Negeri Sembilan

Right in the centre of West Malaysia is Negri Sembilan located. With an area of about 6,500sq kilometers and a population of about 850,000 people, the state is made up of nine territories known as Luak during 1773. Later, Raja Melewar ruled the nine territories. By 1889, the Yam Tuan was appointed to be the ruler of the State.
During the early days, between 15th century and 16th century, the Minangkabau migrated to this region from Melaka bringing along with them their rich culture, Adat Petpatih, which is still practice in today context, whereby the female heads the household and inherit property.
Today, Negri Sembilan stands strong as an agricultural state in rubber and oil palm plantations. Its main activity includes electrical and electronics. Seremban is the State capital.
Visitors and tourists can expect to see the rich culture of the people from the upswept roofs shaped traditional houses. Especially for the adventurous ones, Negri Sembilan offers a variety of recreational forests, waterfalls and rapids, hiking and angling.

GETTING TO NEGERI SEMBILAN

By Air

There is no Airport in Negri Sembilan, the nearest is Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at Sepang. From there you can transfer to KTM at KL City Air Terminal or by bus and taxis to Seremban, which is about 40km away.

By Rail
From Singapore and Thailand, you can take a train to Seremban, which is on the main North-South railway line. An hourly KTM Komuter service also operates from Kuala Lumpur.
From Singapore to Seremban

Train	Departure	Arrival	Cost
Ekspres Rakyat ER/2	8.30am	1.44pm	RM30-RM95
Ekspres Sinaran Petang ES/6	3.25pm	8.16pm	RM30-RM95
Ekspres Senandung Malam SM/12	10.05pm	4.33am	RM35-RM145

From Seremban to Singapore

Train	Departure	Arrival	Cost
Ekspres Rakyat ER/1	4.12pm	9.55pm	RM30-RM95
Ekspres Sinaran Pagi ES/5	9.44pm	2.45pm	RM30-RM95
Ekspres Senandung Malam SM/12	12.05am	7.50am	RM35-RM145

From KL Sentral to Seremban

Train	Departure	Arrival	Cost
Ekspres Rakyat ER/1	3.00pm	4.10pm	RM30-RM34
Ekspres Sinaran Pagi ES/5	8.30am	9.43pm	RM30-RM34
Ekspres Wau EW/16	7.55pm	9.12pm	RM30-RM98
Ekspres Senandung Malam ES/11	1030pm	1157pm	RM30-RM120

From Seremban to KL Sentral

Train	Departure	Arrival	Cost
Ekspres Rakyat ER/2	1.46pm	2.58pm	RM30-RM34
Ekspres Sinaran Petang ES/6	8.18pm	9.30pm	RM30-RM34
Ekspres Wau EW/17	6.02am	7.25am	RM30-RM98
Ekspres Senandung Malam ES/12	4.43pm	6.25pm	RM30-RM120

Singapore Station Tel : 02 - 6222 5165, 02 - 6221 3390
SerembanTrain Station Tel : 06 - 761 1708
KL Sentral Train Station Tel : 03 - 2267 1200, 03 - 2273 1430

By Driving
Drivers can easily reach Seremban via the North-South Expressway (E2), exiting at number 218. Once exit toll at Seremban, you will see the Culture Handicraft Complex, Museum and Rumah Contoh Minangkabau on your right. Continue to drive down towards Jalan Dato’ Bandar Tunggal you will reach the town filled with old Buildings like the Old Shop houses and some other places of interest.

GETTING AROUND NEGERI SEMBILAN

By Taxi

Taxis are available upon an agreed fare and can be accessed from the main taxi station at near Jalan Gereja.

By Bus
The bus station in Seremban is located at Terminal One next toTerminal One Shopping centre near Jalan Sungai Ujung, with buses going to all parts of Negeri Sembilan.

Cekap Exspress Sdn Bhd

Tel : 06- 761 0488

PLACES OF INTEREST

Blue Lagoon
About 15 km from Port Dickson town lays the Blue Lagoon which offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding greenery and the blue open sea. The lagoon is an ideal spot for swimming, boating, wind surfing and water skiing. This is where the action is when it comes to having fun in the sun. Accommodation is easily obtainable as a number of hotels and motels are located here.

Pedas Hot Spring
it is located on the 16km road from Seremban on the way to Tampin. Rooms are provided for those who like to feel natural warm baths at reasonable prices. There are also restaurants serving delicious Negeri Sembilan dishes.

Port Dickson
Port Dickson or more popularly known as PD has long been a weekend retreat for many inland dwellers, especially those from the city seeking to temporarily escape the hustle and bustle of a hectic life. Located about 32km from Seremban, PD which is in the Pantai Laut district offers one of the best beaches on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. All along the 18 km of beach front are shady casuarinas trees that "sing" along with the gentle breeze.

