Quick answer: Connaught Place (CP), officially Rajiv Chowk, is the circular colonial-era shopping and business district at the heart of New Delhi. It was built between 1929 and 1933, designed by Robert Tor Russell and named after Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught. Today it is known for its white-colonnaded blocks, Central Park, restaurants, the underground Palika Bazaar and nearby Janpath. Entry is free; opening hours vary by shop, and Rajiv Chowk metro station sits right underneath.
Connaught Place at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Location | Central New Delhi, managed by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) |
| Official names | Inner Circle: Rajiv Chowk; Outer Circle (Connaught Circus): Indira Chowk |
| Built | 1929 to 1933 |
| Entry fee | None; it is a public market area |
| Timings | Vary by shop, restaurant and block; check individual stores |
| Nearest metro | Rajiv Chowk (Yellow and Blue lines interchange) |
| Time needed | Half a day for shopping and food (general guidance) |
Layout: the circles, blocks and radial roads
CP is easy to spot on any map of Delhi: a giant circle with roads spreading out in every direction. Its Georgian-style design was modelled on the Royal Crescent in Bath, England, but instead of a half-circle of houses, CP became an almost complete ring of two-storey buildings, with shops on the ground floor behind white colonnades and offices or homes above.
- Inner and Outer Circles: the market is built as concentric rings. According to Delhi Tourism, the Inner Circle holds Blocks A to F and the Outer Circle, Connaught Circus, holds Blocks G to P. In 1995 the Inner Circle was officially renamed Rajiv Chowk, after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and the Outer Circle became Indira Chowk, though most people still say CP. (An earlier version of this article called Rajiv Gandhi “the then” head of government in 1995; he had died in 1991.)
- Radial roads: eight roads leave the Inner Circle, Parliament Street and Radial Roads 1 to 7, and about a dozen roads lead out of the Outer Circle. They include Janpath (the continuation of Radial Road 1), Sansad Marg, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Barakhamba Road, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Marg, Minto Road and Panchkuian Road.
- Central Park: the green circle in the middle sits on top of Rajiv Chowk metro station and was rebuilt in 2005–06 after the station was built. Delhi Tourism describes a 41,500-square-metre park with four water bodies, including a cascade, and a 350-seat amphitheatre for cultural events. On 7 March 2014 a giant national flag, 90 by 60 feet, was raised here on a 207-foot pole, and it remains one of CP’s landmarks.
History of Connaught Place
Before CP
Before the new capital was built, the area was a ridge covered in kikar (acacia) trees, home to jackals and wild pigs. Residents of Kashmere Gate and Civil Lines came here at weekends to hunt partridge. An old Hanuman temple drew visitors from the walled city, but they came mainly on Tuesdays and Saturdays and left before sunset, as the journey back was thought to be dangerous.
To clear the land, the villages of Madhoganj, Jaisingh Pura and Raja ka Bazaar were demolished, and many of their residents were moved to Karol Bagh, then a rocky, bushy area to the west. Only three structures were spared: the Hanuman temple, a Jain temple in Jaisingh Pura and Jantar Mantar.
Construction
The first plans for a central business district were drawn up under W.H. Nicholls, chief architect to the Government of India, who proposed a plaza in the European Renaissance and Classical style. Nicholls left India in 1917, and the design passed to Robert Tor Russell, chief architect of the Public Works Department. Construction began in 1929 and was completed in 1933. Contractor Sobha Singh built and owned several of the first blocks, including the Regal Building and the Rivoli cinema. The market was named after Prince Arthur, 1st Duke of Connaught, Queen Victoria’s son, who visited India in 1921.
An earlier version of this article said CP was “built during the 1920s” and named Russell as the original designer; in fact the plans began under Nicholls and construction ran from 1929 to 1933.
The early years
The first shops were opened by traders who moved from Kashmere Gate, including names such as Galgotias, Kanter’s and Snowhite. Wenger’s, the confectioner, was one of the first shops in CP and is still in A Block. Restaurants such as Kwality and United Coffee House brought Continental and Mughlai food, while Davico’s and the Standard restaurant were popular for decades before closing.
The Imperial hotel on Janpath, opened in 1936, became New Delhi’s first luxury hotel and a meeting place for royalty and politicians. Accounts of the period say Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Lord Mountbatten met there during the discussions that led to Partition.
