Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (C.S.T) or The Victoria Terminus Mumbai
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  • Thu Mar 1708473600
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (C.S.T) or The Victoria Terminus Mumbai

General About Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (C.S.T) or The Victoria Terminus Mumbai:

  • Location: D.N.Road, Mumbai
  • Significance: It has been declared a ‘World Heritage Site’ by UNESCO.
  • Attraction: Victorian Gothic Style of Architecture
  • Built In: 1888

More Information About Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (C.S.T) or The Victoria Terminus Mumbai:

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), a railway station, is a brilliant specimen of the Victorian Gothic style of architecture in India. Once called Victoria Terminus, the station is positioned on the suburban railway tracks of Mumbai. CST also serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways of India. Attributable to its wonderful structural design, CST was acknowledged as a ‘World Heritage Site’ by UNESCO in 2004. Victoria Terminus holds the distinction of being declared a World Heritage Site by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO, in the year 2004. The terminus has been built as per the Venetian Gothic style of architecture and dates back to the year 1888. Its architectural style also reflects the influence of traditional Indian architecture. One can find the interiors of the terminus adorned with wood carving, tiles, ornamental iron and brass railings, etc. There are also grills for the ticket offices and railing for the grand staircases.

Built in 1888, Victoria Terminus boasts of spectacular stone dome, turrets, pointed arches and unusual ground plan, unlike the traditional Indian architecture. Its fine interiors, like wood carving, tiles, ornamental iron, brass railings, etc, reflect the efforts of students at the Bombay School of Art. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus represents an excellent fusion of two cultures. During its construction, British architects worked with the Indian craftsmen, exchanging notes to give a new look and style to Bombay. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is one of the busiest as well as the oldest railway stations in India. Situated at the D.N. Road of Mumbai, the terminus was earlier known by the name of Victoria Terminus. It is one of the historic structures in the city and forms a very important part of Mumbai suburban railway. Along with that, Chhattrapati Shivaji Terminus is also the headquarters of the Central Railways of the country. Apart from local trains, a number of long distance trains also operate to and from this terminus.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is one of the busiest railway stations in the country. The edifice, designed by F.W. Stevens, turned out to be the icon of Bombay as the ‘Gothic City’. It also became the major mercantile port of India. It took around ten years to construct the terminus as per the classic structures of the late 19th century. The westernmost terminus of the Central Railway, CST is a railway architectural marvel because of its sophisticated structural and technical solutions.All the embellishments mentioned above were the work of the students at the Bombay School of Art. Frederick William Stevens, a consulting architect, designed the entire structure of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, for which he charged an astronomical fee of 16.14 lakh rupees. The construction work on the terminus took 10 years to get fully completed. It was then named as ‘Victoria Terminus’, in the honor of Queen Victoria. It was only in the year 1996 that the name of the terminus was changed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, after Shivaji – a Maratha king. The huge central dome, soaring towers, pointed arches and unconventional floor makes the terminus a must-visit destination on a tour of Mumbai. Infact, its architecture bears a distinct similarity to the traditional Indian palace architecture. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is also a very important part of the history of the Indian Railways. It was this terminus only that saw the first steam engine being flagged off in the country. The engine made a journey from Mumbai to Thane and served as a significant landmark of the past.

How to Reach Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (C.S.T) or The Victoria Terminus Mumbai:

One can easily reach CST by boarding buses or trains, or by hiring autos or taxis from the city.