Churchgate (Marathi:चर्चगेट) is an area in downtown South Mumbai (formerly Bombay). The station gets its name from Church Gate street (now Veer Nariman Road) which lines on the immediate south of the station. During the eighteenth and up to the mid 19th century, Bombay was a walled city. The city walls had three gates, and Church Gate, named after St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai was one of the gates. The gate on situated near the present day location of Flora Fountain. In the mid nineteenth century, the city walls were torn down to aid in the expansion program.

Station

Churchgate in the 1930s

Churchgate station gets it name from the area Churchgate. Churchgate station is a terminus of Western Railway line of Mumbai suburban railway. It is the southernmost station of the city, though up to the 1930s, Colaba was the southernmost station. It is home to the Western Railway headquarters. Today, the station is one of the busiest stations in the city. Millions of city dwellers residing in the suburbs alight at this station to get to their offices in the business districts of south Mumbai.

The station is the terminus for local trains on Western Railways. The earliest train departs at 4:00 AM, and the last train at 1:00 AM.

Churchgate station from inside.

Train leaving Churchgate.

Area

Churchgate area is primarily a business area. Numerous offices and banks are situated just a stone’s throw from Churchgate. The Income Tax Office is located in Churchgate. The city’s prime business district of Nariman Point lies just about a kilometre away. The western area of Churchgate is the Marine Drive area. This area is part of the upmarket area and land rates are high.

Educational institutions

Churchgate also has a large number of educational institutions in the vicinity.

1. University of Mumbai
2. Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies
3. Sydenham College: It is the first and oldest Commerce college in Asia, set up by Lord Sydenham of Combe in 1913, the then mayor of Bombay.
4. Jai Hind College: It was found in 1948 by the elders of the Sindhi community displaced from Pakistan after the partition of India. The college initially got one room (which could be used only from 7a.m. to 10 a.m.) in the Elphinstone College from the then state government. The college shifted to a bungalow on Peddar Road when it started the science stream.
5. K.C. College: It was founded in 1954 by the Hyderabad (Sind) National Collegiate Board with the aim of offering education to refugees.
6. H R College: After setting K C College, Hyderabad (Sind) National Collegiate Board went on to set up 23 educational institutes in Mumbai. In 1960, they founded the H R College at Churchgate.
7. Government Law College
8. Bengalee Girls High School
9. SNDT Women's University
10. Nirmala Niketan
11. Indo-German Training Centre (IGTC): It is the management institute of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce. It was set up in 1991.

Sporting Establishments

Some sporting establishments in the proximity are:

1. Wankhede Cricket Stadium
2. Mahindra Hockey Stadium
3. Brabourne Stadium
4. Oval Maidan

External links

• Video Tour of Churchgate Station Terminus