Central Park in Connaught Place

The Central Park is situated in Connaught Place which is easily accessible by local transport and from the Rajiv Chowk Functional Metro Station due to its central location. It is probably one of the most famous hangout joints for youngsters who bunk College Classes to spend fun time with friends and nearby office employees who spend their lunch time together at this Park.

The Central Park is centrally placed over the current functional underground Metro Station and set amidst the ever crowded commercial area of Connaught Place generally filled with a mix of less Indians and mostly Foreigners who enjoy their daily shopping spree in Palika Bazaar (Underground Shopping Complex) or the Branded Stores outside. Probably due to these factors, it does provide a vibrant ambience to the many who visit this place with friends or a few with the purpose to probably watch other people working while they get to soak in the sun.

Connaught Place which was named after the Duke of Connaught (British Raj) and now renamed officially as ‘Rajiv Chowk’ is known to be one of the largest central commercial and business hubs of New Delhi. It is called by all Delhiites as CP in short and also homes numerous Headquarters of Big Indian Industries. This place was originally envisioned by Lutyens who wanted to create a central arcade for all business trade and deals and hence making it a Central Business Unit for the then ruling British Raj. Its construction began in 1929 and was completed by 1933 along with the lush green and well manicured Central Park which was also very much a part of the structure of CP; all designed by Robert Tor Russell. CP served as the Central Commercial Hub for the British and Indian Traders and even today, it carries this legend of maintaining the same vigorous exchange of trade and business deals on a daily basis except on Sundays when the area remains closed. Many encroachments and illegal construction has led to problems amongst the property owners but this has never affected or stopped the sales, trading and business of this busy centre which is perpetually seen crowded and congested with traffic from Mondays to Saturdays, all year round.

The Central Park was demolished in 2000 by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. in order to build the current functional Metro Station underground, however, today; this Park is seen completely revived as per International Standards by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation who spent over 60 Million Dollars or Rs. 6 Crores to re-develop this Park. Today, it covers a large area of 41,500 square metres with a footpath area of 7,700 square meters sitting right over the Rajeev Chowk Metro Station.

The Central Park is renovated with a cover of the best green carpet of grass and seen with beautiful landscapes embedded with hedge plants over 27,000 square meters of area alone and the other 2,100 square meters is seen embedded with over 2,750 varieties of Shrubs and 700 trees alone; all chosen after careful selection depending on their blossom time and evergreen qualities. Ashoka, Bottle Brush, Gulmohar, Indian Laurel, Pink Tabebuia, Royal Palms and White Champa are some of the species of plants seen here amongst the many others.

The Central Park of CP is also seen with 21 Fountains set amidst 4 Water Bodies with a water cascade fringed with lights on the contours of each fountain and the cascade. It also has a quadrant shaped amphitheatre covering an area of 5,000 square metres with a central stage covering an area of 60 square meters. This Amphitheatre is made with seven steps to accommodate over 350 people at one time with the entrance point from Block-B of Rajiv Chowk that lies just in front of Palika Bazaar. Overall, the Park has 9 entry and exit gates of which two gates lead you directly into the Rajiv Chowk Metro Station where you can interchange between the Blue Line and Yellow Line metro links which makes this station the largest and busiest metro network link in Delhi.

Even today, the Central Park creates an excellent venue for cultural programmes and events organised frequently by many performing arts organisations. During springtime, the trees within this park are completely covered with beautiful fully blossomed colourful and vibrant flowers and in fact few of them are seen fully blossomed all year round. This Park is opened to all public on all days with no entry charges. It is fringed with numerous world class Indian and International restaurants, Bars, Shops, eating joints, coffee joints where tourists from across the globe can relish their respective Country’s cuisines without any fear or doubt.