I love travelling by train, and I also have a love of architecture; as such entering train stations is always a special sensation for me. I decided to throw myself in at the deep end with this site, and booked myself onto a sleeper-train on my first night in India. I therefore had to rely on VT as my base during my first taste of the country.

I was delighted to be dropped of from the airport at a place that seemed incredibly familiar to me, not only because I have seen so many pictures of it but also because it looks like it could be in London. The comparison with St Pancras is very obvious, VT is obviously used much more frequently and has loads of character, this has led to the dull/ ugly extension to the station, and the main shed is nowhere near as awesome as the magnificently restored example at St Pancras. However VT has a massive buzz and energy about it. I really enjoyed going to the food stall and ordering a masala dosa, (perhaps my favourite meal in the world) getting change from €0.40 and elbowing my way to a counter top to tuck in. It was also fun to walk up to the bridge over the commuter trains and watch them decant an astronomical amount of people into the station, happy with the knowledge that I wasn’t caught up in the rush. The whole fort area of Mumbai was littered with buildings that could just as easily be in London, and sitting down to watch innumerable games of cricket, it was only the intense heat and extra amounts of litter that alerted me to the fact I wasn’t at home.

After negotiating my way onto an overnight train (the hassle of the reservation lists etc.) and then returning the next night I was left with a much quieter experience of VT as Saturdays are nowhere near as busy. This enabled me to casually sneak into the main entrance and get a view of the wonderful staircase and dome, which both Els and Paul were denied a view of. I was quickly asked to leave, and the guns of the man asking indicated that I was perhaps a little naive to walk into a restricted zone, however I have very fond memories of seeing the interior of this wonderful building.

I really liked Mumbai, it was a great introduction to India for me. I am exceptionally happy that I was not only able to view this charming station but was able to use it for its main purpose of travelling out on its wonderful train system.

[Site 5: Experience 7]