Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) is a 19th century railway station in Mumbai, that is known for its architectural mix of Victorian Gothic Revival and traditional Indian features. It is a symbol of the blossom period of Mumbai as a commercial city in the late 19th century.
The station was opened in 1887, on the Silver Jubilee of Empress Victoria. Its architect was Frederick William Stevens, who implemented advanced structural and technical solutions. He designed it in the Gothic Revival style. This essentially Italian style has many similarities to traditional Indian palace architecture, such as the use of turrets, colouring and ground plan. The building's major focal point is its octagonal central dome.
The station was originally named "Victoria Terminus". In 1996, in response to demands by the Shiv Sena and in keeping with the policy of renaming locations with Indian names, the station was renamed by the state government after Chhatrapati Shivaji, a famed 17th century Maratha king.
The station is among a series of Gothic public buildings that give South Mumbai its grandeur. A proposed extension to include the nearby Churchgate Buildings features on India's Tentative List.
Visit December 2009
Mumbai is an enormous city that suffers from heavy traffic most of the day. Its main train station is located at a busy intersection in the very center of the city. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is THE highlight among the city's historic buildings. And still a working railway station. From across the street one can admire all its quirky ornaments.
We also went to have a look at the inside of the station. Unfortunately we only could get in to the part where the tickets are sold and the trains leave. The best part of the building (under the huge dome) is off limits to visitors. I tried to have a closer look, but was sent away by a guard. I guess it is used as a railway office now?
The exterior of the station did remind me of another WHS, Barcelona's Hospital de Sant Pau - the use of turrets, the colouring. It undoubtedly is a great work of period architecture, but I was a bit disappointed about the visit in general (mainly at the limited possibilities to admire the interior).
More photos can be found in the Picture Gallery
Reviews
Avinash talegaonkar (India, Dombivli.):
An active cummuting hub; a passage for millions of passengers everyday; How many of them know they are just inside a world heritage monument? tarry a moment and appreciate the friezes and gargoyles!
Definately deserves more attention. |
| Date posted: August 2009 |
Santosh Mahadeshwar (India):
V.T. station, it's great example of British construction as a strong & beautiful building. Daily I'm watching this building and it look more attractive. Every day I'm trying to find something un-seen facts in it. I feel proud to be apart of Mumbai where is building is located. |
| Date posted: January 2009 |
Christer Sundberg (Sweden):
 Mumbai of today is a bustling 20-million people megacity. It is as charming as charismatic. It’s India’s past, present and future mixed into one overpopulated, irrepressibly vibrant whole.
The British heritage is strong in Mumbai. The first economic boom came during the American Civil War and Mumbai then took the chance to take over as the worlds main supplier of cotton. An economic boom followed and a building frenzy started in Mumbai resulting in many Victorian styled houses and palaces. Walking around the Colaba district on the southern tip of the city, sometimes feels like being in a tropical London.
The true jewel in the architectural Crown is the Gothic styled Chhatrapati Shivaij Terminus, formerly Victoria Terminus – the central train station. It looks more like a decorated palace or a cathedral than something as mundane as a transport depot. The station is considered to be the most beautiful train station in the world as was designed and completed in 1887 by Frederick Stevens, who carefully studied European train station before starting up his project. You can also clearly see that the station draws quite a lot of inspiration from St Pancras in London.
Today the station houses the HQ of the Central Railways and is one of the busiest stations in India. Approx 2 million people pass through the station each day and it is a hub for both local suburban trains and a long distance trains. If your destination is Mumbai, make sure to allow some extra time to check out one of the most grandeur train stations in the world. |
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Sri Ganesh (USA):
My first job was at Mumbai after completing college in South India. I took the train to Bombay and reached "VT" (Victoria Terminus) as it was called then. The sheer hectic activity of the city in the train station built in the Victorian architectural style is still fresh in my memory! |
| Date posted: September 2006 |
Sunny Upadhyay (Mumbai, India):
WONDERFUL!! Unibelievable. It's enormous, probably the busiest railway station in the world. A lot of Bombay, is still undiscovered. I hope the government starts maintaining the heritage buildings soon. Bombay should be restored to it's original, as the britishers made it. |
| Date posted: June 2005 |
Palacios, Luis E. (Spain):
I know about the troubles for indian government to keep clean railway stations. Perhaps UNESCO could help in the case of W. H. places like this one. I am for it. It's difficult to me to talk about the historic and artistic qualities of a place if the place is not clean enough. |
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Archana Potdar (Mumbai, India):
It is great news to that the majestic station has been honoured with this great distinction. Especially as a resident of Mumbai I have had the pleasure to see this magnificient work of art several times, however the stations beauty and grandeur never seem to diminish |
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Abhijeet Tamhane (India):
The Victoria Terminus (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus), for an Indian who loves and studies Mumbai, is an edifice of the colonial blend of Victorian Gothic with Indian overtones. The Peacock "JALI", the Pillar-decorations that show Indian animals eating Indian fruit, the faces/busts of Indian social/economic leaders and also British officials... all tell a story!
Re the changed name, one may point to the omni-presence of "Victoria" in the British-ruled "Bombay" : there was Victoria Gardens, Victoria Jubilie Technical institute, even the horse-cart was (and is) called "Victoria". |
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Rob Wilson (UK):
It's great to see this wonderful old building added to the list. To me, it is the symbol of Bombay.
I just wish they'd get rid of the overly politically correct modern name. All of the lccals I have ever spoken to call it VT or Victoria Terminus. |
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