Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus)

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) is a late 19th-century railway station in Mumbai, India, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 2004. It is one of the best-known examples of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture in India and was completed in 1887.

The building’s highlights are its richly carved stone façades, a high central dome, turrets and stained glass; the exterior sculpture mixes European Gothic and Indian decorative motifs. The complex is a working terminal that handles very large daily passenger volumes, serving both long-distance and suburban trains. Photographers often focus on the main façade and dome while commuters use the numerous entrances and platforms.

Designed by Frederick William Stevens, construction began in the late 1870s and the completed station opened in 1887; it was originally named Victoria Terminus. The station was later renamed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in 1996 and continues to serve as the administrative headquarters of Central Railway while retaining its historical fabric.

The station sits in South Mumbai near the harbour, approximately at the eastern edge of the city’s core business district and a short distance from the Gateway of India and the Arabian Sea. It is well connected by local transport and Mumbai’s suburban rail network.

• Photography tip: Best light for photographing the carved stonework and central dome is at dusk when exterior floodlighting begins.
• Crowds: The station remains a busy transport hub; expect large commuter crowds during weekday mornings and evenings.

What to See #

• Main building (exterior): The principal Gothic Revival terminal building faces a forecourt on the eastern side and was completed in 1887; it was designed by British architect Frederick William Stevens and combines Victorian Gothic with Indian architectural details.
• Platforms and concourse: Active railway platforms and the original booking concourse form the working heart of the site; the complex continues to function as a major urban rail terminus and the headquarters of Central Railway.