Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)

 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) is one of Mumbai’s most extraordinary landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site—both a historic monument and a living railway station.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), formerly known as Victoria Terminus (VT), is a historic railway station and UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. 

Designed by British architect Frederick William Stevens in the Victorian Gothic Revival style with strong Indian architectural influences, its construction began in 1878 and was completed in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. 

The station serves as the headquarters of the Central Railway zone of Indian Railways and is one of the busiest railway stations in India, handling over 3 million passengers daily across 18 platforms. 

It is a major transportation hub connecting Mumbai to various parts of the country via long-distance and suburban rail networks. 

Architecturally, CSMT features a C-shaped plan with a central dome, turrets, pointed arches, and intricate stone carvings. The building blends Gothic, Victorian, and traditional Indian palace elements, symbolizing a fusion of British and Indian cultures. Notable features include statues of a lion (Britain) and tiger (India) at the entrance, and the allegorical statue "Progress" atop the central dome, representing knowledge and advancement. 

In 1996, the station was renamed from Victoria Terminus to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in honor of Shivaji Maharaj, the 17th-century Maratha king. It was further renamed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in 2017. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 under criteria (ii) and (iv) for its architectural significance and cultural fusion.