Port Dickson usually comes alive in August each year during the "Pesta Port Dickson". Besides this, there are also cultural presentations at the annual festival. The most famous picnic spot in PD is the Blue Lagoon near Cape Rachado. One can easily reach the Blue Lagoon either by bus or taxi that ply along this popular coastal route from the main terminus in town.

PD boasts of many international class and budget accommodation, ranging from luxury establishments to simple guesthouses. Currently, rates are from as low as RM80. Food stalls can be easily found along the beach as well as the town center. PD's specially is seafood, be it Malay, Chinese or Western cuisine.

Ulu Bendul Recreational Park
The Ulu Bendul Recreational Park located some 16km from Seremban on the Kuala Pilah Sri Menanti route, at the foot of Bukit Angsi provides a welcome respite to the weary traveler. The park is one of the six recreational parks in Negeri Sembilan developed for ecotourism purposes. Picnic lovers should find this place inviting because of its shady and leafy surroundings.

The refreshing and cool water from the stream that meanders through the park offers a fun place for visitors bent on having a dip. For the more adventurous, they can go jungle-trekking. To savor the best out of this park, visitors may prefer to stay at the specially designated camping grounds or rent one of the chalets in the park.

Seremban Lake Garden
The Seremban Lake Gardens is one of the most picturesque gardens in the country. Its lush greenery and well-maintained lawns are a delight to the tired eye and often have a calming effect on many a weary soul.

There are jogging tracks in The Lake Gardens for the more energetic visitor while children can frolic in the playground. For those who are content to watch the world go by, this is just the place with benches erected in various spots overlooking the lake and greenery.

Cape Rachado (Tanjong Tuan)
Near the Blue Lagoon is Tanjong Tuan, formerly known as Cape Rachado, renowned for its lighthouse built many years ago on a hillock overlooking the Straits of Melaka. On a clear day, one can see Port Dickson town and the outline of Sumatra across the Straits of Melaka from this vantage point.

Fort Lukut
This fort, situated about 30 km from Seremban, is steep in history. Painstakingly built between 1826 and 1827 to be exact, its existence came into being during the heyday of the state's tin industry.

Located about a kilometer from the Seremban-Port Dickson trunk road, Fort Lukut was built by Raja Jumaat to provide a safe haven during more turbulent times in the state's history. The fort has now become another tourist attraction for Negeri Sembilan. Traveling to Fort Lukut will bring the visitor past many neatly-planted rows of rubber trees and oil palms, which are among the mainstays of the state's economy.

Lukut Museum:
Open: 9.00 am - 5.00pm (Sun - Thurs)
9.00am - 12.00pm/3.00pm - 5.00pm (Fri)

Fort Kempas
In Fort Kempas, about 23 km from Port Dickson, lies the grave of a leading historical personality, Keramat Ujong Pasir, Ulama Sheikh Ahmad Makhtum. Beside his grave are the famous stone inscriptions or "batubersurat" which depict his struggle and history.

State Museum
The state museum is a "must" item for local history lovers. Located within the grounds of the Cultural Handicraft Complex, it is actually an old wooden palace which has been reassembled for public viewing. Built entirely of wood, this palace which has seen greater days of royal splendor at its old site at Kampung Ampang Tinggi, houses various old and historical artifacts which will interest those with a keen eye for local history, like weapons as well as brass and silverware. Also on display is a tableau portraying a grand royal wedding.

Situated next to the state museum is the "Rumah Minang", depicting an actual Minangkabau house. Also found at the Complex grounds are the megaliths from Fort Kempas.

Sri Menanti Palace / Royal Museum
Negeri Sembilan's rich traditions go back a long way. One of these has been manifested in the construction of the Sri Menanti Palace in Sri Menanti. Built at the turn of this century to replace an older palace which was burnt down, this uniquely constructed palace has now become a tourist attraction after it was turned into a Royal Museum in 1992.

The Sri Menanti Palace was the official residence of the royal family until 1931 when it was found to be inadequate for the growing functions of the state. Designed by two local craftsmen and carpenters, "Tukang Kahar" and "Tukang Taib", the wooden palace or "Istana Lama" (old palace), which was completed in about six years in 1908, was built without the aid of any nails or screws. The palace, which features 99 magnificent pillars to denote 99 warriors of various "luak" or clans, is often the subject of study and research among students of architecture.

State Secretariat Building
Built in 1987, this building takes the function of administering all the districts. Located in the same compound is the Dewan Persekutuan. The third building in the compound is the Dewan Undangan Negeri, designed in the famous Minangkabau architecture.

Cultural Handicraft Complex
The Complex, which has been modeled along the traditional Minangkabau dwelling, is located on a four-hectare site along Jalan Labu. Various handicraft items and historical artifacts are on display in this Complex which seeks to preserve Negeri Sembilan's rich cultural traditions.