Seremban

Seremban grew on tin like most of the west coast towns, and it is the state capital of Negeri Sembilan, whose population descends largely from Minangkabau migrants from Sumatra - which shows in the buildings: the state museum complex at Taman Seni Budaya holds relocated traditional houses with the upswept buffalo-horn roofline, and the modern state buildings quote the same form. The old centre has shophouses, a lake garden, the state mosque with nine pillars for the nine districts, and a covered market. Food is a large part of why people stop: Seremban siew pau, the baked barbecue pork pastry, is sold from several long-established bakeries and is the town's export, and the beef noodles and Hakka food have their followings. It is an easy day from Kuala Lumpur by train.

History

The settlement was anciently known as Sungai Ujong, and the Malay Annals say Parameswara visited it after leaving Singapura, before he founded Malacca. Renamed Seremban, it flourished as a mining centre from the 1840s, with the Linggi River its only outlet for tin and supplies (Wikipedia, Seremban).

The main sights

• Minangkabau rooflines - upswept horn shapes on old houses and state buildings.
• The state museum complex - relocated traditional timber houses in the grounds.
• A nine-pillared state mosque - one pillar for each district of the state.
• Seremban siew pau - the baked pork pastry the town is known for.

When to go

All year. A day.

Things to know

It is a working state capital, not a heritage town - much of the centre is ordinary. The museum is modest. Traffic and parking in the middle are difficult at peak hours.

Nearby

Port Dickson is west; Seri Menanti and Kuala Pilah are east.

Key facts