Tuesday, 21 May 2013


About Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus :

Imposing, exuberant and overflowing with people, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Victoria Terminus) is the city's most extravagant Gothic building, the beating heart of its railway network, and an aphorism for colonial India. Historian Christopher London uttered 'the Victoria Terminus is to the British Raj, what the Taj Mahal is to the Mughal Empire.' It's a meringue of Victorian, Hindu and Islamic styles whipped into an imposing, Daliesque structure of buttresses, domes, turrets, spires and stained-glass windows. Be sure to get close to the jungle-themed façade, particularly around the reservation office: it's adorned with peacocks, gargoyles, cheeky monkeys and lions. Designed by Frederick Stevens, it was completed in 1887, 34 years after the first train in India left this site. Today it's the busiest railway station in Asia. Officially renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) in 1998, it's still better known locally as VT. It was added to the Unesco World Heritage list in 2004.
  History of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
The Chhatrapati Shivaji station, formerly known as Victoria Terminus, was built in 1888. Designed by the British architect F.W. Stevens, the structure became a symbol of Bombay (Mumbai) and the city was labeled the 'Gothic City' due to this magnificent building's architectural styles. Apart from being the hub for major mercantile activities, the CST is the perfect amalgam of British and Indian designs. In the past, 'Bori Bandar' station, located along the Eastern parts of Mumbai, was the place for commercial exchanges and trading activities. In the 1850's, the Great Indian Peninsular Railway operated in this area and gave it the name 'Bori Bandar', starting its first rail service, covering a total distance of 34 km to Thane. During the British rule, the station was eventually redesigned and rebuilt by F.W. Stevens, who named it as Victoria Terminus. The station got its name from the then reigning royal, Queen Victoria. The construction of the station took 10 years to complete and was opened to the Queen on the date of her Golden Jubilee in 1887. At the time, the building was the most expensive structure in Mumbai costing 260,000 Sterling Pounds. The station was built to handle main rail traffic and in 1929, a new station and an administrative headquarters were built by the Central Railway. In 1996, the Minister of Railways, Suresh Kalmadi, changed the name of the station to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST).
getting to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus  Getting to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
  Tips for Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus stay

Practical info about Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Practical info about Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
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About Mount Mary Church :

For over a hundred years situated atop a hillock near Lands End Bandra, overlooking the Arabian Sea is Mount Mary’s Basilica a beautiful edifice in stone that simply stands out in its grandeur, an abode of tranquility, peace, reassurance and hope! Mount Mary's, affectionately beckons one and all. No invitations are required to spend time with our Blessed Mother. Once inside this beautiful church even a single glance at Mary with the child Jesus is a feast for the eye, both natural and that of faith. Thanking God or simply paying homage with the simplest or rarest of gifts, Mount Mary’s provides ample scope. For those who are in need of divine grace, to all of you who are troubled with the problems of daily life, come and worship at the Shrine of Mary. She is the Mother of all mankind. She will grant you solace, understanding and Hope. Mother Mary leaves no one unaided.
  History of Mount Mary Church
Mount Mary Church is a Roman Catholic Church, also known by the name of ‘The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount’. It is located in the Bandra suburb of Mumbai and dates back to the year 1640. One of the most popular churches of Bombay, it is visited by people of all religions. Perched on top of a hillock, Mt Mary Church stands at an altitude of approximately 80 m above sea level and overlooks the Arabian Sea. The church is believed to have miraculous healing powers and is thronged by devotees throughout the year. It is said that those who pray here honestly and faithfully get their wishes fulfilled. Though the church was built in the 17th century, its present structure is not more than 100 years old. Situated amidst picturesque surroundings, Mount Mary Church is also famous for providing amazing view of the sunset over the Arabian Sea. The statue of ‘Our Lady’ situated inside the church dates back to the 16th century.The Mount Mary church is situated on the peaceful hillock in Sunderban Bandra. It was built in 1640 and rebuilt again in 1761. This very beautiful church is situated in a tranquil setting where one can see both the setting sun and the Arabian Sea. The church is dedicated to Virgin Mary, who is also believed to fulfill the wishes of both the Christians and non-Christians who pray with full devotion and sincerity. People suffering from fatal diseases are known to offer wax figures corresponding to their ailment, like the figure of hands, feet etc. Though the church is crowded throughout the year, the highest number of devotes are known to attend the church during the week-long Bandra fair, where Mount Mary church in Mumbai looks even more spectacular due to the decorations and the assembly of people from all walks of life.
getting to Mount Mary Church  Getting to Mount Mary Church
Practical info about Mount Mary Church Practical info about Mount Mary Church
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About Bandra Worli Sealink :

The 5.6 kilometer Bandra Worli Sealink, which crosses the Arabian Sea, linking the Mumbai suburbs with south Mumbai, is viewed as an engineering marvel. This cable-stayed bridge (one that consists of one or more columns, with cables supporting the bridge deck) apparently contains steel wire equivalent to the circumference of the earth. The bridge also weighs the same as 50,000 African elephants, and used 90,000 tonnes of cement -- enough to make five 10 storied buildings. The Sealink hasn't been without controversy though. Delays, due to public litigation, doubled the amount of time it took to construct it from the estimated five years, to 10 years. The original cost estimate also increased from 6.6 billion rupees ($119.46 million) to 16 billion rupees ($289.6 million). The first four lanes were opened to the public on 30 June 2009. All eight lanes were opened on 24 March 2010.
  History of Bandra Worli Sealink
When anyone in Bombay refers to the Sea Link, (and the reason why my inner Grammar Nazi does not suffer heart palpitations when I write my ‘S’ and my ‘L’ in the upper case and indeed, use the definite article ‘the’ before its name,) it is an irrefutable certainty that they are speaking of the megastructure that connects Bandra and Worli for there is, in spite of the government’s threats, just one such Sea Link in our city today. And what a glorious Sea Link it is! Grand cable-stayed towers reaching up gracefully towards the heavens, hefty steel viaducts on either side of an eight-lane concrete carpet that stretches a distance of 5.6 kilometres; surely it is the greatest architectural achievement of independent India? I remember its opening ceremony, over three years ago now, full of fireworks and sound and overflowing feelings of patriotic fervour gushing through our hairy chests: Maybe the Shanghai dream isn’t so far away after all? But time has its way of putting an end to misguided hope and it is universally obvious now that the only manner in which we’ve come closer to being Shanghai is a few more Chinese restaurants popping up in our midst, not that anyone’s complaining.
getting to Bandra Worli Sealink  Getting to Bandra Worli Sealink
Practical info about Bandra Worli Sealink Practical info about Bandra Worli Sealink
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