GlenDoolittle2 at 17:23, 6 February 2026

2026-02-06T17:23:46Z

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{{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Sector 13, Chandigarh
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =Sector 13
| settlement_type = Residential+commercial mixed
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| nickname =
| image_map =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Chandigarh
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|30|43|09|N|76|50|01|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Union Territory]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Chandigarh]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 =
| area_rank =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = Around 3 Lakh
| population_as_of =
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 =
| population_rank =
| population_demonym =
| demographics_type1 =
| demographics1_title1 = Main
| timezone1 = Indian Standard Time
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 160101
| registration_plate = CH
| blank1_name_sec1 =
| blank1_info_sec1 =
| website =
| footnotes =
| demographics1_info1 = [[Hindi]] (48.32%), [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] (47.98%), [[English language|English]] (0.4%)
| blank2_name_sec1 =
| blank2_info_sec1 =
}}

'''Manimajra''' (now referred to as {{'}}''''Sector 13'''{{'}}) is a significant residential and commercial hub in [[Chandigarh]]. Reconstituted in February 2020, it bridges the city's historical princely roots with its modern industrial expansion.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2020-02-11|title=It's official: Chandigarh's Manimajra is now Sector 25|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/chandigarh-s-manimajra-is-now-sector-13/story-ploFPCA4UGpDu9ksUxLtdL.html|access-date=2020-06-14|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Service|first=Tribune News|date=|title=UT Administrator issues notification on renaming city areas.|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/chandigarh/its-official-mani-majra-is-sector-13-39042|access-date=2020-06-14|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en}}</ref>

=={{anchor|History}}History==
[[File:Fresco of a religious procession from the Mansa Devi temple of Mani Majra.jpg|thumb|Fresco of a religious procession from the Mansa Devi temple of Mani Majra]]
{{Further information|Manimajra State}}

The town was founded in 1515 by Mani Ram Dhillon, a Zamindar under the Lodhi Dynasty. By the 18th century, his descendent Gangaram Singh Dhillon governed Manimajra and 84 surrounding villages as a [[Mughal Empire|Mughal vassal]]. Following the decline of Mughal authority, Gangaram's son, Gharib Dass Dhillon, established the independent Manimajra State. Despite early conflicts with the Raja of Nahan, Gharib Dass expanded his territory, seizing [[Pinjore]] and establishing the Manimajra Fort as his capital.<ref name="harsamvad1">[http://haryanasamvad.gov.in/store/document/Haryana%20Samvad%20October%202018.pdf Haryana Samvad] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129225259/http://haryanasamvad.gov.in/store/document/Haryana%20Samvad%20October%202018.pdf |date=29 November 2018 }}, Oct 2018.</ref><ref name="dhillon1" />

Upon his death in 1783, his son Raja Gopal Singh took over, eventually receiving the title of Raja from the British in 1814 for his service in the Gurkha campaign. Gopal Singh is notably responsible for building the Mansa Devi Temple (1811–1815). The dynasty continued through Raja Goverdhan Singh and Raja Gurbaksh Singh, ending with Raja Bhagwan Singh, who died without a male heir in 1866. Consequently, the British annexed the state, and the fort later passed to the Raja of Faridkot through marriage.<ref name="dhillon1">Bhagat Singh,1993, A History of the Sikh Misals.</ref>
[[File:Fresco of Raja Gopal Singh of Mani Majra State paying obeisance to the goddess Mahamaya from the Mansa Devi temple of Mani Majra.jpg|thumb|Fresco of Raja Gopal Singh of Mani Majra State (middle, standing with folded hands) paying obeisance to the goddess Mahamaya from the Mansa Devi temple of Mani Majra]]
In the 20th century, the town was led by Sardar Ajit Singh Dhillon, who is credited with protecting local Muslim families during the 1947 Partition. The area also saw migration from the Ranas of Kuthar, who became major landowners.

Today, the historical legacy survives through the 500-year-old Shiv Temple and the Manimajra Fort, which served as a filming location for the movie ''Zero Dark Thirty''.<ref name="TOI20130212">{{cite web |date=12 February 2013 |title=Manimajra residents hope 'Zero Dark Thirty will win Oscar |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/cinema/Manimajra-residents-hope-Zero-Dark-Thirty-will-win-Oscar/articleshow/18462172.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518001638/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-12/cinema/37058171_1_burqa-clad-women-and-men-international-film-zero-dark-thirty |archive-date=18 May 2013 |access-date=24 February 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

Manimajra Shiv Temple and Thakurdwara is 500 to 600 years old, and was built by the rulers of the area. Shiv temple has Shiva as the main deity and Thakurdwara has Rama, Sita, and Hanuman as chief deities.<ref name=harsamvad1/>

== Modern Development: Sector 13 ==
For decades, Manimajra sat outside Chandigarh's formal grid because the city's planner, [[Le Corbusier]], omitted the number 13 due to superstition. Following long-standing demands from residents in upscale enclaves like the Modern Housing Complex (MHC) and Shivalik Enclave, the area was officially integrated into the sectoral grid as Sector 13 in February 2020.<ref name=":0" /> This change was enacted by Governor V.P. Singh Badnore under the Capital of Punjab Act of 1952.<ref>{{cite web |last=India news |first=ZeeNews |date=Feb 12, 2020 |title=Chandigarh readies for 'Sector 13', eight areas notified under this new sector |url=https://zeenews.india.com/chandigarh-readies-for-sector-13-eight-areas-notified-under-this-new-sector-2263844.html |accessdate=14 June 2020 |website=Zeenews India |publisher=Zee News India}}</ref>

=== Infrastructure and economy ===
The sector is a vital economic engine for [[Chandigarh]], featuring:

* Technology & commerce: Home to the Rajiv Gandhi IT Park, which houses campuses for Infosys, Tech Mahindra, and Airtel. It also features Asia's largest motor market and major shopping centers like Fun Republic and DT Mall.
* Residential & facilities: The area contains a mix of urban societies (Uppal's Marble Arch, Rajeev Vihar) and traditional localities (Mari Wala Town, Pipliwala Town). It is supported by the Kalagram cultural center, The Lalit 5-star hotel, and several prominent schools including RIMT World School and Gurukul Global.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
Mani Majra Fort, Chandigarh, India 01.JPG|Mani Majra Fort, south side entrance view
Mani Majra Fort,east side view Chandigarh, India 02.JPG|Mani Majra Fort, east side view
Mani Majra Fort, west side view Chandigarh, India 04.JPG|Mani Majra Fort, west side view
Mani Majra Fort, North side view Chandigarh, India 03.JPG|Mani Majra Fort, north side view
Mani Majra Fort, ruined courtyard view, Chandigarh, India 05.JPG|Mani Majra Fort, ruined courtyard view
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=Vg89BAAAQBAJ&pg=PT96 First Raj of the Sikhs: The Life and Times of Banda Singh Bahadur]''

[[Category:Cities and towns in Chandigarh district]]

Mani Majra - Revision history

GlenDoolittle2 at 17:23, 6 February 2026