70-427: 28°37′52″N 77°13′07″E / 28.6310°N 77.2186°E / 28.6310; 77.2186 Palika Bazaar is an underground market located between the inner and outer circle of Connaught Place , Delhi , India . It is named after Palika Bazaar of Mumbai. Palika Bazaar hosts 380 numbered shops selling a diverse range of items; however, the market is dominated by electronic items and clothing. Palika Bazaar
140-526: A yajna , a ritualistic Hindu ceremony related to cleansing or purification, at the Qutub Minar complex where the minaret is located. The Delhi police detained 80 activists led by Ram Krishan Gaur that were located by the Qutb Minar and were stopped from performing the yajna inside the tower. Due to a police barricade, the activists instead performed the ritual on the streets outside the mosque complex. Since
210-407: A Czech actress and the sixth wife of maharaja Jagatjit Singh , fell from the tower to her death with her two Pomeranian dogs . Before 1976, the general public was allowed access to the first floor of the minaret, via the internal staircase. Access to the top was stopped after 2000 due to suicides. On 4 December 1981, the staircase lighting failed. Between 300 and 400 visitors stampeded towards
280-732: A Jain temple in Jaisingh Pura, and the Jantar Mantar . Plans to have a central business district were developed as the construction of the new capital of British India began to take shape. Headed by W.H. Nicholls, the chief architect to the Government of India , the plans featured a central plaza based on the European Renaissance and in the Classical style. However, Nicholls left India in 1917, and with Lutyens and Baker preoccupied with
350-505: A PVR theatre complex, and various dining outlets. The Central Park of Connaught Place has gained a reputation for hosting cultural events and is regarded as one of the city's top local hangouts. In 2005–06, Central Park was rebuilt following the construction of the Delhi Metro station beneath it. This station, Rajiv Chowk , serves as an interchange for the Yellow and Blue lines and is one of
420-435: A big circle in the middle with radial roads beaming in all directions. Eight separate roads extend 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. Connaught Place is a logically planned area and is home to one of India’s first underground markets,
490-565: A decline in its former grandeur, though it continued to attract visitors. In response, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) initiated several redevelopment projects to restore and enhance this iconic Delhi landmark. The plan included the provision of heritage sensitive signage, engineering improvements of roads, drainage sewerage, water supply and substations, development of a traffic management plan, provisions of street furniture including adequate parking, walkways etc. and enhancing
560-593: A food processing brand established in the 1860s. Harnarains currently operates under the name Harnarains International. Davico's, located across Connaught Plaza, and the Standard restaurant were popular for decades before eventually fading away. Another long-standing establishment, the Embassy Restaurant, opened in 1948. New Delhi 's first luxury hotel , The Imperial , established in 1936 in Janpath , eventually became
630-572: A further three stories. After a lightning strike in 1369 damaged the then top story, the ruler at the time, Firuz Shah Tughlaq , replaced the damaged story and added one more. Sher Shah Suri also added an entrance while he was ruling and the Mughal emperor Humayun was in exile. Persian-Arabic and Nagari in different sections of the Qutb Minar reveal the history of its construction and the later restorations and repairs by Firuz Shah Tughlaq (1351–88) and Sikandar Lodi (1489–1517). The height of Qutb Minar
700-470: A haunt for the royalty and a place for political discussions. It was here that Jawaharlal Nehru , Mohandas K. Gandhi , Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Lord Mountbatten met to discuss the Partition of India and the birth of Pakistan. Residents of Connaught Place gradually moved into the first-floor quarters, which were nearly fully occupied by 1938. However, it took another decade for the plaza to transform into
770-533: A lack of proper trial rooms. As part of a wider effort, the New Delhi Municipal Council is currently working on plans for a major "regeneration of Palika Bazaar", described to be in a state of decay. This article related to a location in the Indian state of Delhi is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Connaught Place, New Delhi Connaught Place , also known as Rajiv Chowk ,
