Rani no hajiro Ahemdabad, Queen's tomb, Gujrat.

                       A Place for the QueensTo the east of Manek Chowk in Ahmedabad is one of the busiest markets with streets full of female clothes and accessories. Called the Rani no Hijro, this place was the resting place for queens in ancient times. Today, the streets here are crowded with shops selling female clothing, accessories and other decorative items. It lies at Manek Chowk, which is an eminent point in Ahmedabad and the street is a vegetable market in the morning and turns into an eatery and a happening market by night.

Rani no hajira

                     The legend of Manek Chowk, after whom this place has been named is quite interesting. The Chowk is named after a sage named Baba Maneknath. It is believed that when Ahmad Shah I started building the fort, Maneknath tried to break his efforts by interlacing a mat in the morning and then untying the mat by night. He was then called up by the emperor and asked to show his powers by entering into a kettle and shut inside forever. Once the sage went in, the king caught him and buried him there.

                      Queen TombsRani no Hajiro was built in the 15 century by the great sultan Ahmed Shah. The hajiro is a vault for graves and served as the last resting place for queens of this empire. Subsequent rulers of the area also continued this tradition. Walls surrounding these graves from the outside are magnificently carved out of stones. The burial place is in the centre and demarcated by a cloister (veranda).
                       The art of Brocade, which is as old as the history of Gujarat itself, was introduced in the reign of Ahmed Shah. This beautifully hand woven Zari cloth was used to cover the graves of the queens. It is believed that the uncharacteristic construction of an open air design of the courtyard was built according to the desire of Ahmad Shah’s queen. It was unusual because before her request, the design was a large dome covering the grave and enclosed into an ambulatory.A great example of the mix of Hindu, Jain and Islamic culture, Rani no Hajiro showcases intricate design and carving work on the walls and domes.  The burial place or the inner area is kept locked to maintain tranquillity and cleanliness of the place. The place is maintained by a family of caretakers, who have been doing this for almost five generations now. They ensure that it remains untainted and pure.

=> Address                            : Gandhi Rd, Manek Chowk, Danapidth, Khadia, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380001
=> Open & Closing Time  : 6AM–9PM
=> Phone                                : 079 2550 6264
=> Architectural style       : Indo-Islamic architecture