Manek Burj, also spelled Manek Buraj () is the foundation bastion of

Bhadra Fort Bhadra Fort is situated in the Old Ahmedabad, walled city area of Ahmedabad, India. It was built by Ahmed Shah of Gujarat, Ahmad Shah I in 1411. With its well carved royal palaces, mosques, gates and open spaces, it was renovated in 2014 by Ahme ...

in the old city of

Ahmedabad Ahmedabad ( ; Gujarati: Amdavad ) is the most populous city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ahmedabad district and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. Ahmedabad's population of 5,570,585 (per t ...

Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...

, India. The Burj is associated with legendary saint

Maneknath Baba Maneknath was 15th century legendary Hindu saint who lived on the banks of Sabarmati river near present city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Legend Saint Maneknath interrupted and helped Ahmad Shah I built Bhadra Fort in 1411. He wove a mat ...

Etymology

Manek Burj is named after the legendary 15th century Hindu saint,

, who intervened to help

Ahmed Shah I Ahmad Shah I, born Ahmad Khan, was a ruler of the Muzaffarid dynasty, who reigned over the Gujarat Sultanate from 1411 until his death in 1442. He was the grandson of Sultan Muzaffar Shah who has been variously described as a Tank Rajput or a ...

build

in 1411.

History

Manek Burj was the original bastion of Ahmedabad. It was built around the foundation stone of the city, laid by Ahmed Shah I on 26 February 1411. The bastion is high on the outside. It once contained a roofed

stepwell Stepwells (also known as vavs or baori) are wells or ponds with a long corridor of steps that descend to the water level. Stepwells played a significant role in defining subterranean architecture in western India from 7th to 19th century. So ...

with a circumference of , the Manek Kuva. The well was filled and sealed in 1866 after the Sabarmati river changed its course, causing the Manek Kuva to run dry. A water channel near the bastion once brought water to the royal baths. In 1869,

Ellis Bridge The Ellis Bridge is a century-old bridge in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It bridges the western and eastern parts of the city across the Sabarmati river. This bowstring arch truss bridge was the first bridge in Ahmedabad, constructed in 1892. Concret ...

, the city's first bridge across the Sabarmati river, was constructed near the bastion. In May 1989, the

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation The Amdavad Municipal Corporation, or the AMC, established in July 1950 under the Bombay Provincial Corporation Act (1949), is responsible for the civic infrastructure and administration of the city of Ahmedabad. History On 21 April 1831, the ...

declared Ellis bridge and its boundary, Manek Burj, and the natural water drain near one of the banks of the Sabarmati river protected sites. The original Ellis Bridge was narrow, and not suited for heavy motorized traffic. It was closed in 1997, and in 1999 a new concrete bridge was constructed on either side of the 19th century steel structure. Manek Burj was partially demolished to make way for the bridge expansion. After the

2001 Gujarat earthquake The 2001 Gujarat earthquake, also known as the Bhuj earthquake, occurred on 26 January, India's 52nd Republic Day, at . The epicentre was about 9 km south-southwest of the village of Chobari in Bhachau Taluka of Kutch District of Gujarat ...

, and riots in 2002, many believed that the city had suffered as a result of the damage done to the bastion. Manek Burj was restored in 2003.

Culture

Chandan and Rajesh Nath, 13th generation descendants of Saint Maneknath, perform '' puja'' and hoist the flag on Manek Burj on Ahmedabad's foundation day and for the

Vijayadashami Vijayadashami ( sa, विजयदशमी, Vijayadaśamī, translit-std=IAST), also known as Dussehra, Dasara or Dashain, is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navaratri every year. It is observed on the tenth day in the Hindu ...

festival every year.

Gallery

File:Manek Buraj Ahmedabad.jpg, From north File:Manek Buraj Ahmedabad 3.jpg, In evening File:Manek Buraj Ahmedabad 1.jpg, Staircase leading to the roof of the Burj File:Manek Buraj Ahmedabad 2.jpg, From south

References

{{Ahmedabad topics, status autocollapse Buildings and structures in Ahmedabad Forts in Gujarat Tourist attractions in Ahmedabad