An Evening in Bandar Diraja Seri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia 🇲🇾
Seri Menanti (Negeri Sembilan Malay: Soghi Monanti or Sonanti; Jawi: سري مننتي‎) is a town, a mukim, and a state assembly constituency in Kuala Pilah District, central Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, located 33 km (20.5 m) east of the state capital city of Seremban and 14 km (8.7 m) southwest of Kuala Pilah. It is the royal capital of the state of Negeri Sembilan and houses the seat of the ruler of the state of Negeri Sembilan, referred to as the Yang Di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan or Yamtuan Besar.[1] The royal palace is known as Istana Besar (Grand Palace).
Seri Menanti is situated in a valley surrounded by the verdant rolling hills of the Negri Titiwangsa. The area in which Seri Menanti is located is known as the Adat Circle (Malay: Adat Lingkungan). Seri Menanti also governs the surrounding chiefdoms (known locally as luak) of Terachi, Gunung Pasir, Ulu Muar, Jempol, and Ineh, collectively known as Luak Tanah Mengandung.
Historically, the Minangkabau people migrated to the wider area of Negeri Sembilan during the 14th century as part of the Minang practice of merantau. Around the 15th century, the Minangkabau moved further inland from Rembau to the area that is modern-day Seri Menanti. Among the explorers were Datuk Puteh of Pagar Ruyung. According to legend, the explorers 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" corresponds to the Goddess of rice in the ancient Javanese tradition (Javanese: Sri).
Raja Melewar arrived in Negeri Sembilan in 1773 and was proclaimed the first Yamtuan Besar in Kampung Penajis in Rembau. He later moved his palace to Seri Menanti, which remains to this day the royal capital of Negeri Sembilan.