Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Location: Mumbai
Significance: It has been declared a 'World Heritage Site' by UNESCO.
Attraction: Victorian Gothic Style of Architecture
How to Reach: One can easily reach CST by boarding buses or trains, or by hiring autos or taxis from the city.


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.

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.

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.