Description of the attraction
The main and most crowded railway station in the city of Mumbai is Chhatrapati Shivaji Station, named after the Indian national hero. The construction of the station began in 1878 and lasted 10 years, until 1888, although it began its work even before the construction was completed - in 1882. The chief architect of the project was Frederick William Stephens, who was quite famous at that time in Britain. When designing the station, London St. Pancras station was taken as a model. Initially, the station was called "Victoria" - in honor of the Queen of England, but on March 4, 1996 it was renamed.
The architecture of the building mixed Victorian and Gothic styles, while the influence of the national Indian culture is also noticeable. Therefore, it looks more like a royal palace than a railway station. Its walls are decorated with stained glass windows, carved stone borders, graceful columns, high arches. The neat turrets are a kind of frame for the central dome, the top of which is crowned with a statue of a woman symbolizing progress. She holds a torch in one hand and a wheel in the other. The station is also decorated with several statues dedicated to trade, agriculture, science and technology. The columns of the central gate are decorated with lion and tiger figures representing Great Britain and India. The central part of the station is occupied by an inner courtyard, which can be accessed directly from the street. Inside, the station halls are tiled, decorated with carved wood panels and wrought iron railings.
The station serves commuter and several long-distance routes and has 18 platforms in total.
In 1994, the station received the status of a cultural heritage of UNESCO.
