5 Things to do in Malleswaram (2024)

Malleswaram, or Malleshwaram, is my home in Bangalore. I have always lived in the area and I have had plenty of childhood memories. It is an area where the older part of Bangalore mixes with the modern era. There are certain parts of Malleswaram where time stands still.

Well, we do have Jayanagar and Chamrajpet which are amazing as well but still I prefer Malleswaram. I feel that the area and surroundings are the best areas in Bangalore to live and explore. Even though there are many things one can do in Malleswaram, I would love to talk about the top 5 things to do in Malleswaram.

Note: Some call the area Malleswaram, and others call it Malleshwaram. Both are same and it is just the spelling that differs.

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Where is Malleswaram?

Also spelt as Malleshwaram, the area of Malleswaram is one of the oldest residential areas in Bangalore. Located in the north of Bangalore, Malleswaram is a planned area that was developed after 1898. The area is named after the 17th-century temple, the Kadu Malleshwara temple.

5 things to do in Malleswaram

Shop at Malleswaram Markets

Malleswaram has plenty of local markets that cater for all kinds of shoppers. Ranging from really cheap products to branded products, Malleswaram has it all. The markets are spread across the area, including the flower, fruit and vegetable markets, street shopping with local and cheap products, and a shopping centre where one can purchase branded goods.

• The flower markets are stocked with jasmine garlands, roses and other flowers. It is surely an amazing place to click and get some colourful pictures.
• Sampige Road (one of the main streets of Malleswaram) has shops on either side of the road. The shops sell jewellery, sarees, slippers and others.
• Malleswaram 11th and 13th cross have series of local shops and vendors selling all kinds of products, including toys, bags, vegetables and fruits.
• Mantri Square mall (shopping centre) is perfect to shop for branded clothes, bags and shoes. The shopping centre is huge and has a few supermarkets within it.

Visit the historical Hindu temples

Malleswaram has many ancient Hindu temples. In fact, the area is named after one. I highly recommend visiting three major temples, the Kadu Malleshwara temple which is adjacent to the Nandi Theertha temple. The other temple to visit is the Gangamma Devi temple.

• While visiting the temples, make sure to dress appropriately and respect the culture and tradition.
• Leave your footwear outside the temple in dedicated places.
• The temples are usually closed in the afternoons. Make sure to visit the temple in the morning or late afternoon.

The Kadu Malleshwara temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of Mallikarjuna, was built by Venkoji in the Dravidian architectural style. In the Kannada language, Kadu means wild trees surrounded by forest and the area at that time hence the name Kadu Malleshwara temple.

The Nandi Theerta temple, also known as Dakshinamukha Nandi Theerta Kalyani Kshetra, is a small temple in the form of Linga dedicated to Lord Shiva. Nandi (a mythological character in the form of a bull) is facing the southern direction (dakshina in Kannada language means south and mukha means face) and hence the name Dakshinamukha Nandi.

Dedicated to Goddess Ganga or Gangamma, the Gangamma Devi temple is another gem in the area. The temple is calm and serene. Every year, there is a festival known as Gangamma Jathre that is celebrated to honour all the Gods and Goddesses. It is a 3 day fair where the temple and the deity are decorated.

Take pictures of the street art

A few years ago, Bangalore had a city makeover with street art and murals throughout the city. The walls and streets around Malleshwaram was also part of this make over and got amazing graffiti by various artists. Each street art represented something about Bangalore. Be it about sports or birds, they were all part of this lovely initiative. Walking around Malleswaram and seeing these murals is a delight, especially for photographers.

Read | 7 reasons to walk Malleshwaram Street art trail

Watch a Kannada movie at old cinemas

Malleswaram has a few cinemas (* Indians call cinemas as theatres) where one can watch regional, