Manek Burj: Ahmedabad's Foundation Stone

Manek Burj, meaning 'Ruby Bastion,' is a historical landmark in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. As the foundation bastion of Bhadra Fort in the old city, it holds immense significance as the symbolic starting point of Ahmedabad. Sultan Ahmed Shah I laid the city's foundation stone here on February 26, 1411.The bastion is named after the Hindu saint Maneknath, who, according to legend, helped Ahmed Shah I build the Bhadra Fort. Some stories say that Maneknath would create hurdles in the fort's construction with his powers, and others say he helped Ahmed Shah I locate the site from where the construction of the fort started. The 13th generation descendants of Maneknath still perform prayers and hoist a flag at Manek Burj on Ahmedabad's foundation day and during the Vijayadashami festival.The structure itself is approximately 53 feet (16 meters) high. It once housed a roofed stepwell, Manek Kuva, which had a circumference of 77 feet (23 meters). However, the Sabarmati River changed its course, causing the well to dry up and be sealed in 1866. Ellis Bridge, the city's first bridge across the Sabarmati, was built near the bastion in 1869. In 1999, the bridge was widened, leading to a partial demolition and later restoration of Manek Burj. Today, Manek Burj stands as a testament to Ahmedabad's past, connecting visitors to the city's founding and the legends that shaped it.