Connaught place nearest metro station is Rajiv Chowk, and it doesn’t just sit near CP. It’s directly underneath it, below Central Park, where the Blue and Yellow Lines cross. Every exit comes out within a few steps of one of the Inner Circle’s colonnaded blocks, so the distance is close to zero. What takes some planning is choosing among eight gates. Rajiv Chowk is Delhi’s busiest interchange, and coming up at the wrong gate can mean a 10-minute walk around the circle in heavy traffic to reach the block you actually wanted.
Connaught Place was built in the 1930s as three rings of Georgian-style white buildings: the Inner Circle, the Middle Circle and the Outer Circle (Connaught Circus). They’re divided into lettered blocks and joined by radial roads. Once you understand the lettering, finding the right gate is easy. Here is the full layout, with the nearby stations that suit the outer parts of CP better.
| Detail | Information |
| Nearest metro station | Rajiv Chowk (Blue and Yellow Lines) |
| Distance | Directly beneath Connaught Place; each gate opens onto the Inner Circle |
| Number of gates | 8 |
| Step-free gates | Gates 1, 2, 7 and 8 |
| Yellow Line directions | Towards Millennium City Centre Gurugram; towards Samaypur Badli |
| Blue Line directions | Towards Noida Electronic City / Vaishali; towards Dwarka Sector 21 |
| Other stations around CP | Barakhamba Road (Blue), Janpath (Violet), Shivaji Stadium (Airport Express), Patel Chowk (Yellow), RK Ashram Marg (Blue) |
| Fare from New Delhi Railway Station | ₹11 (Yellow Line, 1 stop) |
| First and last trains at Rajiv Chowk | Roughly 5:50 AM to about 11:55 PM, depending on line and direction |
| Parking | Available (paid) |
| Layout of CP | Inner Circle (Blocks A–F), Middle Circle, Outer Circle / Connaught Circus (Blocks G–N), linked by radial roads |
| Time zone | IST, UTC+5:30 (no daylight saving) |
Rajiv Chowk’s Eight Gates, Block by Block
| Gate | Opens onto | Step-free |
| Gate 1 | Radial Road-3, Panchkuian Road, B Block, Minto Road | Yes |
| Gate 2 | PVR Plaza (H Block side) | Yes |
| Gate 3 | D Block, Carnival Cinema (Odeon) | No |
| Gate 4 | E Block, Barakhamba Road, Kasturba Gandhi Marg | No |
| Gate 5 | Radial Road-1, Janpath, F Block | No |
| Gate 6 | Radial Road-1, Janpath, Palika Bazaar | No |
| Gate 7 | Radial Road-2, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, A Block | Yes |
| Gate 8 | Radial Road-3, Panchkuian Road, A Block | Yes |
Some useful matches:
- Janpath market, Palika Bazaar, the F Block side: Gates 5 and 6.
- The cinemas: Gate 2 for PVR Plaza, Gate 3 for the Odeon on D Block.
- Barakhamba Road offices, KG Marg, and Agrasen ki Baoli: Gate 4.
- Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Hanuman Mandir, the state emporiums, and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib: Gate 7.
- Panchkuian Road, Minto Road, and the western side towards New Delhi Railway Station: Gates 1 and 8.
If you use a wheelchair, have a pram, or are carrying heavy luggage, use Gates 1, 2, 7 or 8, which all have lifts. From any of them, you can walk along the Inner Circle’s covered corridors to reach the other blocks.
Getting Your Bearings Above Ground
Everyone gets confused at CP now and then, even Delhi residents. A few points help:
- Central Park is the round green space in the middle, directly above the station. If you can see its huge national flag, you’re in the Inner Circle.
- Blocks A to F make up the Inner Circle, going round in order. Blocks G to N are on the Outer Circle (Connaught Circus), and the Middle Circle runs between the two.
- Radial roads lead outwards from the centre like spokes, numbered Radial Road-1 to Radial Road-7. Gate signs name them, and so do many street signs.
- The colonnades give shade and shelter from rain. You can walk right around the Inner Circle under cover, which is often quicker than crossing the road outside.
If you’re going to an address on the Outer Circle, such as N Block or K Block, you’ll need to cross the Middle Circle by one of the radial roads. Use the pedestrian crossings. The Outer Circle carries fast traffic.
When Another Station Is Better
Rajiv Chowk is right under the Inner Circle, but some parts of CP and the streets around it are closer to other stations:
| Station | Line | Better for |
| Barakhamba Road | Blue | The eastern Outer Circle, Barakhamba Road offices, Tolstoy Marg, Agrasen ki Baoli |
| Janpath | Violet | Janpath’s southern end, the Tibetan Market and Janpath stalls, Western Court; useful from Faridabad or Lajpat Nagar with no change of line |
| Shivaji Stadium | Airport Express | Baba Kharak Singh Marg and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib; direct from IGI Airport in about 20 minutes |
| Patel Chowk | Yellow | Sansad Marg, Jantar Mantar, and the government offices south of CP |
| RK Ashram Marg | Blue | Gole Market, Panchkuian Road furniture market, and the western approaches |
Barakhamba Road is only one stop from Rajiv Chowk on the Blue Line (₹11). The walk between them takes about the same time as the ride.
