Exploring Connaught Place

Morning Walk to Connaught Place

It’s a bit of a walk from my hotel, but I wanted to see more of the cityscape of New Delhi, so I decided to head to Connaught Place, which is within walking distance. It took about 20 to 30 minutes, I think.

What is Connaught Place?

Connaught Place is a circular commercial district located in the heart of New Delhi, known for its impressive colonial architecture from the British era. It’s a bustling hub for shopping, dining, and business, popular with both locals and tourists. You'll find everything from brand-name shops and local markets to cafés and restaurants. There's also a metro station, making it one of the city’s main areas.

Constantly Being Approached

One thing that surprised me in New Delhi is how often people approach you. Just two minutes after leaving the hotel, someone talked to me. No matter how far I walked, people kept approaching me.

I wasn’t sure whether they were just curious or had some kind of scam in mind, but I managed to brush them off and made it to Connaught Place.

Compared to the chaos around my hotel in "Paharganj", Connaught Place felt quite different-the buildings were cleaner and more modern! I even saw a UNIQLO.

Still, even after arriving, I was approached by so many people that I got tired, so I decided to go into a Starbucks.  

The UNIQLO and Starbucks in this area both had security guards at the entrance, which made me feel safer.

Time for a little escape!   …or so I thought—until the person sitting next to me started talking to me.

(I just wanted to quietly enjoy my coffee...)  

But as I listened, I realized he didn’t seem like a scammer at all. He told me he runs a travel agency nearby and showed me pictures of tourist spots, explained how far they are from Delhi, and gave me all sorts of helpful info. He was just a genuinely nice person.

Sorry for being suspicious!

And that’s how I learned: in India, just taking a walk can lead to all kinds of interesting encounters in the morning.