Rajiv Chowk · New Delhi · India
A colonial showpiece turned everyday landmark — where whitewashed colonnades ring a park, and a single afternoon can hold heritage cafés, bargain markets and branded storefronts.
Explore the guideThe Short Version
Connaught Place was planned as a British imperial business district and completed in 1933, two years after New Delhi's inauguration. Architect Robert Tor Russell modelled it loosely on the Royal Crescent in Bath — but stretched into a full circle of two-storey commercial blocks rather than a residential half-moon.
Nearly a century on, CP still works because it holds several cities at once: colonnaded colonial calm, bargain markets underground and around the edges, heritage restaurants that haven't changed their recipes in decades, and global brands next door to hand-spun khadi. This guide breaks it into four walks — start anywhere on the circle.
Guides · Prashant Dhingra
The full story: cleared villages and an acacia wilderness, a Duke's name, seven radial roads, Palika Bazaar arriving in 1979, the Commonwealth Games facelift, and the 207-foot tricolour over Central Park.
Read the history Inner + Outer Shopping ExperienceWhy CP shops differently from a mall — global brands and fixed prices on the circles, bargain hunting below ground in Palika Bazaar, and street-style finds at neighbouring Janpath, all in one walkable loop.
Plan the shopping Est. 1926+ Traditional Food WalkA route through old Delhi's taste: coffee under the chandeliers at United Coffee House, chicken patties from Wenger's, Punjabi lunch at Kake Da Hotel, and sweets and chaat between the two.
Follow the food walk Parliament St Nearby · Jantar MantarPair a 1724 observatory with a market run. See Jai Singh II's instruments, then walk to Janpath for kurtas, oxidised jewellery, juttis and souvenirs — with a quick primer on bargaining well.
See the day planBefore You Go
Rajiv Chowk sits directly under CP and links the Blue and Yellow lines, with exits into different blocks. Note the block letter on the exit sign to orient yourself. Parking is limited — the Metro or a cab is easiest.
Late morning to early evening suits shopping and cafés; evenings turn lively with diners and nightlife. Weekdays beat weekends for crowds, and in summer it's best to stroll early or after sunset.
Blocks A–F form the Inner Circle around Central Park; G–N form the larger Outer Circle. Move block by block rather than wandering, wear comfortable shoes — the inner loop is roughly 1.5 km — and look up at the colonnade.
FAQ
CP is Delhi's colonial-era commercial heart — white Georgian colonnades in two concentric circles, a mix of global brands and bargain markets, and heritage restaurants and bakeries such as United Coffee House and Wenger's. It's as much a place to walk and people-watch as a place to buy something.
The area was officially renamed Rajiv Chowk in 1995, after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The new name mostly stuck to the Metro station — most Delhiites still say Connaught Place, or simply CP.
The Metro is easiest: Rajiv Chowk station is directly beneath CP and connects the Blue and Yellow lines, with exits into several blocks. It's about 2 km from New Delhi Railway Station, and autos and cabs are widely available. Private parking fills up fast on busy days.
Late morning to early evening works well for shopping and café visits; from about 7 PM the restaurants and bars come alive. Weekdays are calmer than weekends. In Delhi's hot months, stroll in the morning or after sunset rather than at midday.
The Inner and Outer Circles hold branded and lifestyle stores with fixed prices; Palika Bazaar underneath is a bargain-hunting maze; and nearby Janpath Market is the spot for handicrafts, jewellery, clothes and souvenirs, where haggling is expected.
Try the long-standing names: United Coffee House (1942) for atmosphere, Wenger's bakery for patties and pastries, Kake Da Hotel for hearty Punjabi food, and heritage rooms like Embassy and Kwality — plus the no-frills, nostalgic Indian Coffee House.