Manek Chowk in Ahmedabad
Manek Chowk in Ahmedabad – Manek Chowk is a remarkable square located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. With great historical architecture, it is classified to be a part of the old Ahmedabad. Its name was coined from the Saint Maneknath who stopped and assisted Ahmed Shah I in the building of Bhadra Fort in 1411. Some historic structures found in the vicinity include Badshah no Hajiro; where the male royal family members were buried. Baba Maneknath Temple; where the Saint took Samadhi. Mahurat Pol; which was the first ever housing cluster in the city. Ahmedabad Stock Exchange Building; a heritage building with 93 years of heritage and a great influence of British building structure. In modern times of today, the market is calculated to have well over 3 million people each year.
If you\’re a shopaholic, Manek Chawk is the place to be as it has several purposes within a day. From being a vegetable market in the mornings to be a gold/silver trade zone with associated derivatives in the afternoon and a food hub at night. The street food market commences at around 9:30 pm up till late in the night. Spending the entire day here, you will see the beautiful transition between the three main market phases. The best time to visit this place would be during winter (between October and February) as the weather is really nice.
Through India, this place is the second largest and busiest market. Asides from being a busy marketplace, the locals say it is a great place to hang out with friends and close relations. The market has the best of the best women clothing and accessories with several designs showing vast traditional heritage, good snacks like Dosa, Kulfi, sandwiches and so on. After a hectic day of walking and shopping, Manek Chowk is befitting to get a tasty and delicious meal before heading back to the hotel.