Routes to Connaught Place From Across Delhi
| Starting point | Route | Approx. metro time |
| New Delhi Railway Station | Yellow Line, 1 stop south | About 3 min |
| Old Delhi (Chandni Chowk) | Yellow Line, 3 stops south | About 6–8 min |
| Kashmere Gate ISBT | Yellow Line south | About 10–12 min |
| Hauz Khas / AIIMS | Yellow Line north, no change | About 15–20 min |
| Gurugram | Yellow Line north, no change | About 45–50 min |
| Noida City Centre | Blue Line, no change | About 34 min |
| Anand Vihar | Blue Line, no change | About 17 min |
| Dwarka | Blue Line, no change | About 40–50 min |
| Faridabad / Lajpat Nagar | Violet Line to Janpath, or to Central Secretariat and then Yellow Line north | About 20–60 min |
| IGI Airport (T3) | Airport Express to Shivaji Stadium, or to New Delhi and then Yellow Line 1 stop | About 20–25 min |
| Hazrat Nizamuddin | Pink Line to Dilli Haat–INA, then Yellow Line north | About 25–35 min |
Changing Lines at Rajiv Chowk
Rajiv Chowk is a two-level station. Blue Line and Yellow Line platforms are on different levels, linked by escalators and stairs inside the paid area, so you don’t need a new ticket to change lines. A few tips:
- Follow the coloured floor markings and signs for your line and direction. At peak times, crowd staff direct passengers along one-way routes.
- Allow 5 to 10 minutes to change lines during rush hour, roughly 8:30 to 10:30 AM and 5:30 to 8:30 PM on weekdays.
- Board towards the ends of the train. The middle coaches, which stop nearest the interchange stairs, are usually the most crowded.
- Mind the direction boards. The Blue Line splits east of Yamuna Bank towards Noida Electronic City and Vaishali, so check the destination before you board.
Crowds, Events and Closures
- Weekend evenings and holidays bring big crowds to CP, especially around Central Park and the cafés in the Inner Circle. Exits can queue at closing time.
- Festive season (Diwali, Christmas, New Year’s Eve) is CP’s busiest time. On New Year’s Eve, DMRC has previously restricted exits at Rajiv Chowk late in the evening to manage crowds, so check announcements before you head out.
- Security closures: Rajiv Chowk is in the central zone where DMRC sometimes closes entry and exit during protests or major events. It was among sixteen stations closed this way in July 2026. When that happens, trains still stop for passengers changing lines, but you can’t leave the station. Barakhamba Road, Janpath and Shivaji Stadium may also be closed, so check DMRC’s app or X account.
- Pickpockets: The interchange corridors and the busiest gates, especially 5, 6 and 7 at peak hours, are known pickpocketing spots. Keep your bags in front of you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Which is the nearest metro station to Connaught Place?
A. Rajiv Chowk Metro Station is the nearest station to Connaught Place. It is located directly beneath CP and serves both the Blue Line and Yellow Line.
Q2. Which gate of Rajiv Chowk should I use for Janpath Market?
A. Gate 5 or Gate 6 is convenient for Janpath Market, as these exits lead towards Radial Road-1 and Janpath.
Q3. Which gate at Rajiv Chowk goes to Palika Bazaar?
A. Gate 6 is a convenient exit for reaching Palika Bazaar from Rajiv Chowk Metro Station.
Q4. Which Rajiv Chowk gates have lifts?
A. Gates 1, 2, 7, and 8 provide step-free access with lift facilities.
Q5. How many gates does Rajiv Chowk Metro Station have?
A. Rajiv Chowk Metro Station has eight entry and exit gates, serving different parts of Connaught Place and the surrounding area.
Q6. How do I reach Connaught Place from New Delhi Railway Station by metro?
A. Take the Yellow Line from New Delhi Metro Station to Rajiv Chowk, which is just one stop away. The metro fare is approximately ₹11.
Q7. Can I reach Connaught Place directly from the airport?
A. Yes. Take the Airport Express Line to Shivaji Stadium, which is close to Connaught Place. Another option is to travel to New Delhi Metro Station and change to the Yellow Line for one stop to Rajiv Chowk.
Q8. Is Barakhamba Road Metro Station part of Connaught Place?
A. Barakhamba Road is one Blue Line station east of Rajiv Chowk. It is convenient for the eastern side of Connaught Place’s Outer Circle and the Barakhamba Road business district.
