Previously known as the Victoria Terminus (VT) after the then-governing Emperor of British India, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is the most extreme and eminent gothic restoration building worked in Mumbai.
It is a must-visit place for each guest who comes to Mumbai. This 133-year-old heritage building is one of the greatest and most active rail line stations in the country separated from being perhaps of the most glorious and notable milestones.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus(Mumbai) – All You Need to Know About It Before Visit
Pronounced as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Railway station is the base camp of the Central Railways and is very much associated with all pieces of the country. The Victorian-Gothic Revival architecture in which the structure is constructed returns one to the provincial time and partake in the wonders of its novel architecture.
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is the second most shot landmark of the country after the Taj Mahal. The landmark which looks similar to St. Pancras Railway Station in London looks amazingly gorgeous during the evening. The landmark is illuminated in bright lights during the night which improves the excellence and attracts a great many people to photo it.
The Terminus has likewise been an area for many films that were shot. The best models are Slumdog Mogul and Ra One.
History of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Mumbai
The work on building the Victoria Terminus, as CST was called then, at that point, had begun in 1878, and development was finished by 1887, right around a long time from the year the work had begun. The station was worked to act as the base camp of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway, which is available day Central Railway.
The land on which the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is fabricated used to be a stockroom for products implied for import and commodities to be put away as Bombay, (as the city was known then) was a significant and most significant port in India. Before the CST was constructed, it was at that point home to India’s most memorable rail route station in particular Bori Bandar. It was in 1853 that India’s very first traveler train worked from Bori Bunder Station to Thane.
To fulfill the developing needs of one of the most active ports of the country, a need of a greater Rail line Station had turned into a need of great importance. Consequently, the notion of building a greater station sprung up.
Change of Names
The station that was initially called Bori Bunder, the Terminus of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway from 1853 to 1888, was renamed Victoria Terminus in the festival of brilliant celebration of Queen Victoria, the Ruler of India. Notwithstanding, in 1996, the station was and renamed after the incomparable Maratha Empire Head, Chhatrapati Shivaji, the pioneer behind the Maratha Domain. It was renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus or CST as it is usually called by local people now.
In one more maneuver in December 2016, the service passed a goal to rename the Terminus back to Chhatrapati Shivaji ‘Maharaj’ Terminus and the conventional letter of the name change was delivered in May 2017. Notwithstanding, local people still prominently utilize both the previous names, i.e., VT and CST.
2008 Terrorist Attacks
The scandalous fear-monger assaults in Mumbai that left the city shaken had begun from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. It is discovered that on the evening of 26th November 2008, the terrorists entered through the traveler holding up the waiting hall of CST and started shooting and throwing grenades at the workers for 60 minutes.
There is a remembrance worked to honor the casualties of the 2008 assault at the CST building.
Arhcitecture of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Mumbai
The architectural wonder that the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is, stands apart, especially for its high-level specialized and structural solutions where modern innovation has been assembled with gothic recovery design. The last plan of the Terminus was planned by British architect and designer, Frederick William Stevens while its watercolor sketch was finished by the artist, Axel Haig.
The main design style in which the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus was fabricated is the Victorian-Gothic Restoration style of engineering. It had touches of Indian tradition as well as Italian components to it. The impacts of the Indian traditional components should be visible in the curves, horizon, ground plan, and turrets. The work on the tiles, wood carvings, metal iron, and brass linings, flight of stairs railings, and barbecues of ticket houses were finished by the students of Sir J. J. School of Arts.
Heritage Tour of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Mumbai
The directed heritage visit inside the CST heritage historical center is coordinated from Monday through Saturday. The visit is a one-hour directed visit starting at the heritage exhibition on the ground floor. The heritage visit is about the historical backdrop of Indian Railroads including a model of the train utilized as the principal train that worked between Bori Bunder and Thane in 1853.
The shows incorporate a presentation of all recent logos of all previous Railways since each Railway line was a piece of a different individual unit, possessed by a different firm. In 1951, all units were united and named Indian Railroads in this way making them a piece of one single nationalized substance under the National Authority of India.
There is a wooden money box with metal fortifications that were utilized in the Great Indian Landmass (GIP) Rail route. Additionally, in plain view is the Grandfather clock, the pendulum of which should be rewound physically consistently. The clock was made by John Walker and Co. of London.
The flight of stairs has a stone lion at the foot that holds the arms of the GIP Rail route. The steps of the fabulous flight of stairs are made from dark stone that shows up practically like a recently developed one, lined by created iron balustrades that give a perfect focus on the whole flight of stairs.
Entry Fee and Timings of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Mumbai
Being the center for Central railways and a significant intersection, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is open all day, every day of 365 days per year.
There is no entry fee to enter the Terminus.