CONNAUGHT PLACE

Connaught Place is one of the largest commercial and financial centers of the country and the world. Popularly known as CP, the place houses the headquarters of some of the biggest Corporate Houses. Besides, it is a fashion destination too. Some of the biggest brands in the world have their showrooms in Connaught Place. It is worth mentioning here that Connaught Place is one of the most expensive real estate in the world. CP was termed as the showpiece of Lutyens’ Delhi. Courtesy its fantastic structure and architecture, Connaught Place is considered to be one of the top heritage sites of the city and pride of the country. The place is named after Prince Arthur, 1st Duke of Connaught and Strathearn. The marketplace was built between 1929 - 1933 and is still a masterpiece in its own right.

The Georgian architecture of Connaught Place is borrowed from Royal Crescent in Bath. Connaught Place is built in a circle and has two floors. The idea was to provide commercial space on the ground floor and residential area on the top level.

CP is divided into two concentric circles, bifurcating the place into the inner circle, middle circle, and outer circle. The three circles are joined by the seven roads emerging from the inner central park.

The government wanted to build New Delhi Railway Station in CP, but the plan couldn’t materialize due to the scarcity of space. Hence, the station was built in Paharganj area, next to Connaught Place. Connaught Place is famous not just for its architecture and heritage, but also for its cinemas and eateries.

Earlier, traders from Kashmere gate area used to travel to this marketplace. But later, it became the entertainment hub of the elite. Regal Cinema, the first cinema of Connaught Place used to host favorite concerts, ballet performances, and theatre groups. Odean and Rivoli cinemas came up later.

Connaught Place is also known for Wenger’s, the first pastry shop in the city, set up by a Swiss Couple. The pastry shop exists to date.

Post independence, Connaught Place got its first underground market, called Palika Bazaar. It was set up in the empty block under the inner circle. The Bazaar has expanded its wings towards the outer circle now.

Current Outlook:

The area is instantly recognizable on any map of Delhi as a big circle in the middle with radial roads spreading out in all directions. Eight separate roads lead out from Connaught Place's inner circle, named Parliament Street and Radial Roads 1 through 7. Twelve different roads lead out from Connaught Circus, the outer ring. The best known of these is Janpath, the continuation of Radial Road 1. It is a logically planned area and houses one of India's first underground markets, the Palika Bazaar (Municipal Market),. The Outer Circle is known as the Connaught Circus (officially Indira Chowk), having rows of restaurants, shops and hotels, and on 1 December 2017, The Regal Building was reopened as Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, the very first in India. The Middle Circle has offices, Banks, Exchange houses such as Thomas Cook, Atwexchange, PVR cinema and eating outlets.

Central Park

Connaught Place's central park has long been a venue for cultural events and is a popular hangout for locals. In 2005–06, it was rebuilt after the construction of the Delhi Metro station below it.

National Flag of India at Central Park, Connaught Place

The first known Indian to hoist the tricolor flag at Connaught Place is Padma Shri Mir Mushtaq Ahmad, the first Chief Executive Councilor of Delhi. Prior to independence, when Connaught Place was considered the heart of imperial British India, he hoisted the tricolor at the bandstand in Central Park each year on 26 January. On 7 March 2014, the largest known  tricolor flag at that time (now second largest) was hoisted at the centre of Central Park, measuring 90 by 60 feet (27 by 18 m). The pole on which it is hoisted measures 207 feet (63 m).