Upon walking into the old town of Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, stepping into streets cultivated more than a hundred years ago, along Jalan Kapitan Tam Yeong turning right into Jalan Yam Tuan, is the Harmony (Heritage) Trail of Seremban. Assembled on the inverted L-shaped street are an assortment of religious places of worship and provincial halls, converging up to five different religions. A mosque, a Chinese temple, a Catholic church, a Hindu temple, a Sikh temple, and several Chinese provincial halls from different regions, each of them spanning a history of over a century, some of the temples have even been constructed since the founding of Seremban town, remaining at the same address to date, among them is Sri Balathandayuthapani Hindu temple.
Located near the Seremban town council fields, Sri Balathandayuthapani Hindu temple was originally built under a simple zinc roof in the 1870’s. Later in 1891, the development of railway construction from Seremban to Port Dickson was carried out, which marks the third railway in Malaya, mainly for the purpose of connecting mining areas to the harbour to ease transportation of mined tin. At that time, crowds of labourers were brought in from India to work for the Seremban railway construction project, gradually leading to the expansion of Sri Bala Hindu temple, therefore in 1893 the temple was reconstructed with substantial materials such as bricks, concrete, and tiles. It became the place of worship and to perform cultural customs for the fellow Indian countrymen.
Having been through numerous renovations and rebuilds, Sri Bala Hindu temple eventually expanded from a zinc roofed building in its former days to its current magnificent state completed in year 2004, attracting countless devotees to visit during festive celebrations. In accordance to the custom of sacrifice offering ceremony (kumbhabhishekam) held every twelve years, the temple initiated a repainting project in recent years to paint the temple in gorgeous colours. A consecration ceremony was held in 7th April this year, involving 37 priests from all over Malaysia and even India, with more than 8000 devotees joining in, a spectacular scene to behold.
Text: Daniel Lim & Pua Hui Wen
有你 UNI Production
Producer : Mok Yii Chek
Coordinator : Daniel Lim
Cinematographer : Amelia Lim / Evon Pang
Drone : Daniel Lim
Video Editor : Michael Lerk
Production Assistant : Michael Lerk
Music : Mother Nature from Youtube
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I came across the video (by UNINESS) featuring the Sri Balathandayuthapani Temple in Seremban today (2nd June 2025). I was surprised, indeed amazed, to see the collection of black and white photographs of Seremban which featured from 0.52 to 1.04 in the video. I am 100% certain that the original photographs were taken by my late grandfather, (my mother’s father) Mr TP Sargent – employee of the FMSR from 1908 to 1932. I have the original pictures in the album curated by Mr Sargent. They ‘arrived’ back in Seremban fairly recently, loaned with my permission to a British friend who was teaching at a newly-opened secondary school in the city.
It is very good to see my relative’s photographs in the public realm like this. I am very glad that they have made a contribution to knowledge of the history of Seremban. Some 15 years ago I visited Seremban to see if any of the places featuring in the photographs are visible today. I was able to find several, but unable to find the exact place where the Opium Shop he photographed actually stood. I’d be very grateful if somebody who knows could let me know.
I am in the process of writing a book about my ‘search’ for my late grandfather.
Thank you.
With Best wishes.
Tony Wright, Devon, UK