Connaught Place (Shopping) Delhi (Timings, History, Location, Images & Facts)

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About Connaught Place, Delhi

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Welcome to one of the largest commercial and financial markets of the world! Welcome to Connaught Place. Connaught Place is a delight for some, fancy for many and a business enhancer for others. Often abbreviated as CP, Connaught Place is the heart of Delhi and houses headquarters of some of the biggest firms in the world. While it is the central commercial area of Delhi, it also holds the pride of the city high for its heritage.

CP was named after Prince Arthur, 1st Duke of Connaught and Strathearn and developed as a showpiece of Lutyens’ Delhi. The construction work of the commercial marketplace began in the year 1929 and was completed by 1933.

The Connaught Place market is built in the shape of a horseshoe, as British believed that this could bring luck for the shopkeepers as well as the shoppers. The market is divided into two circles: the inner circle and the outer circle. While the inner circle consists of Blocks A to F, the outer circle comprises of Blocks G to P.

On the one hand, CP houses some of the most significant commercial entities and relevant government offices, on the other, it is a shopping hub with some of the most prominent brands in the country and the world.

History of Connaught Place:

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Looking at how Connaught Place has flourished in the recent years, it would be difficult to believe that before becoming CP, the place was a ridge. The entire area was covered by Kikar trees and was populated by Jackals and Pigs. People from other parts of the city like Civil Lines and Kashmere gate used to visit the place for partridge hunting.

There was hanuman temple that attracted a lot of visitors. But the people used to come in groups only on Tuesdays and Saturdays and used to return before the sunset to avoid any mishap. After the plan of constructing Connaught Place came into existence, people from the nearby villages of Jaisingh Pura, Madhoganj, and Raja ka Bazaar were asked to clear the area for the development of CP and its adjacent areas.

The displaced people were relocated at Karol Bagh, which was a rocky area with wild bushes and trees. Everything was demolished except three structures including The Hanuman temple, the Jain Temple in Jaisinghpura and the Jantar Mantar.

The British were very serious about a commercial marketplace in Imperial India. CP was envisaged as the central business district and was constructed under the leadership of WH Nicholls, the chief architect of the project.

However, Nicholls left the project in between, and Robert Tor Russell took over the construction of the central plaza, that was based on European Renaissance, to be made in classical style. Russell was the chief architect of Public Works Department, India.

Connaught Place got its name after Prince Arthur, 1st Duke of Connaught (1850–1942), third son of Queen Victoria and uncle of King George VI of England. The designers of the place took the inspiration from Royal Crescent in Bath to adopt the Georgian architecture of the Connaught Place. While the Royal Crescent is semi-circular and a three-storeyed place, the architects restricted Connaught Place to only two stories.

The architects had ideated to have commercial buildings on the lower floor and a residential complex on the top floor. And CP eventually took the shape of a complete circle. It comprises of two concentric circles, with outer circle, middle circle, and inner circle. Seven roads radiate from the park at the center. The original plan stated that the top of all the blocks had to be joined. However, to render scale to the place, the circle was broken up.

In fact, the location was so prime that the government had proposed setting up of New Delhi Railway station in the circle. However, the idea appeared to be impractical; hence a land in a close by area in Paharganj was chosen for this, and the New Delhi Railway Station was constructed there.

Early days of Connaught Place:

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Initially, Connaught Place was occupied mainly by the traders of the Kashmere gate, with some of the major names like Galgotia, Kanter’s and Snowhite. Since most of the rulers of Indian princely states had their residences close by, there were shops for designer clothes, pianos, shoes, and artifacts that were being set up.

One of the major attractions of those times was Regal Cinema. It was the first cinema of Connaught Place, and it hosted some of the most famous ballet performances, music concerts, theatre groups, et al. The Odeon Cinema and Rivoli were set up later in 1938. Only Indian snacks were available initially. However, a whole of restaurants was open in the Plaza with names like Kwality and United Coffee House venturing into the market.

It wasn’t the market that was more important. It was a culture that Connaught Place was bringing in, that was more impactful. Wenger’s which is popular even today was the first confectionary shop in Connaught Place. Davico’s and the Standard Restaurant remained popular for decades, and people used to queue out of these places for food.

Connaught Place got its first luxury hotel with The Imperial on Janpath (known as the Queen’s way then). The hotel became the ultimate haunt for the high-flown business meetings and royalty. It is worth mentioning that Jawaharlal Nehru, Mohandas K. Gandhi, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Lord Mountbatten met to discuss the Partition of India and the birth of Pakistan took place at The Imperial hotel in Connaught Place.

CP witnessed a dwindling business during the Independence movement and World War II. But things came on the track, and in fact started growing, in the 1950s. Today, Connaught Place has become one of the most expensive places in the world and houses almost all global brands.

Inside the Connaught Place:

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The cinemas

Connaught Place was all about cinemas till the stalls, bazaars, and restaurants did not mushroom in country’s most premium market. Everything from Bollywood, Hollywood, Russian ballet, Urdu plays, and silent films were shown on the screens of some of the most vintage cinema halls.CP was an elite place, and only the Royals could enjoy the luxury of cinemas like Rivoli, Regal, and Odeon.

The Hanuman Temple

This temple has been an essential part of Delhi’s religious side. It is believed that the temple was one of the four important sites that were a part of the mythological Mahabharata. The temple also features in Guinness Book of World Records as the worshippers had chanted “Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Ram” in the temple for 24 hours at a stretch.

