Victoria Terminus, Mumbai (must see)

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai was declared a UNESCO Wolrd Heritage Site in 2004 and is truly an icon of the city. Located in the Bori Bunder area it is the busiest railway station in India. Its edifice designed by the British architect Frederick William Stevens, was built over a span of 10 years starting in 1878 and was inaugurated on the silver jubilee of Empress Victoria in 1887.

Formerly known as Victoria Terminus, the building was intended to house administrative offices of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway but serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways now. In order to honor the great Maratha warrior, Shivaji, the terminus was renamed as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus by the Ministry of Railways in 1996. The terminus is used by over 3 million commuters everyday.

The terminus is a perfect blend of Indian and Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival architecture. Pointed arches, turrets anchoring the 4 corner wings, railings of ornamental iron and brass, balustrades for the grand staircases, Neo-Gothic roof in the hall and a central dome with dovetailed ribs are some of the architectural highlights of this historical building.

An interesting symbol of Britain and India in the form of a stone sculpture of a lion and a tiger is seen atop the entrance gate. A symbol of progress is seen in the form of a 4-meter high statue of a female figure holding a spoked wheel in her left hand and a torch in her right, on top of the octagonal ribbed central dome having animal shaped water sprouts.