Step back into the era of the Malay Sultanate at Seri Banian

PENDANG: Hidden at the far end of Kampung Bendang Bukit is a heritage village where visitors can step back in time and experience life as it might have been during the Malay Sultanate era.

Kampung Adat Melayu Seri Banian – or Sri Banian Malay Customs Village – has been deliberately built to look weathered and untouched by modern influences.

Traditional houses, natural building materials and cultural activities combine to create the atmosphere of a centuries-old Malay settlement.

Founder Akhiri Rijalludin said the idea took shape after years of travelling as a silat instructor to Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, where traditional villages have been preserved as living reminders of local heritage.

Inspired by those experiences, he set out to create a similar space in Malaysia that would showcase the customs, culture and way of life of the Malay community during the 15th century.

“This village is intentionally left looking aged because we want to avoid modern elements. Achieving the atmosphere that exists today took nearly two years,” he told Bernama.

Built on a 1.62-ha site owned by his foster father, the project began in 2019 using natural materials such as bamboo, forest timber, cenderai wood and nipah palm thatch sourced from the surrounding area.

So far, about 10% of the site has been developed at a cost of between RM500,000 and RM600,000.

The village currently features five traditional houses and a pond, with plans to add bathing pools, a royal audience hall and nobat hall, a weaving area, and a small palace.

Akhiri said the name “Seri Banian” symbolises a tranquil village. “The word ‘seri’ means radiant, while ‘ban’ in Siamese means village, and ‘nian’ refers to a green, beautiful and peaceful environment.”

Beyond its traditional architecture, Seri Banian serves as a venue for cultural activities organised by members of the Seri Banian Ukhwah Association.

Visitors can enjoy silat demonstrations, dance performances, traditional music and singing, especially during school holidays.

Food is another major attraction: Akhiri said his family keeps an old cookbook containing about 300 ancestral recipes. Of the 473 traditional dishes in their collection, 121 are offered to visitors.

Favourites include arnab rica-rica, grilled quail, ayam sembah diraja, roast duck rice, Seri Banian satay and Seri Banian pulut – all prepared according to family recipes passed down through generations.

Despite its secluded location, the village has attracted guests from France, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, Libya and Thailand.

For Akhiri, Seri Banian is more than a tourism project. “If we do not preserve this culture, it may eventually exist only in books,” he said.

“I want people to come and see for themselves how the Malay community lived in the past, so that this heritage continues to be appreciated.”