Victoria Terminus

Standing tall on the shore of the Arabian Sea, the Victoria Terminus now called Maharaja Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is the first functional railway station of the Indian subcontinent and one of the finest examples of 19th-century railway architecture in the country.

The terminus building was designed by F.W. Stevens exhibiting the strong influence of Victorian Gothic Revival and traditional Indian architecture in its edifice. The construction of Victoria Terminus started in 1878 and it took 10 years for its completion by the British and Indian architects whose main objective was to build something unique on the soil of Mumbai.

Over the years, Victoria Terminus became a commercial hub and an insignia of the economic growth of India. The Maharaja Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus building spreads over a whopping 2.85 hectares area which is maintained by the Indian Railways.

It is one of the busiest railway stations of Mumbai commuting more than 3 million passengers every day. There is a protected buffer zone covering an area of 90 hectares in the terminus premises. Apart from its initial 4 railway tracks, Victoria Terminus has 7 suburban and 11 out-station tracks to handle the growing traffic over the years.

The property had been declared as Heritage Grade I on April 21, 1997, under the Maharashtra State Government Act resolution and retains the major part of its original architectural integrity even today.

1. St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai- A UNESCO World Heritage Site, St. Thomas Cathedral is a standing testament of British colonial rule in India. Being the first Anglican Church, it holds paramount religious importance to the Christian community in Mumbai. The history of the church dates back to 1718 when it was built and dedicated to St. Thomas.

One of the noticeable features of the cathedral is its towering monument which stands as a symbol of peace and solitude. Apart from that, it is ornamented with elaborate embellishments which is now in a dilapidated state over the years but still exudes a characteristic brilliance of the Neo-Gothic and Neo-Classical architectural oeuvre. 

Address: D.N. Road, Churchgate, Mumbai

Timings: every day 6 AM- 6 PM

2. Flora Fountain- Popularly known as the Hutatma Chowk, the Flora Fountain is one of India’s oldest heritage structures which was built in 1864. The name “Flora” has been coined after the name of the Roman Goddess of Flowers. The Flora Fountain in Mumbai is a booming commercial hub and many of the prominent institutions are located around this place, viz. the Bombay Stock Exchange, Gateway of India, and the University of Bombay. The fountain exudes a brilliant appearance at night and is one of the best tourist attractions of Mumbai City.

Address: Veer Raman Road, Fort Business District, South Mumbai

3. Rajabai Clock Tower- The majestic 250 ft. clock tower is one of the most highlighted attractions of Mumbai city. The clock portrays itself as a glaring example of the early Gothic and French architecture that was brought in during the British rule in India. The tower is located in the Bombay University Fort campus adjacent to the Bombay High Court. 

The clock tower was built by Sir Gilbert Scott based on the model of The Big Ben in London. The foundation of the tower was laid on March 1, 1869, and its construction was funded by an affluent stockbroker Premchand Roychand. The giant clock on the tower can be viewed from a distance and it plays musical tunes at regular intervals. 

Address: Bombay University, Mumbai- 400001

4. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya- The erstwhile Prince of Wales Museum is a treasure trove of rare collections of sculptures, artefacts and artworks of ancient India and far Eastern countries. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya was built in the early 20th century by George Wittet and stands as one of the finest examples of Indo- Saracenic style of architecture. The museum structure was built in a combination of Gujarati and Islamic architectural pattern with its brickwork made of traditional British style. 

Address: M. G. Road, Fort, Mumbai

Timings: 10:15 am- 5pm (Mondays closed)

5. Jehangir Art Gallery- The Jehangir Art Gallery is one of the most premier venues in Mumbai for accomplished and budding artists to exhibit their artwork for public view. The gallery was established in 1952 by Cowasji Jehangir and was named after his late son Jahangir. It is a wonderful haven for art enthusiasts who want to see a splendid exhibition of artworks under a single roof. The art gallery has exhaustive collections of paintings by famous artists such as M F Husain and S. H. Raza.

The sprawling premises of the art gallery consists of four massive exhibition halls namely the Terrace Art Gallery, Auditorium Hall, Exhibition Gallery and the Hirji Jehangir Gallery. An approximate number of 300 shows are hosted on photography and visual arts in these galleries in a year.

Address: M.G. Road, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai-400 023 

Timings: 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

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