Connaught Place

Connaught Place in New Delhi is the largest commercial center of the region. The marketplace is named after the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn. The structure is a heritage building of the land, which was constructed in the early 20th century.

As of 2018, Connaught Place is tagged as the ninth most expensive office location in the world.

Location

The Connaught Place is located near Shivaji Bridge.

History of Connaught Place

Before the construction of this building, the area was filled with kikar trees and was home to wild pigs and jackals. The residents of the surrounding regions visited this ridge for hunting. There was a Hanuman temple near the borders of this region.

Pilgrims visited this temple during dawn, as dusk is considered very dangerous in this region, in the past. Later, the region was cleared, and smaller villages near the ridge were destroyed to make way for Connaught Place.

However, the Hanuman temple remains as a historic religious structure. Jantar Mantar and Jaisingh pura were the other structures, which were spared during the clearance.

Tourist Attractions in Connaught Place

Connaught Place is popular for the market, which is built in Georgian-style architecture. The building forms two concentric circles. Seven roads connect the outer circle and inner circle. 12 roads lead you in and out of this market, and the most popular of all is Janpath Road. You can find many giant cinemas and luxury theaters in this region.

The outer circle holds hotels, shops, restaurants, and most importantly, the Regal building (wax museum). The middle circle has banks, exchange houses, offices, and other corporations.

You can find many entertainment centers in the inner circle. Central Park is a large garden region near the market, which hosts cultural events and is open for tourists to stroll and enjoy a picnic. Central Park holds the largest Indian flag.

Top Activities to Enjoy in Connaught Place

• Catch a classic movie at the 1920 Cinema Theater. You can even catch any old silent films, if lucky.
• Visit the ancient Hanuman temple, which is said to be linked with the Mahabharata.
• Visit Jantar Mantar to spot many astronomical instruments of yesteryear.
• Visit the ICCR auditorium to catch any cultural activities
• Visit the grand stepwell, Agrasen ki Baoli, near the Connaught Palace for sightseeing

How to Reach

There is a metro station right under the market, named Rajiv Chowk. Thus, it is quite easy to reach the market from any part of New Delhi. You can also find many buses, cabs and auto rickshaws from various parts of the region.

The Rajiv Chowk is located in the inner circle of Connaught Palace, and thus, the metro is the most commonly used transportation to reach the market.

Visiting Time and Entry Fee

The market is open from 10 in the morning and closes by 8:30 in the evening. The opening and closing times of individual stalls varies with about the owner’s decision.

Accommodation

There are no accommodations inside any of the market regions. You can find numerous accommodations of varying styles in and around Delhi.

Best Time to Visit

If you visit during festival season, you can find numerous souvenirs and interesting traditional items. If you are looking for shopping experience, visit during evenings. Winter would be quite easier for exploring shops without sweating a lot.

Do you want to enjoy shopping in Delhi? Try our exclusive day tours of Delhi.