
This five-storey wooden palace was built with wooden pegs and uses no nails or screws. It has 99 solids timber pillars, each standing 65 feet tall and furnished with matching furniture and bed chambers.
Apart from royal paraphernalia, various documents which illustrate the history and linage of the royal family are also on exhibit, thus providing a great insight into the lives of the royal family.
During your visit, note also the numerous intricate wood carvings on the palace walls which give this old palace its own unique characteristic. You will probably also note that the various openings along the walls contribute to the airy condition of this palace.
Some may feel that a museum is a boring place to visit but believe me, a visit to this museum will certainly put you in a better position to understand about the royalty. More importantly, you will certainly find the numerous items on exhibit as eye-opener.
Written June 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is it still under renovation as of Nov 2018?
Written November 15, 2018
Yes under renovation
Written November 15, 2018
Showing results 1-3 of 3
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing