Introduction

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), formerly known as Victoria Terminus (VT), is a prime example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture fused with themes derived from Indian traditional architecture. This monumental structure was built to announce to the natives that they (the British) were here to stay. This is without doubt Mumbai's most impressive Raj-era monument.

Designed by a British architect named F. W. Stevens, it is today the world grandest example of station architecture. The British envisaged Bombay as their ‘Gothic City’ with a major international mercantile port. The sweeping scale of the monument can be gauged by the fact that the terminal was built over 10 years, starting in 1878. The entire station was completed by 1888. It was then under the Great Indian Peninsular Railway.

CST is historic also because the first train on Indian soil ran between Bombay to Thane on the 16th of April 1853. India's first long-distance express to Calcutta and Delhi also embarked from here. Today at least a thousand trains leave every day, carrying some 2.5 million commuters in and out of the city. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it features prominently in the movie 'Slumdog Millionaire'.

Aside from the staggering architecture, CST is also a great place to observe life in all its vivid hues given the number of people and activities that take place here. Working women in saris to salwars to western suits getting in and off ladies compartments, holy men in saffron clothes, faces as varied as North Eastern to South India to the aquiline features of the North India's Himalayan people...the variety on display is amazing. Another striking feature to observe is Mumbai's famous dabba-wallas going about their job with pin point accuracy. A vast network of dabba-wallas transfer over 2,00,000 cooked lunches, prepared by housewives for office goers through suburban rail with CST acting as a hub. Their unique sorting methodology and multiple-relay distribution system is case study of primer management schools worldwide. Forbes magazine gave it a Six Sigma (99.99% accuracy) performance rating. That translates to just one error in six million transactions. Staggering! You could say the same for CST.

Special Attributes

A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Nuisance

Gets crowded during peak office hours

Dressing restrictions

None

Connectivity

Train, Bus and Cab

Enjoyed by

Architecture and Heritage lovers

Exposure

Minimal

Avoidable Season

Open through the year

Facilities

Basic, prepare accordingly.

Things Not Allowed

No such restriction

Tip

This historic railway terminus is like a courtside seat to view the people of Mumbai. People of all ethnicities and economic strata pass through and you can spend hours just noticing their different ways.

Type of site

Iconic Railway Station