Unseen Bangladesh
Mymensingh District · Mymensingh Division · শশী লজ
Shashi Lodge travel guide
The 'Rajbari of Mymensingh' built by the Muktagachha zamindar; a statue of Venus and a fountain in front.
At a glance
- Built
- Late 19th century; rebuilt in 1905
- Built by
- Maharaja Suryakanta and Shashikanta Acharya Chowdhury
- Area
- About 9 acres
- Opening hours
- Closed Sunday, half day Monday
History and details
Maharaja Suryakanta Acharya Chowdhury, zamindar of Muktagachha, built this two-storey palace in Mymensingh town in the late 19th century and named it 'Shashi Lodge' after his adopted son Shashikanta. When the building was damaged in the terrible 1897 earthquake, Shashikanta Acharya rebuilt it in a new form in 1905.
Its best-known image is the white marble fountain in the garden in front, with a semi-nude statue of the Greek goddess Venus at its centre. Inside are a theatre hall, a huge hall, chandeliers and a carved wooden staircase. At the back is a paved pond ghat.
From 1952 the building was used as a women's teacher training college. In 2015 the Department of Archaeology took it over and, after restoration, opened it as a museum.
Things to do
- Photograph the fountain with the statue of Venus
- See the theatre hall and chandeliers inside
- Go and buy Muktagachha monda
How to get to Shashi Lodge
In the city centre, near Zilla School.
Mymensingh is about 120 km from Dhaka; the journey takes 3–3.5 hours.
- 🚌 By bus: Ena, Soukhin, Alam Asia from Mohakhali; fare ৳250–400.
- 🚆 By train: Tista, Jamuna, Agnibina, Haor Express from Kamalapur; fare ৳150–500.
Where to stay
- Mid-range hotels in town (৳1,000–3,000)
What to eat
Muktagachha monda (the most famous)
Good to know
- Closed Sunday, half day Monday
- See the chandeliers and wooden staircase inside
More to see nearby
- Alexander Castle (1 km)
- Zainul Abedin Museum (2 km)
- Muktagachha Zamindar Bari (16 km)
- Bangladesh Agricultural University (4 km)
More places to visit in Mymensingh district
- Zainul Abedin Park and Museum — A park on the Old Brahmaputra and a museum of the master painter's work.
- Bangladesh Agricultural University — A huge green riverside campus with a botanical garden and an agriculture museum.
- Muktagachha Zamindar Bari — Ruins of the Atani zamindar house; Gopal Pal's monda shop is next door.
- Alexander Castle — The iron-framed 'Iron House' of 1879, now the library of a teacher training college.