Location of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal : - The Chatrapati railway station is located in the south Mumbai which is the down town hub of commercial activities. The famous Mumbai municipal corporation building stands very next to the iconic structure.
By Train: - All the central and harbor line local trains end at the chatrapati shivaji terminal railway station so you can catch any train en-route these lines to reach the CSTM railway station. The CSTM is not too far from the western line local station church gate. You can alight at church gate and hire a taxi to reach the CSTM.
By Road: - There are many highways reaching Mumbai from different parts of India, Once in Mumbai you can catch the P.D. Mello road or the Manish road to reach the famed railway station. NH 222, NH 4, NH 3, NH 8 reach Mumbai.
You can also take the facility of the Mumbai local taxi or the BEST bus service from various corners of the city.
When to visit Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal : - The station is open 24x7 there are two wings of CSTM terminal, the local train wing and the long haul train wing. The local trains take a halt just for an hour or two every day the operation of local trains goes on for almost entire day this is the reason for the popular dictum “Mumbai never sleeps”. Entire day the station buzzes with activity. The best time to visit the Chatrapati shivaji terminus is the non peak hours the time when the number of local commuters are low you can stroll around the station in ease without no hassles of dealing with large crowds. Second look forward to visit the station at a time when the weather is conducive. The winters are the best time in Mumbai to roam around in pleasant weather.
Entry fees at the Chatrapati Shivaji terminal : - There is no particular fees to roam around at the station premises just take care don’t enter the platform area without a proper ticket. To enter the platform area you can buy the lowest denomination local train ticket or the proper platform ticket for the long haul train platform.
History and Architecture of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal : - Perhaps one of the finest building built by the British during their regime, the terminus displays influence of classical Indian palace architecture along with the Gothic Saracenic and neo Italian medieval architecture features. The building was designed by a British architect Fredrick William Stevens, it was inaugurated in 1887 on the auspicious occasion of the Golden jubilee celebration of the rule of Queen Victoria, it look around 10 years to be erected on an estimated expenditure of 2,50, 000 British pounds. Basalt rock has been primarily used in the structure, Indian marble, Italian marble wood, coloured glass has been extensively used around the building. The design has been an amalgamation of various architectural concepts, the large domes and the pointed arches are inspired from the Indian palace architecture while the rising towers, spires, turrets are taken from the British castles, The Italian Gothic designer statues adorn the building.
The main building of the station is a C shaped structure very finely balanced aesthetically the central ribbed dome occupies the terrace with smaller domes on the wings. The windows and the doors display the classical pointed arch with colored glass array. The ceiling are high and designed again in the shape of pointed arches, the ribbed pattern of the ceiling has been decorated with Italian marble and fusion of Indian marble. The flooring has also been done with marble assortment. The station has administrative office of the Central Indian railway apart from the ticket and reservation offices, there are restaurants and rest rooms for the passengers. The railing on the stair case has been done in classical British designs fabricated with wrought iron the designs are based on animal and floral patterns.The façade has a figurine of a lady on the top with a torch and a wheel in either hands. The entrance to the station has carved figures of a lion and a tiger representing Britain and India.
The ascending marble columns have the carved floral motifs decorating the top end. The centre of the ceiling is in shape of a blooming lotus.The building was declared in 2004 a UNESCO World heritage site. The long platforms covered with Victorian designer rain sheds. The building bather in the tri colour lights at the night time.The huge central dome rests onn the squinch design.The design of the grills and the railing was prepared by the students of the Jamset Ji school of arts. The windows display concentric pointed arches with stained glass work. The original name of the station was Victoria terminal in name of the British empress Queen Victoria, In 1996 the name was changed to the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminal in name of the famous Maratha warrior and king Shivaji Rao Bhonsle who laid the foundation of the Maratha empire fighting the mughal forces in the 17th century.
Platforms of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal : - The station has two distinct discreet areas of operation. The local platforms on one side of the station (towards the Manish market side) while the long haul train platforms are on the other side. The ticket windows, the rest area of the passengers, all these facilities are discreet for both these lines.
Mumbai Attacks 2008 : - Chatrapati Shivaji terminal was attacked in the November month of 2008 by the Pakistani terrorists who rained bullets on the innocent passengers waiting for their trains. The CC Tv at the station displayed the horrific images of one of the terrorist Ajmal Kasab firing indiscriminately at the Chatrapati Shivaji terminal, no one can forget this horrific incident.
