Shashi Lodge

Shashi Lodge was the residence of the Muktagacha zamindar family in Mymensingh town, first built in the 1860s, destroyed by the great Assam earthquake of 1897 and rebuilt over the following decade as a two-storey mansion with a columned front, a curved central bay and a garden with a marble fountain carrying a figure of Venus, which is the detail everyone remembers. The interior has a carved wooden staircase, a hall of mirrors and a bathing house at the back connected to a tank. It was used as a teachers' training college for decades, which kept the fabric standing, and it has been restored and opened as a museum. It stands near the Brahmaputra bank in the middle of the old town.

What you actually see

• The Venus fountain - the marble figure in the front garden.
• The columned front and curved bay - the rebuilt mansion facade.
• The mirror hall and carved stair - the interior set pieces.
• The bathing house and tank - the private ghat at the back.

When to go

November to March. One to two hours. It closes on some days and Friday hours are short. Mornings are cooler. The old town around it rewards a walk.

Honest expectations

The interior is sparsely furnished and interpretation is thin. Restoration is uneven in places. The garden is small. Mymensingh is a long drive or train ride from Dhaka for what is a modest set of sights.

Nearby

The Brahmaputra bank is close; Muktagacha lies west.