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#1732855048738840-437: A plan to convert the middle and inner circles of Connaught Place, into an exclusive pedestrian zone, starting February 2017. Under the auspices of the proposal, people driving into the area would have to park their vehicles at designated parking slots located at Shivaji Stadium and Palika Bazaar and subsequently proceed either on foot to Connaught Place or use the shuttle bus service. However, bicycles would have been allowed in
910-753: A rectangular courtyard enclosed by cloisters, erected with the carved columns and architectural members of 27 Jain and Hindu temples, which were demolished by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak as recorded in his inscription on the main eastern entrance. Later, a lofty arched screen was erected, and the mosque was enlarged, by Shams-ud- Din Itutmish (A.D. 1210–35) and Ala-ud-Din Khalji. The Iron Pillar in the courtyard bears an inscription in Sanskrit in Brahmi script of fourth century A.D., according to which
980-574: A shaft that is fluted with "superb stalactite bracketing under the balconies" at the top of each stage. In general, minarets were slow to be used in India and are often detached from the main mosque where they exist. In recent years, the Qutub Minar has been illuminated for special occasions involving international relations. In September 2023, the monument was lit up in the colors of the Mexican flag to celebrate Mexico's 213th Independence Day, an event that
1050-480: A twelve-pointed star with a semicircle placed with each of the angles between the star's points. There are also six horizontal bands with inscriptions inscribed in naskh , a style of Islamic calligraphy, on this story. The inscriptions are as follows: Quran, sura II, verses 255–60; Quran, sura LIX, verses 22–23, and attributes of God; The name and titles of Ghiyath al-Din; Quran, sura XLVIII, verses 1–6; The name and titles of Mu’izz al-Din; and Qur’anic quotations and
1120-485: Is 72.5 meters, making it the tallest minaret in the world built of bricks. The tower tapers, and has a 14.3 metres (47 feet) base diameter, reducing to 2.7 metres (9 feet) at the top of the peak. It contains a spiral staircase of 379 steps. At the foot of the tower is the Quwat Ul Islam Mosque . The Minar tilts just over 65 cm from the vertical, which is considered to be within safe limits. Qutb Minar
1190-585: Is a minaret and "victory tower" that forms part of the Qutb complex , which lies at the site of Delhi's oldest fortified city, Lal Kot , founded by the Tomar Rajputs. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Mehrauli area of South Delhi , India . It was mostly built between 1199 and 1220, contains 399 steps, and is one of the most visited tourist spots in the city. Qutab-ud-din Aibak initiated construction of
1260-615: Is modelled after the Royal Crescent in Bath , designed by the architect John Wood the Younger and built between 1767 and 1774. While the Royal Crescent is semi-circular and a three-storied residential structure, Connaught Place consists of two floors, which made almost a complete circle intended to house commercial establishments on the ground with residential space on the first floor. The circle
1330-659: Is named after Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki a 13th-century sufi saint, because Shamsuddin Iltutmish was a devotee of his. The Minar is surrounded by several historically significant monuments of the Qutb complex. Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, to the north-east of the Minar was built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak in A.D. 1199. It is the earliest extant - mosque built by the Delhi Sultans. It consists of
1400-568: Is now new information to suggest that conversion to Islam was not a top priority of the new annexes and instead the Ghurid governors sought to make a synthesis of the local culture and Islam through negotiation. Qutb-ud-din Aibak , a deputy of Muhammad of Ghor , who founded the Delhi Sultanate after Muhammad of Ghor's death, started construction of the Qutb Minar's first story in 1199. Aibak's successor and son-in-law Shamsuddin Iltutmish completed
1470-513: Is one of the main financial, commercial and business centres in New Delhi , Delhi, India. It houses the headquarters of several noted Indian firms and is a major shopping, nightlife, and tourist destination in New Delhi. As of July 2018, Connaught Place ranked as the ninth most expensive office location in the world, with an annual rent of $ 1,650 per square meter ($ 153 per sq ft). Connaught Place,