The cinemas
With the arrival of the talkies, CP became New Delhi’s entertainment hub. The Regal, opened in 1932, was the first cinema here and also hosted Western classical concerts, Russian ballet and British theatre. The Rivoli and the Odeon followed, along with the short-lived Indian Talkie House (1938); the Odeon, built in 1945, had the city’s second 70 mm screen. Some of these old halls now run as multiplex screens under new owners.
After independence
Business picked up in the 1950s. In 1979, Palika Bazaar, Delhi’s first underground market, opened beneath the space between the Inner and Outer Circles, and the state government emporiums came up on Baba Kharak Singh Marg.
What to do in Connaught Place
- Shop the circles: the Inner and Outer Circles have branded stores, long-established jewellers, watch dealers, bookshops and tailors alongside newer chains.
- Bargain at Janpath and Palika Bazaar: Janpath’s street stalls sell clothes, handicrafts and souvenirs, while Palika Bazaar, with around 380 shops, is dominated by electronics and clothing. Palika Bazaar has appeared on the US Trade Representative’s list of “notorious markets” for counterfeit goods, so check quality and authenticity carefully, and bargain politely.
- Visit the state emporiums: the State Emporia Complex on Baba Kharak Singh Marg sells crafts from different states, such as Kashmiri shawls, Tamil Nadu bronzes, Karnataka silks, Bihar’s Madhubani paintings and Rajasthani textiles, according to Delhi Tourism.
- Eat out: CP has everything from old bakeries and coffee houses to bars and modern restaurants.
- Relax in Central Park: watch for concerts and cultural events, which are held here through the year.
Landmarks in and around CP
Hanuman Temple
The Hanuman Temple on Baba Kharak Singh Marg is, by local tradition, one of five Delhi temples linked to the Mahabharata era. The present temple was rebuilt by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amber in 1724, around the time he built Jantar Mantar, and its spire unusually carries a crescent-moon finial. An earlier version of this article said the temple is in the Guinness Book of World Records for continuous chanting; we could not verify that claim, so it has been removed.
Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar on Sansad Marg is an 18th-century astronomical observatory built in 1724 by Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur, who found the existing instruments too small for accurate measurements. He went on to build similar observatories in Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi and Mathura. Read our full guide to Jantar Mantar in Delhi for timings and tickets.
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
A short walk from the Outer Circle, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, with its golden dome and sacred pool, is one of Delhi’s most visited Sikh shrines and welcomes people of all faiths. See our guide to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib for its history and visiting etiquette.
How to reach Connaught Place
- By metro: Rajiv Chowk station, directly under Central Park, is an interchange between the Yellow and Blue lines and one of the busiest stations on the network. Barakhamba Road (Blue Line) and Patel Chowk (Yellow Line) are also close to parts of CP.
- By rail: New Delhi Railway Station is close by, on the Paharganj side.
- By road: autos, buses and app cabs serve CP from all over Delhi. Parking is limited, so the metro is usually easier.
Tips for visiting
- Use the block letters (A to P) and Inner, Middle or Outer Circle to find addresses.
- CP is crowded on weekends and evenings; weekday mornings are calmer for walking.
- Watch out for touts offering “official” tourist information or travel bookings, and book through government counters or known agencies.
- Keep an eye on your belongings in Palika Bazaar and on Janpath.
Nearby places to visit
From CP, the budget market of Paharganj is just beyond New Delhi Railway Station, Agrasen ki Baoli, a medieval stepwell, is hidden in the lanes off Hailey Road, and India Gate is a short ride down Janpath and Kartavya Path.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Connaught Place called Rajiv Chowk?
In 1995 the Inner Circle was officially renamed Rajiv Chowk after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and the Outer Circle became Indira Chowk. The metro station under Central Park is also called Rajiv Chowk.
Who designed Connaught Place?
Robert Tor Russell, chief architect of the Public Works Department, completed the design after early plans by W.H. Nicholls. Construction ran from 1929 to 1933.
Is there an entry fee for Connaught Place?
No. Connaught Place is a public market and business district. Individual attractions nearby, such as Jantar Mantar, charge their own entry fees.
Which metro station is nearest to Connaught Place?
Rajiv Chowk, on the Yellow and Blue lines, directly below Central Park.
What is Connaught Place famous for?
Its circular colonial architecture, shopping, restaurants and nightlife, Central Park with its giant national flag, and nearby markets such as Janpath and Palika Bazaar.
Details checked in October 2026 against Delhi Tourism’s Connaught Place, Central Park, Jantar Mantar and emporium pages and published histories of New Delhi. Shop timings vary, so check individual stores before you go.
