During our recent trip to Seremban, we stayed for two nights and enjoyed local food that is truly unique. But eating wasn’t the only thing we did. We also made time to explore 6 places to visit in Seremban that are worth checking out.
In this article, we’ll list these places to visit in Seremban to help you plan your next trip there.
1. Conquer Bukit Kepayang: Trails for Every Level
Hiking is one of our favorite activities. Three years ago, our local friend Poon had taken us to Bukit Angsi, but this time we decided to explore a trail a little closer to town, that is, Bukit Kepayang.
Bukit Kepayang is actually pretty unique. Even though it’s just a small hill, there are 46 trails crisscrossing it, ranging from easy strolls to steep climbs with ropes up to 80 degrees! That means there’s something for every level of fitness. All the trails are short and kind of like a cobweb, but eventually, they all lead to the flat top of the hill.
The most noticeable landmarks on top are the old Indian temple, the new Indian temple, and the viewpoint for sunrise.
We woke up early, headlamps on, hoping to catch the sunrise over Seremban town, but the weather had its own plans.
So we explored the temples and tried a few of the steeper trails. They’re all short but equipped with ropes, which made climbing really fun.
The hill itself is only 205 meters tall, and all the trails are well-maintained by the Bukit Kepayang Hill Committee. At the top, there are wooden tables and chairs, perfect for resting, having snacks, or just enjoying the view.
We also noticed a bunch of monkeys hanging around, but they seemed harmless, as they were clearly used to hikers passing by.
And the timing was perfect: the lotus pond near one of the entrances was in full bloom. It’s just a five-minute walk from the parking area. It was a peaceful and beautiful spot to finish our hike.
2. Centipede Temple: Explore Seremban’s Mystical Shrine
We will certainly not leave out the well-known Centipede Temple (Then Sze Koon Temple). The temple sits on Wu Gong Hill (also known as Bukit Jong or Bukit Termiang), about 127 meters above sea level.
There’s a striking centipede sculpture on the left side of the entrance staircase, which is visible long before we reach it.
After we walked up the small hill, we strolled around and explored in front of the main shrine. There’s a peaceful koi pond that adds a calming vibe before we enter the prayer hall.
Inside, the main shrine follows the classic Chinese temple style. The central deity here is Master Zhang Tian Shi (张天师). Besides that, there are also other important figures like Guan Yin (觀音菩薩). Outside the main hall, there are altars dedicated to Qi Tian Da Sheng (the Monkey King), Tai Shang Lao Jun (太上老君), and Huang Lao Xian Shi (黃老仙師).
But the thing that really caught my attention was the large bronze bell. The inscription shows the year 1863, which means the bell is over 160 years old! It was reportedly donated by a devotee back then.
There are sculptures of Chinese deities and folklore characters, including the Eight Immortals (八仙), in the open area.
If you climb up to the upper floor, there’s a striking statue of the Monkey God standing on a rock outside the terrace, facing outward as if guarding the hill.
There’s also a tortoise pond, and we bought some veggies there to feed them. It’s such a cute and peaceful stop along the way.
🐛 Why “Centipede Temple”?
There’s a touching local legend behind the name. The story tells of a poor mother who waited faithfully for her son, who had left to seek fortune. He eventually became wealthy but refused to recognize her when he returned. The gods punished him by turning him into a rock ship on this hill. Heartbroken, the mother was believed to have been reincarnated as a centipede, guarding the rock ship and watching over him. Over time, this story became tied to the hill, and the temple adopted the same name.
3. Seremban Lake Garden: See Negeri Sembilan’s first rubber tree
After finishing breakfast at the market, we headed to the Seremban Lake Garden. This time we came with a specific purpose, to see the first Negeri Sembilan rubber tree.
The tree is located on the side of the garden near the Galeri Diraja Tuanku Ja'afar. Right in front of it, there’s a signboard explaining its history. According to the signboard, it is likely to be one of the two oldest rubber trees in Malaysia, planted right here in June 1877. It came all the way from England, along with 22 other rubber seeds, but this one is the very first planted in Negeri Sembilan.
The tree is huge in size, and it’s fenced up for protection. We could only take photos from a distance, which honestly makes sense considering how old and significant it is. Still, it was pretty amazing to stand there and imagine how this one tree played a part in the history of Malaysia’s rubber industry.
The landscaping of the garden is lovely, with big shady trees and calm water, making it a perfect spot for locals to jog, relax, or just unwind. Since we came around during lunchtime, the place was pretty quiet. But I still remember being here about three years ago in the evening when the whole area was lively, full of families hanging out, kids playing, and lots of people jogging around the lake.