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#17328550487381540-474: The spolia of Jain and Hindu temples were used to construct the minaret, the right-wing Hindu groups believed that they needed to perform a cleansing at the complex in order to free the Hindu icons that were "trapped" in the minaret and the mosque complex. On 18 May 2022, a former Regional Director of Archaeological Survey of India , Dharamveer Sharma, has claimed that Qutb Minar was built by Raja Vikramaditya in
1610-549: The Palika Bazaar (Municipal Market), named after the Hindi term "nagarpalika" (municipal council). The Outer Circle, known as Connaught Circus (officially Indira Chowk), consists of rows of restaurants, shops, and hotels. On December 1, 2017, the historic Regal Building was reopened as Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, the first of its kind in India.The Middle Circle houses offices, banks, exchange facilities like Thomas Cook and ATW Exchange,
1680-907: The Rashtrapati Bhavan , the seat of the President of India ), Secretariat Building , Parliament House , and India Gate (previously known as the All-India War Memorial) completed by 1933, well after the city's inauguration in 1931. Early commercial establishments belonged to traders from the Kashmere Gate area: Harnarain Gopinath (Harnarains), Kanter's, Galgotia and Snowhite. Some of the other oldest and still-extant establishments include Ram Chandra & Sons (1935), Novex (1937), Dhoomi Mal Gallery (1936), Vaish at Rivoli (1939), Indian Arts Palace (1935), Mahatta & Company (1947). Most rulers of
1750-559: The "Shiela Cinema" in Paharganj . The Rivoli, close to the Regal, was the smallest theatre in the area. Half a century later, while the vast majority of the theatres were still running, most changed ownership. The Plaza and Rivoli are now owned by multiplex giant PVR Cinemas , while the Odeon runs as a joint venture with Reliance Big Pictures . The area is instantly recognisable on any map of Delhi as
1820-548: The 17th century, due to the slow adoption of the typical Middle Eastern style in India. It is also detached from the main mosque, showcasing how the native culture affected the design of a Middle Eastern structure. The Qutb Minar is seen as the "earliest and best example of a fusion or synthesis of Hindu-Muslim traditions" according to Ved Parkash in his essay The Qutb Minar from Contemporary and Near Contemporary Sources . Like many mosques built in South Asia during this time period,
1890-633: The American Express block. These properties were built and privately owned by Sobha Singh , as the British Government aimed to ensure Delhi had a blend of official and private spaces. Subsequently, Sardar Bahadur Dharam Singh Sethi and Sardar Bahadur Narain Singh of Akoi joined in developing the area, constructing buildings such as the Odeon Cinema and structures on the southern side. Connaught Place
1960-636: The Indian princely states had residences near King's Way (modern-day Rajpath ) and frequently visited nearby shops for designer clothing, artifacts, shoes, and pianos. Regal cinema , the first cinema in Connaught Place, opened around this time and went on to host popular concerts, theatre groups, and ballet performances. The Odeon and Rivoli followed the Regal, while the Indian Talkie House opened in 1938. Initially, only Indian snacks were available in
2030-673: The Indian Ocean studies the introduction of Islam in South Asia and how the region influenced the Islamic religious architecture. These newly arrived Muslims from the Islamic West escaped the Mongol Empire and emigrated to India, where they constructed religious centers. The Qutb Minar serves as a central marker to these new Muslim communities as well as being a reminder of Islam's presence in
2100-659: The Inner Circle came into use in the late 1970s with the construction of an underground market, the first in Delhi, Palika Bazaar , at the junction point. Stretching up to the Outer Circle, it also came with an adjoining underground parking lot. Concurrently, the State Emporiums on Baba Karak Singh Marg radial emerged. However, a major alteration in the skyline was the development of a skyscraper comprising red sandstone (inspired by
2170-588: The Lal Kot, the citadel of Dhillika . Qutub Minar was begun after the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque . Drawing references from their Ghurid homeland, Qutub-ud-Din Aibak and Shamsu’d-Din Iltutmish constructed a minar (minaret) at the south-eastern corner of the Quwwatu’l-Islam between 1199 and 1503. It is usually thought that the tower is named for Qutb-ud-din Aibak , who began it. It is also possible that it
