{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}} {{Infobox building | name = Manek Burj | native_name = માણેક બુરજ | native_name_lang = gu | image = Manek Burj-Ahmedabad-Gujarat State.jpg | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = Manek Burj from Ellis Bridge <!--- | pushpin_map = India Ahmedabad##India Gujarat | pushpin_mapsize = 300px | map_caption = Location in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_label = Manek Burj ---> | pushpin_relief = | former_names = | alternate_names = | etymology = Maneknath | status = | cancelled = | topped_out = | building_type = Bastion of the city wall | architectural_style = | classification = | location = East end of Ellis Bridge | address = | location_city = Ahmedabad | location_country = India | coordinates = {{coord|23.0221373|72.577357|region:IN|display=inline, title}} | altitude = | current_tenants = | namesake = Maneknath | groundbreaking_date = | construction_start_date = 1411 | topped_out_date = | completion_date = | opened_date = | inauguration_date = | relocated_date = | renovation_date = 2003 | closing_date = | demolished_date = | cost = | ren_cost = | client = | owner = | landlord = | affiliation = | height = {{convert|53|foot|m}} | architectural = | tip = | antenna_spire = | roof = | top_floor = | observatory = | diameter = | circumference = {{convert|77|foot|m}} | weight = | other_dimensions = | structural_system = | material = Bricks and mortar | size = | floor_count = | floor_area = | elevator_count = | grounds_area = | architect = | architecture_firm = | developer = | engineer = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | civil_engineer = | other_designers = | quantity_surveyor = | main_contractor = | awards = | designations = | known_for = | ren_architect = | ren_firm = | ren_engineer = | ren_str_engineer = | ren_serv_engineer = | ren_civ_engineer = | ren_oth_designers = | ren_qty_surveyor = | ren_contractor = | ren_awards = | url = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | embedded = | references = | footnotes = | mapframe-zoom = 13 | mapframe-marker = monument | mapframe-caption = Location of Manek Burj in Ahmedabad }}

'''Manek Burj''', also spelled '''Manek Buraj''' ({{literally|Ruby bastion}}) is the foundation bastion of Bhadra Fort in the old city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.<ref name="dna 2013">{{cite news | title=Ahmedabad's quiet birthday at Manek Burj | publisher=dna | date=27 February 2013 | url=http://www.dnaindia.com/ahmedabad/report-ahmedabads-quiet-birthday-at-manek-burj-1805154 | accessdate=7 January 2015}}</ref> The Burj is associated with legendary saint Maneknath.

==Etymology== {{Main|Maneknath}}

Manek Burj is named after the legendary 15th century Hindu saint, Maneknath, who intervened to help Ahmed Shah I build Bhadra Fort in 1411.<ref name="igg">{{cite book | title=India Guide Gujarat | publisher=India Guide Publications | year=2007 | pages=93–94 | isbn= 9780978951702 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gZRLGZNZEoEC&dq=manek+chowk+ahmedabad&pg=PA93 | editor=Desai, Anjali H.}}</ref><ref name="baba">{{cite news | url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/baba-maneknath-s-kin-keep-alive-600yr-old-tradition/698967 | title=Baba Maneknath's kin keep alive 600-yr old tradition | work=The Indian Express | date=18 October 2010 | accessdate=21 February 2013 | author=More, Anuj}}</ref><ref name="mnk">{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Flags-changed-at-citys-foundation-by-Manek-Nath-babas-descendants/articleshow/10261380.cms | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411040432/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-07/ahmedabad/30257006_1_flag-foundation-stone-puja | url-status=live | archive-date=11 April 2013 | title=Flags changed at city's foundation by Manek Nath baba's descendants | work=The Times of India | date=7 October 2011 | agency=TNN | access-date=21 February 2013}}</ref><ref name="tam">{{cite news | url=http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20A%201000%20Salutes&sectid=68&contentid=2010022620100226182744376d3de031 | title=Multi-layered expansion | work=Ahmedabad Mirror | date=26 February 2010 | agency=AM | accessdate=21 February 2013 | author=Ruturaj Jadav and Mehul Jani | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207235844/http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?page=article | archive-date=7 December 2009 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==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 {{convert|53|ft|m}} high on the outside. It once contained a roofed stepwell with a circumference of {{convert|77|ft|m}}, 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.<ref>{{cite book|title=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Ahmedabad|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.3354|year=1879|publisher=Government Central Press|page=[https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.3354/page/n282 276]}} {{PD-notice}}</ref><ref name="TimesPub11"/>

In 1869, Ellis Bridge, the city's first bridge across the Sabarmati river, was constructed near the bastion.<ref name="ah">{{cite news | url=http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=201002042010020402552458c42a24a3 | title=Bridges - To past, present & Future | work=Ahmedabad Mirror | date=4 February 2010 | accessdate=4 April 2013 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103150901/http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=News%20-%20City&sectid=3&contentid=201002042010020402552458c42a24a3 | archivedate=3 November 2013 }}</ref> In May 1989, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation declared Ellis bridge and its boundary, Manek Burj, and the natural water drain near one of the banks of the Sabarmati river protected sites.{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}}

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.<ref name="dna 2013"/><ref name="ah"></ref><ref name="hope">{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/Hope-lies-in-Ellisbridge/articleshow/9839789.cms | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104063016/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-02/surat/30105331_1_hope-bridge-vivekanand-bridge-steel-bridge | url-status=live | archive-date=4 November 2013 | title=Hope lies in Ellisbridge | work=The Times of India | date=2 September 2011 | access-date=4 April 2013 | author=John, Paul}}</ref>

After the 2001 Gujarat earthquake, 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.<ref name="TimesPub11">{{cite news | title=Ahmedabad says abracadabra | website=Times of India Publications | date=27 February 2011 | first=Parth|last=Shastri|url=http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=2&edlabel=TOIA&mydateHid=27-02-2011&pubname=&edname=&articleid=Ar00202&format=&publabel=TOI |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108000533/http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=2&edlabel=TOIA&mydateHid=27-02-2011&pubname=&edname=&articleid=Ar00202&format=&publabel=TOI |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 January 2015 | accessdate=7 January 2015}}</ref>

==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 festival every year.<ref name="India 2015">{{cite web | first=Lakshmi | last=Ajay| title=Ahmedabad city turns 604 | newspaper=The Indian Express | date=27 February 2015 | url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/ahmedabad-city-turns-604/ | accessdate=29 May 2018 }}</ref><ref name="baba"/><ref name="mnk"/><ref name="TimesPub11"/><ref name="dnax2011">{{cite news| title=Manek Burj's sorry state fails to move AMC | publisher=DNA | date=19 April 2012| url=http://dnasyndication.com/dna/article/DNAHM53975 | accessdate=7 January 2015}}</ref>

==Gallery== <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 </gallery>

==References == {{reflist}}

{{Ahmedabad topics|status autocollapse}}

Category:Buildings and structures in Ahmedabad Category:Forts in Gujarat Category:Tourist attractions in Ahmedabad