4. Tuanku Ja’afar Royal Gallery: Royal History Up Close
At the back of the rubber tree stood the Galeri Diraja Tuanku Ja'afar. When we arrived, there wasn’t a single visitor in sight, probably because the afternoon heat was scorching. Since we were already melting under the sun, we decided to step inside as the gallery was fully air-conditioned.
When I first stepped into the Tuanku Ja’afar Royal Gallery, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. From the outside, the building looked grand and modern, with a touch of colonial charm. But once I walked through the doors, it felt as if I had quietly entered a different time.
There’s a small entrance fee to visit, so we purchased our tickets and made our way in. Once inside, we slowly explored the displays, enjoying both the cool air and the quiet atmosphere as we learned about the history and life of Tuanku Ja’afar.
The gallery doesn’t try to impress with dramatic storytelling or fancy multimedia shows. Instead, it presents everything in a very factual, straightforward way. But as I moved from one section to another, the life of Tuanku Ja’afar slowly unfolded, almost like flipping through someone’s personal scrapbook. One of my favorite parts was seeing his golf clubs, cricket gear, and even some of his own paintings. It reminded me that behind all the royal titles, he was also just a person with passions and interests.
As I went upstairs, the exhibits shifted to the history of Negeri Sembilan’s royal family and the Minangkabau heritage that shaped the state.
To be honest, the gallery isn’t a “wow” attraction, but it’s peaceful and informative. If you enjoy learning about local history through real personal belongings and photographs, you might find yourself spending more time there than you expect.
5. Lorong Seni Seremban: Vibrant Street Art & Night Market
After dinner, we took a slow walk over to the Seremban Street Art area known as Lorong Seni Seremban.
As I started walking down the lane, the first thing that hit me was the color. The murals here are incredibly bold and bright, much more vibrant than many I’ve seen in other small towns. Every wall feels alive. Some pieces are playful, some nostalgic, and others look 3D, like they’re ready to pop right out of the wall.
Many of the murals focus on daily life. You’ll see everything from local street food scenes to characters that feel like they came straight out of childhood memories. There are also cultural pieces that reflect Negeri Sembilan’s heritage, and a few modern ones featuring daily life. It’s such a fun mix, creative, and very local.
This whole stretch is about 250 meters long. By the time we arrived, the night market stalls were just starting to open. A few vendors were setting up, and the lights were slowly flickering on. We stopped a few times to take photos (honestly, the murals practically ask for it!), admired the creativity, and enjoyed the atmosphere as the night market came to life.
If you enjoy street art, night markets, or just winding down with something fun and local, this spot is worth the walk.
6. Negeri Sembilan State Museum: Culture & Heritage Highlights
Whenever we visit a new place, I always make it a point to check out the local museum. Today, we took some time to explore the museums of Negeri Sembilan.
There was a large open area in front of the main building. There were two houses on display. One is an old palace, and the other is a typical Negeri Sembilan traditional house. The palace is the former Istana Ampang Tinggi, which was moved from its original location and built without a single nail. Next to it is the Rumah Negeri Sembilan.
I chatted briefly with the person selling tickets, and he told me the houses were actually carried by hand from their original locations to be displayed here. We walked around that open area, snapping photos of the architecture and details. It is a perfect spot for photography.
The main museum building, the Teratak Perpatih, has its iconic Minangkabau-style roof curling like buffalo horns. Normally, there’s a small entrance fee, but because we’re senior citizens, the staff at the counter said it was free for us. 😄
Inside the museum is the story of Negeri Sembilan’s origins and its culture. There are displays of traditional weapons like keris, royal ornaments, handicrafts, and items reflecting the Minangkabau heritage.
If you’re ever in Seremban, this museum is worth a visit, especially if you love history, architecture, or just want to feel connected to the local culture.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Seremban
These are the places we explored between our food hunt around Seremban. To be honest, food is still the main reason we keep coming back. But all the spots we visited definitely added more fun and value to our trip.
For us, food and sightseeing always go hand in hand whenever we travel. A trip just doesn’t feel complete unless we get to enjoy both the tastes and the places.
There are still other places we didn’t visit, either because they didn’t fit into our itinerary or didn’t interest us, such as Jelita Ostrich Farm and the Church of the Visitation.
If you’re curious about the unique food we tried in Seremban, check out the post we published about a week ago, as there are lots of delicious finds waiting for you!
🎥 Check out the video below!
We filmed a few highlights of the places to visit in Seremban. Hope you enjoy the little moments we captured! 🌿✨