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2240-530: The Qutub Minar, but only managed to finish the first level. His later rulers continued the construction, and in 1368, Firuz Shah Tughlaq rebuilt the top parts and added a cupola. It can be compared to the 62-metre all-brick Minaret of Jam in Afghanistan, of c. 1190 , which was constructed a decade or so before the probable start of the Delhi tower. The surfaces of both are elaborately decorated with inscriptions and geometric patterns. The Qutb Minar has
2310-455: The area during the weekends for partridge hunting. The Hanuman Temple attracted many visitors from the old walled city , who came only on Tuesdays and Saturdays and before sunset, as the return trip was considered dangerous. Residents of villages including Madhoganj , Jaisingh Pura and Raja ka Bazaar were evicted to clear the area for the construction of Connaught Place and the development of its nearby areas. The villages once bordered
2380-610: The area. The architecture of the minaret varies greatly from that of the typical style and design of the mosques constructed in the Middle East . The style of these structures is influenced by the local architecture such as the Indic temples. This affected the different materials, techniques, and decoration that were used in the construction of the Qutb Minar. Historically, tower minarets were uncommon in South Asian-Islamic design until
2450-416: The area; gradually, restaurants opened in the plaza, with outlets like Kwality, United Coffee House and others offering Continental and Mughlai cuisines. Wenger's, the confectioners, was one of the first shops in Connaught Place. The firm also owned New Delhi's largest restaurant, located on the first floor of their current A-Block outlet. Originally established in 1926 as Spencers in Kashmere Gate, Wenger's
2520-451: The basement story, was completed during the lifetime of Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad , a sultan of the Ghurid dynasty. It is revetted with twelve semicircular and twelve flanged pilasters that are placed in alternating order. This story is separated by flanges and by storied balconies , carried on Muqarnas corbels . The story is placed on top of a low circular plinth that is inscribed with
2590-479: The blocks were originally planned to be 172 metres (564 ft) in height but later reduced to the present two-storied structure with an open colonnade. Government plans to have New Delhi Railway Station built inside Central Park were rejected by railway authorities as they found the idea impractical, and instead, chose the nearby Paharganj area. Construction work began in 1929, with the Viceroy's House (now known as
2660-556: The bombs went off in garbage cans in and around Connaught Place. Another explosion occurred in the nearby Central Park. Authorities also discovered two undetonated bombs in Delhi, one of which was found at the Regal Cinema complex in Connaught Place. As a response, all trashcans were removed from the area. Redevelopment work to revamp Connaught Place ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games was slated to be completed in time; however, owing to huge cost overruns and undue delays, this deadline
2730-528: The bustling marketplace it would later become, as World War II began and the Indian independence movement intensified and reached a feverish pitch. Markets experienced dwindling sales, but post-independence business began to burgeon in the 1950s. Until the 1980s, a Phatphat Sewa , a Harley Davidson rickshaw service, took visitors from Connaught Place to the Red Fort and Chandani Chowk , before it ceased operations due to pollution concerns. The empty block of
2800-478: The coming years it hosted Western Classical music artists, Russian ballet and British theatre groups, and soon started morning and afternoon movie shows. The next theatre to be built was the Plaza in 1940, designed by Sir Robert Tor Russell, the architect of Connaught Place itself. It was owned by director and actor Sohrab Modi until the early 1950s. The Odeon was built in 1945 and had the city's second 70mm screen after
2870-557: The construction of larger buildings in the capital, design of the plaza was eventually entrusted with Robert Tor Russell , chief architect to the Public Works Department (PWD), Government of India, who worked with Sir Sobha Singh in the construction of New Delhi . Originally barren and arid, the area saw its first development with the construction of Sujan Singh Block A (now Wenger’s Block), followed by Blocks B and C, then Scindia House block, Regal Building, Rivoli Cinema, and
