CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI TERMINUS (C.S.T.)

A World Heritage Site since 2004, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly known as Victoria Terminus Station in honor of Queen Victoria) is one of India's busiest train stations, handling more than 3 million users a day and covering an area of almost 3 hectares. Built in the old Bori Bunder area, this was a key import/export location in Mumbai. It is also the first terminal station built in the Indian subcontinent. It was erected between 1878 and 1888 according to the plans of the architect Frederick Williams Stevens. It is one of the most representative monuments of a fusion of Victorian neo-Gothic and Indian "style" styles, which can be seen in the stone dome, turrets, pointed arches, and the basic plan, which is inspired by the architecture of the maharajas' palaces. The majority of the building retains its original structure and is reminiscent of the great influence of the Italian Gothic style, particularly through the carvings of local flora and fauna, some of which are made of local yellow stone and embellished with Italian marble and polished granite. The beautiful doors and windows are generally made of Burmese teak wood. The plurality of the Indian society of the time is also engraved in the stone thanks to the various busts representing the many castes and communities of the country. Prominently displayed on the facade are bas-reliefs representing the ten directors of the former Indian Railway Corporation. The imposing columns of the main entrance gate are a reminder of India's colonial past, topped by a lion (symbol of the United Kingdom) and a tiger (symbol of India). Initially, this station had four tracks. Today, it has eighteen! Thus, new buildings have been added to the building. The Indian authorities do not cease wanting to decongest this station by diverting part of the traffic towards other stations in order to improve the quality of the service but also to protect this monument from pollution. Unfortunately, this magnificent building was also the target of one of the attacks during the 2008 bombings, where two gunmen killed more than 50 people in the Salle des Pas Perdus. It is the most photographed monument in India, after the famous Taj Mahal.

In the evening, the station lights up and constitutes a striking colorful picture.