Indian Railways (IR) has one of the busiest and largest railway networks in the world, operates both long distance and suburban rail systems. There are quite a few railway stations in India which are architecture marvels. India's most impressive railway stations are oldest railway station known as Royapuram Railway Station, world heritage railway station Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, highest railway station as Ghum Railway Station and the most beautiful railway station in India, Dudhsagar Railway Station.
1. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) formerly known as Victoria Terminus is a historic railway station and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways. The station was built in 1887 in the Bori Bunder area of Mumbai to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The station's name was changed from Victoria Terminus (with code BB) to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (with code CSTM) in March 1996 in honour of Emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji, founder of the Maratha Empire. In 2017, the station was again renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (with code CSMT).
2. Ghum, West Bengal
Ghum is a small hilly locality in the Darjeeling Himalayan hill region of West Bengal, India. Ghum railway station of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is the highest railway station in India. It is situated at an altitude of 2,258 metres (7,407 ft). Ghum railway station is the highest in india and 14th highest in the world.
3. Dudhsagar Railway Station, Goa
Dudhsagar Railway Station is located on the border of Goa and Karnataka near the near the Majestic Dudhsagar waterfall. The area of Dudhsagar Railway Station and Castle rock railway station is surrounded by a deciduous forests.
4. Charbagh Railway Station, Lucknow
Lucknow railway station is one of the two main railway stations of Lucknow city for broad gauge trains, other one is "Lucknow Jn" (station code "LJN"). Lucknow Charbagh railway station is one of the two main railway stations of Lucknow city and one of the busiest railway stations of India. The station is an architectural masterpiece with the historical buildings and four gardens in the complex.
5. Howrah Railway Station, West Bengal
Howrah Junction railway station is the largest railway complex and biggest railway station in India. It's the busiest railway station in India in terms of train frequency after Kanpur Central, Vijayawada Junction, Delhi Junction, New Delhi and Ambala Cant. It has the highest train-handling capacity of any railway station in India and is one of the busiest railway stations in terms of passenger volume per day.
6. Kanpur Central, Uttar Pradesh
Kanpur Central is one of five "Central" railway stations in India. It is the busiest railway station in India in terms of frequency of trains. Around 230 trains passes through the station daily. The present station was built in 1928, though the imposing building was completed in 1930. The building's construction is inspired by Lucknow's magnificent Lucknow Charbagh railway station building which was built by the British in 1914; however, it could not be constructed identically to Charbagh because it would have been enormously expensive.
7. Cuttack Railway Station, Odisha
Cuttack Railway Station is amongst the top hundred daily booking stations of Indian Railway, operating under Khurda road Division of East Coast Railway. The fort style of architecture of Cuttack Railway Station is a beautiful railway station and has inspired many architects around the world.
8. Chennai Central Station, Tamil Nadu
Chennai Central is the main railway terminus in the city of Chennai, formerly known as Madras. Chennai Central railway station is one of the most important railway hubs in South India and one of the most prominent landmarks of Chennai. The station is also a main hub for the Chennai Suburban Railway system and the most profitable stations of Southern Railways.
9. Vijayawada Railway Station, Andhra Pradesh
Vijayawada railway station is an Indian railway station in Vijayawada of Andhra Pradesh. It is classified as one of the A-1 and Model station in the Vijayawada railway division of South Central Railway zone. It is the second busiest railway junction in the country, situated at the junction of Howrah-Chennai and New Delhi-Chennai main lines. The station everyday serves about 1.40 lakh passengers, over 250 express and 150 freight trains.
10. Thiruvananthapuram Railway Station, Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram Railway Station is the largest railway station in Kerala in terms of passenger movement and an important rail hub in Southern Railway. The station has all the possible facilites such as Internet browsing center, restaurants, book shops and part of the longest train routes in India.