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2940-554: The east of Qutb Minar, where it remains. This is known as "Smith's Folly ". It was added to the list of World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993. The construction of the Qutb Minar was planned and financed by the Ghurids, who emigrated to India and brought Islam with them. The Ghurids , historically known as the Shansabanis, were a clan of Tajik origin that hailed from Ghur , the mountainous region of modern-day western Afghanistan . In
3010-490: The exit. 45 were killed and some were injured. Most of these were school children. Since then, the tower has been closed to the public. Since this incident the rules regarding entry have been stringent. Letitia Elizabeth Landon 's poem, [REDACTED] The Cootub Minar, Delhi . is a reflection on a picture by Samuel Prout in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1833. Bollywood actor and director Dev Anand wanted to shoot
3080-512: The fifth century to observe the changing position of the sun. On 21 May 2022, The Secretary at the Ministry of Culture , Govind Mohan, decided to conduct excavation and iconography of idols found at Qutub Minar. The Ministry has now asked the ASI to submit an excavation report. Excavation can be started in the south of the minaret at a distance of 15 meters from the mosque. On 8 December 1946 Tara Devi ,
3150-750: The following titles in this much restored inscription: "The Amir, the most glorious and great commander of the army." This level also has inscriptions praising Muhammad of Ghor, the sultan of the Ghurids. The second, third, and fourth stories were erected by Sham ud-Din Iltutmish, the first Muslim sovereign to rule from Delhi. He is considered to be the first of the Delhi Sultan dynastic line. The second and third stories are also revetted with twelve semicircular and twelve flanged pilasters that are placed in alternating order. These red sandstone columns are separated by flanges and by storied balconies, carried on Muqarnas corbels. Prior to its reconstruction and reduction,
3220-486: The fourth story was also decorated with semicircular pilasters. It was re-constructed in white marble and is relatively plain. In 1369, the fourth story was repaired after lightning struck the minaret. During reconstruction, Sultan Firuz Shah Tughlaq elected to reduce the size of the fourth story and then separated it into two stories. On 14 November 2000, Delhi newspapers reported that the Hindu nationalist groups, Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal , planned to host
3290-506: The historic Qutb Road, the primary route connecting Shahjahanabad , the walled city of Delhi (now Old Delhi), to Qutb Minar on Delhi's southern edge since the Mughal era. The displaced people were relocated in Karol Bagh to the west, a rocky area that had previously been populated only by trees and wild bushes. However, three structures were spared demolition. These comprised the Hanuman temple,
3360-512: The historic Red Fort) and glass, the Jeevan Bharti building (owned by the LIC ), which was designed by architect Charles Correa . In 1986, it towered over the low-lying, predominantly white Connaught Place and faced criticism for being too futuristic. However, as other skyscrapers were gradually built on the periphery, the debate faded away. With the introduction of talkies to Indian cinema in 1931,
3430-543: The illegal activity in the market. It has been listed as a notorious market since 2009 by the USTR for being an underground market with large amounts of counterfeit products including pirated software and media. After the rape of a female shopper by two shopkeepers in April 2007, Delhi Police advised women against entering Palika Bazar alone. Local media reported that female visitors often complain about eveteasing and harassment, and
3500-607: The largest and busiest stations in the network. Connaught Place hosts various cultural events in the Central Park area such as the Urdu Heritage Festival, One Billion Rising demonstrations, Delhi Government's Youth Festival, Awam Ki Awaz (Voices of People) concert and many others. The first known Indian to hoist the tricolour flag at Connaught Place was Padma Shri Mir Mushtaq Ahmad, the first Chief Executive Councillor of Delhi. Before independence, when Connaught Place
