Coordinates: 23°1′25″N 72°35′19″E / 23.02361°N 72.58861°E / 23.02361; 72.58861

Manek Chowk (Ahmedabad)

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Manek Chowk
Manekchok.jpg
Street food stalls at night
Addresses within walled city, near Bhadra Fort
Location Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Coordinates 23°1′25″N 72°35′19″E / 23.02361°N 72.58861°E / 23.02361; 72.58861
Manek Chowk in morning

Manek Chowk is a notable city square in Old Ahmedabad, India. It is surrounded by historical structures. It is a vegetable market in the morning, a bullion market in the noon and the street food market at night.[1]

Etymology[]

Main article: Maneknath

It is named after saint Maneknath who interrupted and helped Ahmed Shah I build Bhadra Fort in 1411.[1][2][3][4]

Manek Chowk[]

This bustling open square near the center of the city functions as a vegetable market in the morning and a jewellery market in the afternoon, the second biggest in India, at an apparently 3 million rupees of annual turnover. It is most famous, however, for its food stalls that start to emerge around 9:30 in the evening and continue till late night, with various local street snacks. Manek chowk is best known for its Kulfi.[5][6]

Food Street[]

Manek Chowk is one of the few of the food-street which is allowed to stay open till late night. Bhajipau, dosa, typical local sandwiches, and many more local cuisines are available.

Structures[]

The variety of mouth fresheners, Mukhwas, being sold near Manek Chowk

Some heritage structures are in vicinity.

Baba Maneknath Temple[]

The memorial temple where the saint Maneknath took samadhi, is situated in Manek Chowk.

Badshah no Hajiro[]

Main article: Ahmed Shah's Tomb

This is where the male members of the royal family were buried. Ahmed Shah I, founder of Ahmedabad was buried here. Women are not allowed to enter, and men must wear something to cover their heads before entering. There are also a few minister’s tombs laid out across the road. It lies to the west of Manek Chowk.[1]

Rani no Hajiro[]

Main article: Rani no Hajiro
Tombs of Queens of Ahmed Shah I in 1866

On the street leading to the Rani no Hajiro (Queen’s tomb), where the female members of the royal family were buried, is now a market for women's clothing, jewellery and accessories. Traditional Garba clothes are also sold here. Many types of mouth fresheners, Mukhwas, stalls are nearby. Rani no Hajiro lies to the east of Manek Chowk.[1]

Ahmedabad Stock Exchange Building[]

Ahmedabad Stock Exchange heritage building

Ahmedabad Stock Exchange was established in 1894. It is the oldest stock exchange after Bombay Stock Exchange in India. ASE functioned here till 1996 and it is 93 years old heritage building and an example of British architecture.[7][8][9][10]

Mahurat Pol[]

It was the first pol (housing cluster) of Ahmedabad. Jains settled here around the 1450s. There are two temples inside pol, Sheetalnath Jain temple and Dholeshwar Mahadev temple.[1][10]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e Desai, Anjali H., ed. (2007). India Guide Gujarat. India Guide Publications. pp. 93–94. ISBN 9780978951702.
  2. ^ More, Anuj (18 October 2010). "Baba Maneknath's kin keep alive 600-yr old tradition". The Indian Express. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  3. ^ "Flags changed at city's foundation by Manek Nath baba's descendants". The Times of India. TNN. 7 October 2011. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  4. ^ Jadav, Ruturaj; Jani, Mehul (26 February 2010). "Multi-layered expansion". Ahmedabad Mirror. AM. Archived from the original on 7 December 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  5. ^ "Manek Chowk". Government of Gujarat. Tourism Corporation of Gujarat. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  6. ^ Jani, Mehul (14 April 2011). "Manek Chowk fights off its 'MAHA' Clone". Ahmedabad Mirror. AM. Archived from the original on 7 April 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  7. ^ "Old stock exchange building at Manek Chowk to be sold". The Times of India. Ahmedabad. TNN. 6 June 2012. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  8. ^ Dhomse, Himansh (7 July 2012). "Veterans rue loss of Ahmedabad's Manekchowk building". Daily News and Analysis. DNA. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  9. ^ Soni, Nikunj (20 February 2011). "Heritage lovers root for Ahmedabad Stock Exchange's Manekchowk building". Daily News and Analysis. DNA. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  10. ^ a b Ruturaj Jadav and Mehul Jani (5 February 2010). "Amdavad's First Pol". Ahmedabad Mirror. AM. Archived from the original on 7 December 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2013.

Further reading[]

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