Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Maharashtra
Built over a period of ten years, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is regarded as one of the finest functional Railway station buildings of the world. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj terminus is a perfect blend of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture and tradition Indian architectural themes. It was designed by the British architect F.W Stevens and built during the year of 1878 to 1888. Its High Victorian Gothic architecture is based on Italian models. Features like its turrets, pointed arches, stone domes and ground plans among others are derived from traditional Iian palace architecture. It is said that British architects collaborated with Indian Craftsmen to achieve this unique structure.
The first terminus in the Indian subcontinent, it became a commercial point, representing the economic wealth of India. It is also a great example of late nineteenth Century railway architecture, with remarkable advanced structure and technical solutions. The outer view, façade, and the usage of this place is original.
A perfect example of the amalgam of the two cultures, British and Indian, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj terminus is protected by its own Buffer zone. The station has four railway tracks and seven suburban tracks and eleven separate outstation tracks, which were added recently. This has also led to the restructuring and addition of new buildings at the terminus. However, the authenticity of the architecture of the terminus is still protected as is evident from the various Italian and Gothic three dimensional designs of flowers, plants and so on, on its various arcs and pillars.
The best thing about the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj terminal is its mind blowing rush, even today and its prevalent authenticity. The place is an epitome of the meeting of the Western and Eastern cultures, as well as the advanced technicalities and architecture of the time.