Declared
as the world heritage site in 2004,
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus of Mumbai
was formerly known as Victoria Terminus.
Its unique architecture attracts the
attention of the tourists. It presents a
harmonious blend of Victorian Gothic
Revival architecture with traditional
Indian architecture. Designed by the
British architect, this terminal took
ten years to complete. Started in 1878,
it is based on late medieval Italian
models, though its stone dome, eccebtric
ground plan, turrets and pointed arches
are undoubtedly inspired by Indian
palatial architectural style. British
architects worked along with master and
skilled Indian craftsmen to achieve this
unique impression.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus of Bombay
(the old name of Mumbai) has become an
icon of the Victorian Italianate Gothic
Revival architecture in India that has
been modified to suite the regional
tastes by combining the Indian
architectural elements. The 19th century
railway station presented a daunting
impression of Mumbai being a major
mercantile port city on the Indian
Subcontinent during that period, as much
as it does today. The building presents
quite advanced structural and technical
solutions for such architectural
structures and represents the royalty of
medieval India. It is a befitting
monument to welcome the tourist who
comes to visit Mumbai as a seat of
Bollywood, Indian film industry, with
its dramatic look and as a land that is
known to churn dreams into reality.
