Often abbreviated to CP, Connaught Place is New Delhi’s largest financial, commercial and business centre. It’s home to a host of corporate HQs, interspersed with stylish bars and upmarket restaurants. The area also features some of the city’s most treasured historic buildings. For visitors wanting a glimpse at India’s colonial past, a visit to Connaught Place is a must.
The area is dotted with polished business hotels, as well art deco institution, The Imperial. Delhi’s first luxury hotel, Connaught Place houses a fantastic collection of colonial and postcolonial artefacts. Other attractions in the area include the ancient Agrasenki Baoli, which is recognised by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Connaught Place enjoys a central location, which makes it easy to reach by public transport. Rajiv Chowk metro station lies under Connaught Place, with local buses also servicing the area. Rickshaws and taxis are also a popular way to reach the district, with eight roads branching out from the inner circle.
While today Connaught Place is a mecca for corporate HQs, it wasn’t always so business oriented. Prior to the construction of traffic circles, it was a natural ridge peppered with kikar trees and home to wild jackals and pigs, which made it a popular destination for hunting parties.