Photo: Tanvir Anjum Adib, CC BY-SA 4.0
Mymensingh
About Mymensingh
Mymensingh Division, formed in 2015, covers four districts north of Dhaka: Mymensingh, Netrokona, Sherpur and Jamalpur. It runs from the plains along the Old Brahmaputra up to the foothills of the Garo Hills on the border with Meghalaya, and it is close enough to Dhaka for a short escape from the capital.
Mymensingh city sits on the Old Brahmaputra. In the centre, Shashi Lodge is the palace of the Muktagacha zamindars, rebuilt after the 1897 earthquake, and on the riverbank the Zainul Abedin Museum honours the painter who shaped modern art in Bangladesh, known for his drawings of the 1943 Bengal famine. About half an hour west, Muktagacha Rajbari is the family’s older seat, in a town famous for its monda sweets.
In the north, the hills of Netrokona and Sherpur are home to Garo, Hajong and other Adivasi communities. At Birishiri in Durgapur, the clear Someshwari River and the china clay hills of Bijoypur are the main draw, while Gajni in Sherpur offers forest walks, a lake and views of the hills across the border.
Mymensingh city is about three to four hours from Dhaka by road, so it works as a weekend trip, while Birishiri and Gajni need an overnight stay. Evergreen Bangladesh Tours runs private tours here with a local guide and driver, and the region pairs well with a few days in Dhaka.
Things to do
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Explore Shashi Lodge
Walk the lawns of the zamindars’ palace in central Mymensingh and see its marble bathing pavilion on the old pond.
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See Zainul Abedin’s paintings
The riverside museum shows the artist’s oil paintings, photographs and personal belongings, including his brushes and easel.
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Taste Muktagacha monda
Try the famous milk sweet from Gopal Pal’s shop in Muktagacha, made there since the 1820s by the family’s account.
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Cross the Someshwari at Birishiri
Take a boat across the clear river and climb the coloured china clay hills of Bijoypur near the Indian border.
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Meet Garo and Hajong communities
In the border hills of Netrokona and Sherpur, learn about Adivasi culture and the Hajong struggle for fair rents.
Getting there
By road: Mymensingh city is about 120 kilometres north of Dhaka, three to four hours by car depending on traffic.
By train: intercity trains from Dhaka reach Mymensingh in around three hours.
To the hills: Birishiri is about two hours north of Mymensingh by road, and Gajni about two hours north-west via Sherpur town.
Where to stay
Mymensingh city has the best choice of hotels in the division and makes a good base. Around Birishiri and Gajni accommodation is limited to simple guesthouses and rest houses, so many travellers stay one night there or return to Mymensingh.
We suggest hotels that fit your budget when we send your tour price.
Places to see in Mymensingh
Tours that visit Mymensingh
None of our set tours stop here yet, but we can add it to a tailor-made trip.
Questions
How far is Mymensingh from Dhaka?
About 120 kilometres north, three to four hours by car or around three hours by intercity train.
What is Mymensingh famous for?
Shashi Lodge and the Muktagacha zamindar palaces, the Zainul Abedin Museum on the Old Brahmaputra, Muktagacha’s monda sweets, and the river and clay hills of Birishiri near the Garo Hills.
How many days do I need in Mymensingh Division?
One day covers Mymensingh city and Muktagacha. Allow two or three days to add Birishiri or Gajni in the northern hills.
When is the best time to visit Mymensingh?
November to February is dry and comfortable. The monsoon, from June to September, makes the rivers and hills of Birishiri especially green, but roads can be slow.