Manek Chowk, City square in Old Ahmedabad, India

Manek Chowk is a city square in Old Ahmedabad, India, surrounded by historical buildings and a memorial temple. The square has a flat, pale golden-yellow facade with a stepped roofline and a red banner with white script, standing at the far side of a crowded open square.

The square is named after Baba Maneknath, who helped Ahmed Shah I build Bhadra Fort in 1411. Over time, it grew into a trading hub, and the Ahmedabad Stock Exchange operated in a nearby building from 1894 until 1996.

The name comes from the saint Maneknath, and his memorial temple stands right in the square. In the evening, the space turns into a food street where locals gather for kulfi and snacks, and the nearby Rani no Hajiro area is known for clothing and accessories shops.

The square is easy to reach on foot from the old city center, and it is busiest in the late evening when the food stalls are running. Wear comfortable shoes, as the ground is uneven and crowded, and keep an eye on your belongings in the busy hours.

The square changes function three times a day: it is a vegetable market in the morning, a jewelry market in the afternoon, and a food market at night. The jewelry market here is the second largest in India, with a daily turnover of around 3 million rupees.