Manimajra's history stretches back much further than the modern city of Chandigarh that now surrounds it. The area gained prominence in the late 18th century when it was ruled by local chieftains. The most notable ruler was Garib Das, a Sikh leader who took control of the territory in 1764 following the decline of the Mughal Empire. He established the Mani Majra state and is credited with building the Mani Majra Fort, which still stands today, albeit in a state of partial ruin.
The region remained a princely estate through the British colonial period. Following India's independence in 1947 and the subsequent partition, the new planned city of Chandigarh was conceptualized to serve as the capital of Punjab. As Chandigarh was developed in the 1950s and 1960s, Manimajra was situated just on its periphery.
Eventually, as Chandigarh expanded, Manimajra was incorporated into the Union Territory. This transition shifted its identity from a rural, historical village to a highly urbanized satellite town. In recent decades, the Chandigarh administration has heavily developed the area, introducing planned residential complexes and commercial zones to harmonize the historic town with Chandigarh's organized urban grid.
