Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

4.5

Location: Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Area, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India

Estimated Visiting Time: 1 hour

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is a historic railway terminus and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. And this terminus was designed by a British-born architectural engineer Frederick William Stevens from an initial design by Axel Haig, in an exuberant Italian Gothic style.

Attraction

The main architecture of the building reflects the Victorian Gothic styles and designs of the late 19th century and the style and the ornamentation of the edifice were from both Indian and European cultures. Complete with turrets, pointed arches, and an eccentric ground plan, the CST was a novel achievement during that period, and also To date, the building retains most of the architectural designs with probably, an addition of two or more headquarters.

History

The Chhatrapati Shivaji station, formerly known as Victoria Terminus, was built in 1888 and designed by the British architect F.W. Stevens, the structure became a symbol of Bombay and the city was labeled the ‘Gothic City’ due to this magnificent building’s architectural styles. Apart from being the hub for major mercantile activities, the CST is the perfect amalgam of British and Indian designs In the past, the ‘Bori Bandar‘ station, located along the Eastern parts of Mumbai, was the place for commercial exchanges and trading activities. The Great Indian Peninsular Railway operated in this area and gave it the name ‘Bori Bandar’, starting its first rail service, covering a total distance of 34 km to Thane in the 1850s.

Inside/Outside Views

The entrance of this terminus is flanked by figures of a lion and a tiger representing the two countries-great Britain and India. The main structure is made of sandstone and limestone, and also the interiors of the station are lined with high-quality Italian marble. Apart from the 18 railway lines, the CST also houses the main headquarters, the Star Chamber, the North Wing, and grotesque.