Muzium Diraja Istana Seri Menanti – Warisan Kayu Tanpa Paku Kebanggaan Negeri Sembilan

 


Kalau anda ke Kuala Pilah atau sekadar meronda di sekitar Negeri Sembilan, jangan lepaskan peluang untuk singgah di Istana Lama Seri Menanti -- kini dikenali sebagai Muzium Diraja Seri Menanti. Dari jauh lagi, binaannya yang klasik dan megah sudah cukup memikat mata. Inilah antara istana kayu Melayu tertua di negara ini, dibina antara tahun 1902 hingga 1908, dan yang paling menarik -- ia disusun tanpa menggunakan sebatang paku pun!

Istana ini pernah menjadi tempat bersemayam Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan, dan seni binanya memaparkan pengaruh Minangkabau yang kuat, lengkap dengan bumbung bertingkat dan ukiran kayu yang halus. Ia disokong oleh 99 batang tiang kayu, melambangkan 99 penghulu luak di Negeri Sembilan, serta empat tiang utama yang menandakan kekuasaan dan kestabilan pemerintahan diraja.




Sejak diwartakan sebagai Muzium Diraja pada tahun 1992, istana ini kini menempatkan pelbagai koleksi sejarah dan barangan diraja -- dari pakaian kebesaran hingga ke perabot asal istana. Melangkah masuk ke ruang dalamnya terasa seperti kembali ke masa lalu; suasananya tenang, klasik, dan sarat dengan cerita silam.

Kalau anda jenis suka sejarah atau senibina tradisional, tempat ini memang berbaloi untuk dilawati. Tak rugi pun -- lepas lawatan, boleh terus cari cendol Kuala Pilah atau masak lemak cili api di kedai berhampiran. Istana Seri Menanti bukan sekadar muzium, tapi sebuah kapsul masa yang membawa anda menyelusuri warisan dan kebanggaan Negeri Sembilan.


* Muzium ini kini ditutup sementara untuk kerja penambahbaikan


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