Connaught Place
7.7Friend Score / 10free
Known foriconiclandmarkcentral-delhilutyens
Connaught Place is the colonnaded Georgian-style commercial heart of New Delhi, its white concentric arcades ringing a central park and buzzing with shops, restaurants, and street vendors. It is a natural hub for shopping, people-watching, and catching the metro. It is chaotic and touristy with persistent touts, so keep your wits about you and settle prices before buying.
Key facts
| Hours | Monday 10am-9pm Tuesday 10am-9pm Wednesday 10am-9pm Thursday 10am-9pm Friday 10am-9pm Saturday 10am-9pm Sunday closed (most shops; restaurants and bars open) |
|---|---|
| Price | free |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | — |
| Time needed | — |
| Best time to go | — |
| Last verified | July 15, 2026 |
Friend Score
7.7/10- Value7.0
- iconic8.3
- excellence7.5
- Crowd level8.5
- Authenticity7.5
- Accessibility8.5
Frequently asked questions
- Is Connaught Place expensive?
- It's mid-to-upmarket. Branded retail and rooftop bars charge Delhi's higher prices, but you can still eat cheaply at old-school dhabas and the Palika Bazaar underground market. Budget more if you're bar-hopping in the evening.
- Is Connaught Place safe at night?
- Yes, it's one of central Delhi's more active and well-lit night spots, busy with diners and bar-goers. Standard city sense applies: use registered taxis or the metro, and be firm with touts and over-friendly 'guides' who approach tourists.
- What is there to do in Connaught Place?
- Shop the brand stores and the state emporiums on Baba Kharak Singh Marg, eat at legacy spots like Kake Da Hotel or United Coffee House, browse books at the Oxford Bookstore, and see Agrasen ki Baoli, a stunning stepwell tucked just off CP.
- Why is Connaught Place laid out in circles?
- It was built by the British in the 1930s as a Georgian-style shopping district, with an Inner, Middle and Outer Circle of colonnaded blocks labelled A to N. The circular design is genuinely disorienting, so everyone, including locals, relies on block letters to navigate.
- What is Palika Bazaar?
- An underground, air-conditioned market beneath the CP central park, known for cheap clothes, electronics and knock-offs. Bargain aggressively (start at a third of the quoted price), watch your belongings, and treat pricing claims with healthy scepticism.
- Where can I find the tourist office in Connaught Place?
- The genuine India Tourism office is on Janpath. Be wary of fake 'tourist information' or 'government approved' travel agents around CP that reroute you to overpriced tours; verify online before booking anything.
- What is the nearest metro to Connaught Place?
- Rajiv Chowk sits directly underneath CP and is the interchange between the Yellow and Blue Lines. It's one of the busiest stations in the whole network, so expect crowds, and use the numbered exits (they map to the blocks above).
- Is Connaught Place open on Sunday?
- Most retail shops take Sunday as their weekly off, so the shopping is quiet. Restaurants, cafes, bars and the cinema stay open, and the central park is a pleasant Sunday hangout, but come another day if you're here to shop.
Nearby in Ask Delhi
- Saravana BhavanRestaurant0.16 km · 2 min walk
- Farzi CaféRestaurant0.48 km · 6 min walk
- Jantar MantarAttraction0.49 km · 6 min walk
- Unplugged CourtyardBar0.57 km · 7 min walk
- Kake Da HotelRestaurant0.66 km · 8 min walk
Where to stay near Connaught Place
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