Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus)

1. Why did you choose this particular building?

I chose this building in Mumbai, India, as opposed to other buildings in other parts of the world because it is not that widely known especially to the younger generation. This building has its own natural beauty and yet it is functional. Also, the final design bears some resemblance to the St Pancras railway station in London and surprisingly such significant can be found in India as well. This building, designed by the British architect F. W. Stevens, became the symbol of Bombay as the ‘Gothic City’ and the major international mercantile port of India. Besides that, it is also one of the UNESCO protected heritage in the world. According to Tripadvisor.com, one person commented on this building as “India's most beautiful railway station is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture with stained-glass windows, towering spires, domed arches and buttresses and pillars with animal images carved into them.”

2. Give a brief introduction to its background.

The terminal was built over 10 years, starting in 1878, according to a High Victorian Gothic design. At first, it was built as the headquarters of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway Company. But later on, it was the western most end point of the Central Railways. It has become an inseparable part of the people of Mumbai as the station operates both suburban and long distance trains. This magnificent terminus serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways in India and is one of the busiest stations of the nation. Till 1996, it was known as Victoria Terminal, named so in the honour of Queen Victoria. On 2nd July 2004, the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO nominated this magnificent specimen of late 19th century railway architecture as a World Heritage Site. This terminus is one of the rare specimens of the excellent fusion of traditional western and Indian architecture and adds a unique variety to the rich Indian heritage. In 2008, the station was also featured prominently in the Academy Award winning film, Slumdog Millionaire.

3. What kind of influences does this building have? Is it influenced by religion/culture/ politics?

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture in India based on late medieval Italian models, blended with themes deriving from Indian traditional architecture. Its remarkable stone dome, turrets, pointed arches and eccentric ground plan are close to the traditional Indian palace architecture. It is a great example of the meeting of two cultures, as British architects worked with Indian craftsmen to include Indian architectural tradition and idioms thus forging a new style unique to Bombay. This famous terminal also displays the beauty of late 19th century railway architecture in the British Commonwealth characterized by its advanced structural and technical solutions.