Connaught Place Delhi – History, Shopping, Restaurants, Nearest Metro, Timings and Travel Guide
Introduction to Connaught Place (CP)
New Delhi has a vibrant central business hub that is fondly referred to as CP or Connaught Place.
It is a cultural landmark that is not only a shopping centre as it is designed in British colonial style.
CP is an envision of history, shopping and street food all together perfectly molded together and therefore is a must visit destination in any Delhi itinerary of a local or a tourist.
The History of Connaught Place: A Colonial History
Robert Tor Russell constructed the design in 1929–1933, as a memorial to Prince Arthur, 1st Duke of Connaught and Strathearn.
The square was considered as the heart of business of the new capital. CP is inspired by the Royal Crescent in Bath where there were concentric circles and Georgian colonnades.
The design is divided into the Inner Circle and the Outer Circle where the traffic flow is made easy to cars and pedestrians alike. The Central Park is a peaceful location at its core.
Connaught Place Shopping: From Brands to Books
CP provides shopping of all budgets. The Inner Circle is home to large retail stores, banks, and other well-liked restaurants; the Outer Circle includes a combination of smaller stores and bookstores.
Highlights include:
- Clothing and Fashionables: flagship stores of international fashion categories and good-looking Indian clothing.
- Electronics and Gadgets: the new phones, cameras, and computer accessories at great rates.
- Books and Stationery: there are the books and stationery iconic book shops like Oxford Bookstore, the heaven of readers.
Palika Bazaar: The Under-ground Market
Palika Bazaar is an air-conditioned mall with clothes, electronic, and other gadgets at bargain prices, which are close by. The bargaining is vital here and appeals to most of the budget shoppers.
Best Restaurants in Connaught Place: A Food Tour
CP serves every taste including old-fashioned restaurants and contemporary coffee shops as well as international food.
Traditional and Classic Restaurants
- Indian Coffee House: one of the simple cafes with classic ambience and snacks available in South Indian taste at reasonable rates.
- Wenger's Deli: one of the oldest bakeries in Delhi, which is known because of fresh bread and pastries.
- United Coffee House: has continental and Indian food served in vintage atmosphere.
Modern Cafés and Pubs
Coffee shops, all night bars, and rooftops overlooking Central Park are all trendy amongst the youthful population.
Fast-food and coffee restaurants are also spread across borders, which contributes to the diversity and makes CP a perfect location to spend the evening.
Central Park: The Green Core of CP
At the center of CP, there is a nice green circle, Central Park, which is a nice place of calms in the city life.
It has attractions such as groomed lawn, seasonal flower bed, public art, a big Indian National Flag, fountain and a lot of seating.
The park is the place of concerts, protests, and cultural events, which are the center of attention of the Delhites.
Accessibility and Accessibility to Connaught Place
The connection of CP is one of its strong points. The metro which passes under Administrative CP contains the Rajiv Chowk Metro Station, serving as a crossroad to the Yellow and Blue Line. There are numerous gates connecting directly to blocks of CP.
Transportation Options
|
Mode of Transport |
Accessibility in CP |
Note |
|
Delhi Metro (Rajiv Chowk Metro Station) |
Excellent |
By far the most convenient and fastest station. |
|
Bus (several stops around) |
Good |
Cheap and well-served. |
|
Auto-Rickshaw/Taxi |
Very Good |
It is available all the day and night. |
Additional Things to Do in Connaught Place: Secret Gems
In addition to shopping and dining, CP has not so popular attractions.
- Jantar Mantar: a 13 architectural instrument astronomical observatory, built in 1724, just a short walk away of the circles.
- Hanuman Mandir, CP: the sacred Hindu temple on the outskirt of CP, with its believers, who come especially during Tuesdays and Saturdays, providing a spiritual contrast to the business allure.
- Inner and Outer Circle Art: street art and murals in the passageways of the subway portray the culture and history of Delhi and can be photographed endlessly.
Visiting Tips to Connaught Place
- Parking is not so much; a hassle-free ride by the Delhi Metro.
- Weekdays are not so traffic jammed, evenings are well lit and colorful.
- The bargaining ought to be polite particularly in Palika Bazaar.
- Walk about, slowly by perfectly by the colonnades.
Conclusion
It is the bustling centre of New Delhi which is have not lost its colonial flair and serves its contemporary purposes at Connaught Place.
In its rich and historic Inner Circle and active Outer Circle stores, to the serene beauty of a Central Park and the multicolored food market, CP has it all.
Everyone does not have to be a tourist, shopper or history enthusiast, but visiting this historic circular market place is a must as history, commerce and culture are all in one place and the white pillars that are distinctive of this structure are unmistakable.
