Ahmedabad, colloquially known as Amdavad, has many stories intertwined with it. As the city turns 614 years old on Wednesday, the myths, the bylanes and heritage eagerly await to be rediscovered and retold.

With the  city turning into the tech and employment capital of Gujarat, many citizens are still unaware of its rich cultural and historical significance which has earned it the tag of India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City in 2017.

In the heart of the city, and amid the bustling lanes of iconic Teen Darwaza, Akhand Jyot (eternal lamp) has been burning for over 600 years. 

The Akhand Jyot, nestled in one of the walls of Teen Darwaza serves as a testimony to the Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb since the foundation of the city on February 26, 1411.

A popular lore attached to Akhand Jyot goes like this - Khwaja Siddiqui, a guard posted at Teen Darwaza during the reign of Sultan Ahmed Shah Badshah, the founder of Ahmedabad, saw a beautiful, divine woman leaving the city one night. On inquiring, he came to know that the woman was none other than Goddess Laxmi herself. 

Upon learning that Goddess Laxmi was leaving Ahmedabad, the guard saw it as the city’s prosperity departing. He stopped her, insisting she seek permission from Badshah Ahmed Shah. He then made her promise to stay until his return. To ensure her presence, he sacrificed his life. Honouring her word, Goddess Laxmi never left the city.

A green-coloured tomb, named, ‘Hazrat Shahid Sidi Badshah Ni Dargah’ proudly stands outside one of the gates of Bhadra Fort and is believed to be of the guard Siddique. The statue of Goddess Laxmi Devi is seen in the garden opposite Bhadra Fort. 

Notably, an imprint of the hand of Goddess Laxmi had been embedded in one of the gates of Bhadra Fort, suggesting the folklore to be true.

Manek Baba, destroyer & creator of Ahmedabad

Constructing Ahmedabad was a mammoth task for Ahmed Shah as Manek Baba, a yogi, was unhappy with the Sultan taking over his land.

Maneknath or Manek Baba was a renowned saint of Ahmedabad who lived in the 15th century by the banks of Sabarmati River. 

Ahmed Shah faced an unusual challenge while building the walls of Ahmedabad—each night, they mysteriously collapsed. Determined to uncover the cause, he discovered that Manek Baba was using his mystical powers, knitting a blanket by day and unravelling it at night, causing the walls to fall. 

It is said that Manek Baba requested Badshah to build something, so that the city remembers him. The Badshah honoured him by naming the city’s central square in Tankshal- Manek Chowk, after him. Manek Baba also helped Badshah in building the city using his powers. Manek Burj, a remnant of the old wall near Ellisbridge, is believed to safeguard Ahmedabad from destruction.

Pols of Amdavad

The old city of Ahmedabad is home to a network of over 200 narrow lanes, where Amdavadis live in houses dating back to as old as 400 years.

‘Muhurat ni Pol’, as the name suggests, was the first pol of Ahmedabad. 

The area of the walled city is 5.78 sq km, and it has around 360 pols, and each pol consists of 45-60 houses.

“From the oldest typical pol house to the most recent house in 2022, pol houses have always been influenced by the designs and ideas of the period they are built in,” according to a study by CEPT University.

As per the study, houses within the pol have a unique design element, naturally regulating temperature and providing comfort in the hot climate of Ahmedabad, especially during summer when temperatures spike up to 45°C.

The city is an intricate web of stories, reminiscent of the past that made its way into the contemporary world. Amdavadis still take pride in the popular folklore, “Jab kutte pe sassa aaya, tab Badshah ne shaher basaya.” (While camping on the banks of the Sabarmati River, Sultan Ahmed Shah saw a rabbit chasing a dog. Impressed by the bravery of the rabbit, he decided to establish Ahmedabad as his capital city.)

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Ahmedabad’s historic first: Bhadrakali procession on Foundation Day after 614 years