3570-471: The late eleventh century to the early twelfth century, the different sects of this nomadic clan united, losing its nomadic culture. During this time, they also converted to Islam. They then expanded into modern-day India and quickly took control of a substantial part of the country. The Ghurids annexed the Multan and Uch in the western Punjab in 1175–76, the northwestern regions around Peshawar in 1177, and
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#17328550487383640-446: The main commercial hub of the new city, holds a place of pride and is recognized as one of the top heritage structures in New Delhi. Developed as a showpiece of Lutyens' Delhi , Connaught Place features a prominent Central Business District (CBD). Christened after Prince Arthur, 1st Duke of Connaught and Strathearn , construction work began in 1929 and was completed in 1933. It was designed by Robert Tor Russell . Although Connaught Place
3710-450: The minaret was constructed by Hindu laborers and craftsmen but overseen by Muslim architects. This led to a construction that synthesized both Hindu and Islamic religious architecture. Since some of the craftsmen were Hindu and unfamiliar with the Quran , the inscriptions are a compilation of disarranged Quranic texts and other Arabic expressions. The Qutb Minar was built over the ruins of
3780-523: The new medium quickly gained immense popularity. In the 1930s and 1940s, four theaters opened within Connaught Place Plaza: Regal, Rivoli, Odeon, and the short-lived "Indian Talkie House," which opened in 1938. Connaught Place sprouted as the entertainment hub of New Delhi. The Regal, the first theatre in the area, was opened in 1932 by Sir Sobha Singh . It was designed by architect Walter Sykes George and mainly hosted stage performances. In
3850-887: The pedestrian zones. The plan was eventually scrapped as it was determined that the then-extant public infrastructure was incapable of sustaining the pedestrianisation proposal. Over the years, Connaught Place has been the location of many films including sequences in Dil Se.. (1998), Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2003), Pyaar Ke Side Effects (2006), 3 Idiots (2009), Aisha (2010), Delhi Belly (2011), Rockstar (2011), Ahista Ahista (2006), Agent Vinod , Vicky Donor (2012), Hate Story (2011), Special 26 (2013), A Wednesday (2008), Rang De Basanti (2006), PK (2014) and 2 States (2014). Other commercial centres in Delhi metropolitan area: Qutb Minar The Qutb Minar , also spelled Qutub Minar and Qutab Minar ,
3920-454: The pillar was set up as a Vishnudhvaja (standard of god Vishnu) on the hill known as Vishnupada in memory of a mighty king named Chandra. The mosque complex is one of the earliest that survives in the Indian subcontinent. The nearby pillared cupola known as "Smith's Folly" is a remnant of the tower's 19th century restoration, which included an ill-advised attempt to add some more stories. In 1505, an earthquake damaged Qutub Minar; it
3990-423: The region of Sindh in 1185–86. In 1193, Qutb al-Din Aibak conquered Delhi and implemented a Ghurid governorship in the province, and the congregational mosque, the Qutb Minar complex , was founded in 1193. In the past, scholars believed that the complex was constructed to promote a conversion to Islam amongst the Ghurids' new subjects as well as a symbol of the Ghurids' adherence to a socio-religious system. There
4060-428: The renovation work. Renovation work on Connaught Place resumed shortly after the Commonwealth Games, with an initial completion target of December 2012. However, by 2016, only the first phase—renovating Blocks A and B—had been completed. The plan aimed to restore all six blocks of Connaught Place to their original grandeur by 2020, although delays have affected the timeline. By late 2020, Connaught Place had experienced
4130-401: The song "Dil Ka Bhanwar Kare Pukar" from his film Tere Ghar Ke Samne inside the Minar. However, the cameras in that era were too big to fit inside the tower's narrow passage, and therefore the song was shot inside a replica of the Qutb Minar. The site served as the Pit Stop of the second leg of the second series of The Amazing Race Australia . A picture of the minaret is featured on
4200-403: The structural stability of all buildings including retrofitting for earthquake resistance. All these components have been identified based on studies conducted by various reputed agencies such as SPA , RITES , CMCCC and NTPAC, etc. The art project United Buddy Bears was presented in Connaught Place during the summer of 2012. On 5 January 2017, the Union Urban Development Ministry announced
