Open: All Year
| BARS & RESTAURANTS: | Top |
Carcosa Seri Negara has a fine selection of gourmet outlets, ranging from the casual Gulai House to the more formal fine dining restaurant The Dining Room. For those guests staying at Carcosa Seri Negara a personal butler is on call 24 hours per day. Butlers can assist with any in-room dining requests and special dietary requirements.
Carcosa Mansion
The Dining Room
Offering French cuisine prepared from the finest ingredients flown in fresh
from around the world. The elegant majestic dining room overlooks the sweeping
veranda and the gardens beyond.
The Bar
Located on the ground floor of the Carcosa Mansion, The Bar is the ideal
venue for evening drinks and cocktails while enjoying its relaxing ambience. The
cane chairs, ceiling fans and cigar humidors all contribute to its colonial
charm.
Seri Negara Mansion
Gulai House
A traditional Gulai house offering the finest Malay cuisine. Informal dining
can be enjoyed in-doors in the intimate restaurant or outdoors on the wrap
around veranda.
Drawing Room
Authentic English afternoon tea is served either in the original drawing
room of Seri Negara or on the shaded veranda that surrounds this mansion.
| HISTORY: | Top |
The history of Carcosa Seri Negara is integral to the development and history of Malaysia.
In 1895, four Malay states were governed by hereditary Sultans, with the help of British advisors. Sir Frank Swettenham, then the British advisor to the Sultan of Perak, suggested that the four states form a single Federation. His suggestion was accepted by the Sultans and the British Foreign Office. Sir Frank himself was appointed the first Resident-General of the Federated Malay States.
Kuala Lumpur then was a simple village inhabited mainly by Chinese tin miners. But Sir Frank had loved the site ever since 1888, when he visited a jungle area on the western outskirts. Feeling that the town needed a public area, he supervised the damming of a stream on that jungle site. The stream became a lake and the jungle became what is today the Lake Gardens.
In 1896, Sir Frank started constructing his official residence above the Lake Gardens. This was Carcosa, probably a stylization of the Italian cara cosa or “dear place”.
In 1904, Sir Frank moved to Carcosa, at the same time finishing a building called “King’s House” on an adjacent hillside. King’s House, today Seri Negara (which means “beautiful country”), was to house the Governor of the Straits Settlements as well as other illustrious guests of the Malay Federation.
From 1904 until the 1941 Japanese invasion of Malaysia, Carcosa was the official residence of the highest British representative to the Malay States. The titles have varied over the years (Resident General became Chief Secretary, which became British Resident, Selangor State), but Carcosa always remained “the house on the hill”. Receptions, formal balls and holidays were always celebrated here. When guests arrived, they were housed at the King’s House.
A point of pride with the residents has always been the Lake Gardens. Malaysia has over 18,000 indigenous plants, trees and flowers. Added to these, the British planted flora from their previous postings, many of which thrived in this privileged spot. During World War II, Carcosa became the Japanese Senior Officers’ Army Mess. In August 1945, the British Army used the mansions for their own Senior Officers until a Chief Secretary was appointed. With the independence of Malaya in 1957, Carcosa became the official residence of the British High Commissioner, while the King’s House - now renamed Seri Negara - was the official guesthouse for Malaysia’s most important visitors.
In 1987, Carcosa was returned to the Government of Malaysia, and in 1989, after Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II stayed at Carcosa during the meeting of the commonwealth nations - Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), both mansions were administered together forming what is now called Carcosa Seri Negara.
Internally, they have gone through several changes. What had once been drawing rooms, studies, and small guestrooms are now suites and function/banquet rooms. Externally, Carcosa Seri Negara preserves its original outlines. The mansions, set against the manicured lawns and the lake gardens, show a part of Malaysia which seemingly can never change.
| ACCOMMODATION: | Top |
No. of Suites : 13 Suites
Categories: Junior Suite 5
Superior Suite 3
Deluxe Suite 4
Grand Suite 1
Carcosa Suites
All suites are fully air-conditioned, furnished with a mini fridge, television, writing desk, superking size beds and twin suites with queen size beds, twin wash basins, separate walk-in showers, satellite television, DVD with home theatre sound system, IDD with access to internet. Each suite in Carcosa and Seri Negara mansions are distinctive from one another in both size and furnishing. Seri Ehsan and Seri Ridzuan can both be upgraded to a Grand Suite by combining with the Inderapura Suite.
Seri Ehsan/Inderapura
- Category: Deluxe or Grand Suite
- Separate living room with lounge and dining area
- Large bedroom with walk-in wardrobe and over-sized bathroom
- Interconnected to Audience Suite and dining room
Seri Ridzuan/Inderapura
- Category: Deluxe or Grand Suite
- Separate living room and additional seating area within the bedroom
- Interconnected to Audience Suite
Seri Kayangan
- Category: Deluxe Suite
- Large bedroom, oversized lounge and dining table for ten persons. Large outdoor terrace and guest toilet
Seri Khusus
- Category: Superior Suite
- Separate living room, large bedroom and terrace with dining table
Seri Aman
- Category: Superior Suite
- Separate living room with enclosed sun terrace
Seri Tanjung
- Category: Junior Suite
- Separate lounge area and enclosed sun terrace
Seri Melaka
- Category: Junior Suite
- Two queen-sized beds and an enclosed sun terrace
Seri Negara Suites
Seri Makmur
- Category: Deluxe Suite
- The largest suite in Seri Negara with panoramic views
- Direct access to Jerai suite and veranda
- Separate living room and dining table for four persons.
- Large bedroom with adjoining lounge area and bathroom with Jacuzzi bath tub
Seri Kinabalu :
- Category: Deluxe Suite
- Two queen-size beds, separate living room and spacious wrap-around veranda
Seri Sarawak
- Category: Superior Suite
- Separate living room
Seri Takzim
- Category: Junior Suite
- Adjoining lounge area
Seri Iman
- Category: Junior Suite
- Intimate veranda
Seri Naim
- Category: Junior Suite
- Intimate veranda
