Photo: Ibrahim Husain Meraj, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Shashi Lodge
About Shashi Lodge
Shashi Lodge stands in the centre of Mymensingh, a short walk from the Old Brahmaputra. The first mansion on the site was built by Maharaja Suryakanta Acharya Chowdhury of Muktagacha and named after his adopted son, Shashikanta. It was badly damaged in the great earthquake of 1897.
Shashikanta rebuilt it as the present palace between 1905 and 1911. The grounds cover about nine acres and are entered through an arched gateway, with lawns and a marble fountain in front of the house and, behind it, an old pond with a two-storey bathing pavilion. The former ballroom is known for its timber floor and glass chandeliers.
From 1952 the palace housed a training college for women teachers. It is a protected monument, and in 2015 the Department of Archaeology took it over to create a museum. The classical statue that stood on the front lawn was vandalised in August 2024. Access to the interior has varied during restoration, so check before you go.
Evergreen Bangladesh Tours visits Shashi Lodge on private Mymensingh tours, together with the Zainul Abedin Museum and the family’s older seat at Muktagacha Rajbari. See Mymensingh Division for more.
Things to do
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Walk the palace grounds
Stroll across the lawns from the arched gateway to the columned front of the palace.
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See the bathing pavilion
Behind the palace, the two-storey marble bathing pavilion on the old pond is one of the most photographed corners.
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Continue to the river
The Old Brahmaputra and its riverside park are a few minutes away, a pleasant place to end the visit.
Getting there
In Mymensingh: Shashi Lodge is in the city centre, a short rickshaw ride from most hotels and the railway station.
From Dhaka: about three to four hours by car, or around three hours by intercity train to Mymensingh.
Where to stay
Mymensingh city has the best choice of hotels in the division, and most are within a short ride of Shashi Lodge.
We suggest hotels that fit your budget when we send your tour price.
More to see in Mymensingh
Tours that visit Shashi Lodge
None of our set tours stop here yet, but we can add it to a tailor-made trip.
Questions
Who built Shashi Lodge?
The Muktagacha zamindars. Maharaja Suryakanta Acharya Chowdhury built the first mansion and named it after his son Shashikanta, who rebuilt it between 1905 and 1911 after the 1897 earthquake.
Where is Shashi Lodge?
In the centre of Mymensingh city, near the Old Brahmaputra River, about 120 kilometres north of Dhaka.
Is Shashi Lodge open to visitors?
The grounds can usually be visited. The Department of Archaeology took over the building in 2015 to create a museum, and access to the interior has varied, so check locally before you go.
How long should I spend at Shashi Lodge?
About an hour is enough for the grounds and the bathing pavilion. Combine it with the Zainul Abedin Museum, a short drive away by the river.