4270-483: Was acknowledged and appreciated by the Embassy of Mexico in India. Similarly, on October 30, the Qutub Minar was illuminated with the Turkish flag to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, an occasion that received special attention from the Turkish Embassy in New Delhi. The tower includes elements of traditional Islamic architecture and southwestern Asian design. Elizabeth Lambourn's Islam Beyond Empires: Mosques and Islamic Landscapes in India and
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#17328550487384340-400: Was an inspiration and prototype for many minarets and towers built. The Chand Minar and Mini Qutub Minar bear resemblance to the Qutb Minar and inspired from it. The stories of the Qutb Minar vary in size, style, and material due to varying architects and builders constructing each section. The Qutb Minar consists of five stories of red and grey sandstone. The lowest story, also known as
4410-407: Was eventually designed with two concentric circles, creating an Inner Circle, Middle Circle and the Outer Circle with seven roads radiating from a circular central park known as Radial Roads. As per the original plan, the different blocks of Connaught Place were to be joined from above, employing archways, with radial roads below them. However, the circle was 'broken up' to give it a grander scale. Even
4480-406: Was named after Prince Arthur , the 1st Duke of Connaught (1850–1942), the third son of Queen Victoria and uncle of King George VI . Prince Arthur visited India in 1921 and laid the foundation of the Council House (now Sansad Bhavan , or Parliament House). In 2013, Connaught Place was renamed Rajiv Chowk, in honor of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi . Connaught Place's Georgian architecture
4550-476: Was not met. The Performance Audit Report prepared by Controller and Auditor General, India, on the Commonwealth Games 2010 concluded that there were "significant deficiencies in contract management, with consequent avoidable expenditure". Moreover, the mis-management and delays caused great inconvenience to shoppers and shop-owners alike, and led to a decline in trade. Many store-owners complained of erratic power supplies and lost air-conditioning in their shops during
4620-489: Was officially renamed in 1995 after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi , the term "Rajiv Chowk" is seldom used, with locals and officials alike continuing to refer to it as Connaught Place. An underground Delhi Metro station built beneath Connaught Place is named Rajiv Chowk . Prior to the construction of Connaught Place, the area was a ridge, covered with kikar trees and populated with jackals and wild pigs. Residents of Kashmere Gate and Civil Lines paid visits to
4690-460: Was owned by a Swiss couple and introduced Delhi to pastries and homemade Swiss chocolates. In its early years, it was primarily patronized by British officers, Indian royalty, and a few businessmen with international exposure, as Delhi remained a city of classical taste within the walled city . Over the years, Wenger's opened another shop adjacent to their original location in Connaught Place's A Block. This space had previously belonged to Harnarains ,
4760-417: Was repaired by Sikander Lodi . On 1 September 1803, a major earthquake caused serious damage. Major Robert Smith of the British Indian Army renovated the tower in 1828 and installed a pillared cupola over the fifth story, creating a sixth. The cupola was taken down in 1848, under instructions from The Viscount Hardinge , who was the Governor General of India. at the time. It was reinstalled at ground level to
4830-514: Was seen as the heart of British imperial India, he would annually hoist the tricolour at the bandstand in Central Park on January 26. On March 7, 2014, the largest Indian national tricolour at that time (now the second largest) was erected at the center of Central Park, measuring 90 by 60 feet (27 by 18 m), on a 207-foot (63 m) pole. Two of the five terrorist blasts that occurred during the 13 September 2008 Delhi bombings were in Connaught Place. Ten people were injured; police and witnesses said that
4900-557: Was set up in 1979, but since the 1990s it has seen a decline in customers. Palika Bazaar is estimated to have some 15,000 people within its confines at any given time and also attracts many foreign tourists. It is known for its reasonably priced items and is a famous tourist attraction. It also has a reputation for a wide availability of illegal products such as stolen goods, fake designer products and unlicensed CDs, software and films. Police conduct regular raids to recover stolen or counterfeit merchandise, but this has failed to put an end to
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