About Connaught Place

Connaught Place (CP), also known as Rajiv Chowk, is the heart of New Delhi and one of the largest financial, commercial, and business centers in India. Built during British colonial rule, this iconic circular marketplace features Georgian-style architecture with white colonnaded buildings arranged in concentric circles.

Architecture

Georgian-style with distinctive white colonnaded buildings in circular design

Structure

Inner Circle, Middle Circle, and Outer Circle with Blocks A to N

Metro Station

Rajiv Chowk - Busiest metro station (Yellow & Blue Line)

Central Park

Large circular garden at the center with fountains and Indian flag

Connaught Place Blocks Guide

CP is divided into blocks labeled A through N, each with different shops and offices:

Block Key Attractions Known For
Block A Wenger's, Banks, Restaurants Historic bakery, fine dining
Block B Khadi Gramodyog, Shops Traditional Indian goods
Block E Haldiram's, Food Court Street food, restaurants
Block F Regal Cinema, Odeon Cinema Entertainment, movies
Block G United Coffee House Iconic restaurant
Block H Madame Tussauds Wax museum, entertainment
Block M Statesman House, Banks Corporate offices
Block N Oxford Bookstore, Keventers Books, milkshakes

Getting to Connaught Place

By Metro

Rajiv Chowk Metro Station is located directly under CP's Central Park. It's the interchange station for:

  • Yellow Line: Connects to HUDA City Centre, Gurgaon and Samaypur Badli
  • Blue Line: Connects to Dwarka and Noida/Vaishali

Nearby Metro Stations

  • Patel Chowk: Yellow Line (South side of CP)
  • Barakhamba Road: Blue Line (East side of CP)
  • Shivaji Stadium: Airport Express (Near Connaught Circus)

Nearby Landmarks

  • Janpath Market: Popular street shopping destination
  • Palika Bazaar: Underground shopping complex
  • Parliament Street: Government offices area
  • Jantar Mantar: Historic astronomical observatory
  • Gurudwara Bangla Sahib: Famous Sikh temple
  • Birla Mandir: Hindu temple on Mandir Marg

Shopping at Connaught Place

Popular Stores and Markets

  • Janpath Market: Budget clothing, handicrafts, souvenirs
  • Palika Bazaar: Electronics, clothes, accessories (underground)
  • State Emporiums: Authentic handicrafts from all Indian states
  • Central Cottage Industries: Government handicraft store
  • Khadi Gramodyog: Traditional Indian textiles

Dining Options

  • Saravana Bhavan: South Indian vegetarian (Block P)
  • United Coffee House: Continental, Indian (Block E)
  • Wenger's: Bakery and pastries (Block A)
  • Keventers: Milkshakes (Block N)
  • Embassy Restaurant: North Indian (Block D)

Connaught Place FAQs

What is the best time to visit Connaught Place?

Evening hours (5 PM - 9 PM) are ideal when the area is beautifully lit. Weekdays are less crowded than weekends. Avoid summer afternoons due to heat.

Is parking available at CP?

Yes, multi-level underground parking is available at Palika Parking (near Palika Bazaar) and Shivaji Stadium Parking. Street parking is limited and regulated.

What is the difference between Inner and Outer Circle?

Inner Circle faces the Central Park and has premium stores and restaurants. Outer Circle (Connaught Circus) has more budget-friendly options and connects to main roads.