Jantar Mantar

This historical monument has now become more of a protest point (dharna sthal), but it has its importance intact in the Indian history. Jantar Mantar has a rather interesting story to its construction. Maharaja Jaisingh II of Jaipur was quite interested in keeping track of dates and calendars.

But in those times, it was possible only by watching the movement of sun and moon. He wasn’t too happy with the small tools being used for the process. Hence, he created large astronomical instruments for the measurement in five sites. The Jantar Mantar is one of the 13 astronomical tools that tell accurate time and date. This site in Connaught Place gives a broad sense of India’s scientific prowess and also helps in marking critical celestial movements.

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

Amidst the neverending hustle-bustle of Connaught Place, lies a place full of serenity and calm. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is although a place of religious importance, it has its historic charm too. The golden dome of Gurudwara radiates the Sun rays and makes the site look divine.

Although it is a house of worship for followers of Sikhism faith, people of all religions visit Gurudwara Bangla Sahiba and pray. The enchanting folk music of the place, its beautiful decor, and embellished architecture are sure to cast a spell on you. So, the next time you want to have a peaceful time with yourself and the almighty, do visit Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in Connaught Place.

Ram Chander & Sons

Welcome to India’s oldest toy shop! Although Connaught Place has undergone tremendous changes over the years, one thing that remains stable in the marketplace is the toy shop of Ram Chander & Sons. The shop was built in the 1930s and has been renovated several times ever since. Although the place has witnessed renovation several times, the vintage feel of the toy shop is still alive.

Agrasen Ki Baoli

Amidst the high-flown buildings of the Connaught Place, stands Agrasen Ki Baoli. This place holds essential heritage value and is preserved by Archaeological Survey of India. Agrasen Ki Baoli was built in the 14th century by Kind Agrasen with the aim of providing a constant supply of water in the city. It also served as a resting place for traders and travelers of the city. There are some stories that speak about Agrasen Ki Baoli being haunted by ghosts. However, nothing concrete in this regard has been noticed ever.

Dhoomimal Art Centre

If you have an eye and a sense of appreciation for art, Dhoomimal Art Centre in Delhi will be a home away from home for you. The art center was founded by Shri Ram babu Jain in 1930s and is India’s oldest gallery showcasing contemporary art. The place was established with the view of highlighting the importance of art and provide the right platform to the modern artists.

The contemporary artwork showcased in the gallery gives a fantastic display of India’s modern culture. Besides, there are also musical evenings that add to the soulful experience. Artists from around the town flock to this place for appreciating each other’s work and networking.

The eateries

Connaught Place is the go-to place for Delhi youth for hangouts during the weekends. Some of the most fantastic food items are served in CP. Odean Social, D Block should be your go-to place for LIIT, Butter Chicken Biryani, China Box and Oreo Mud Pot. Farzi Cafe in E Block offers a perfect treat with Parle G Cheesecake, Smoked Patthar Ke Kebab, Delhi Belly Tikka, Chocolate Dirt Pile, Malaya Prawns, Bheja Fry. Check out Fuji, Speedbird House for Sushi and Yaki Tori.

The very famous Nizam’s Kathi Kebab serve amazing Mutton Seekh Kebab and Egg Roll, and Railway Mutton Curry. Zen, in B Block, showcases traditional Asian culinary traditions. You get to try everything from Malaysian curries to Schezwan fare in this restaurant.

Don’t forget to explore Minar in L Block, Ashok Meat Dhaba in Municipal Market, National Restaurant in NDMC Market, Embassy in D Block, Kwality in Regal Building. Also Masala Library in Janpath, Saravana Bhawan in Janpath, United Coffee House in E Block, Nando’s in F Block, Berco’s in G block, Chili’s Grill & Bar in M Block, Kake Da Hotel in Municipal Market, China Garden in G Block and Haldiram’s in L Block.

How to reach Connaught Place:

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Bus: DTC buses number ML-70, 463, 511A, 213A, 540, RL-77 ply to and from Connaught Place at regular intervals. There are both AC and non-AC buses available in Delhi. So, you can make a choice.

Metro: The nearest metro station to Connaught Place is Rajiv Chowk, one of the biggest metro stations of the city, which is connected by metro rails running on Blue and Yellow lines. While the Blue line runs between Dwarka Sector 21 to Noida City Centre / Vaishali, the Yellow line runs between Huda City Centre and Samaypur Badli.

Auto Rickshaw/Cab: Delhi has a very well connected network of taxis, cabs and auto rickshaws. You can catch them on roads or can book them via apps like Ola, Uber or Jugnoo.

Image Gallery of Connaught Place (Shopping) Delhi

Tips to visit Connaught Place:

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• Try and resort to public transport like metro while visiting Connaught Place. Traffic jams are frequent in the place, so metro comes as a saviour.
• If you want to shop in Delhi, this is the place to go for. So don’t miss out on carrying your shopping bags.
• Do check out the street shops in CP and Janpath areas. You may get some fantastic stuff at rather low prices.
• Do keep ample time in hand when you plan to visit Connaught Place. There’s a lot for you to explore when you visit the place.
• Make sure you wear comfortable shoes as you may have to walk a lot to explore the place better. Getting transport for short trips is difficult in Connaught Place.
• Avoid traveling to and from the place during office hours. It is crowded and packed on some days.
• If you are a book or junk jewelry lover, you will find a lot of such stalls to explore in Connaught Place.

Location Map for Connaught Place Delhi