Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus formerly Victoria Terminus with its cathedral like facade is located at Dr. D.Naoroji Road, Nagar Chowk on the eastern shoreline of Mumbai. Declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO on July 2, 2004, the train station  is Mumbai's historical landmark and also a symbol of the city's Gothic buildings. The Terminus is the 2nd 'World Heritage Site' of the Indian Railways after the Darjeeling Himalayan Railways which was inscribed in 1988, and the first functional administrative building to be put on the World Heritage list.

Built in 1888 as the headquarters of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway Company, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is also the western most end point of the Central Railways. Designed by Frederick William Stevens, a British architect, the building is a wonderful example of the Indo-Victorian Gothic Revival architectural style. The railway station was opened to the public on New Year's Day, 1882. Today, at least 1250 trains leave the station every day from its 14 platforms, carrying some 3.3 million  passengers in and out of the city. It is the hub of the suburban (local) railways as well as some of the long distance trains. A major part of the building houses the administrative section of the Central Railways.

Construction of the Terminus began in 1878 and was completed after 10 years in May 1888 at a cost of Rs. 16.14 lakhs (Rs. 1.614 million). In 1853, it was from this station that India's very first steam engine left for its first trip to Thane. Initially named as 'Victoria Terminus' in honour of the reigning Queen Victoria, in 1996 it was renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus honoring the great 17th century Maratha King, by the State Government of Maharastra. It is now commonly known as CST though the old name VT or Victoria Terminus, is still commonly used.

Built in local sandstone, with a combination of the English Venetian Gothic style endorsed with elements of Indian Architecture, the terminus interior is very impressive with vaulted roofs, arches, Gothic spires, neoclassical sculptures, stone carvings, exquisite friezes etc. The frontage of the terminus is symmetrical with a massive central dome and a number of smaller domes and conical towers on the wings on either side.

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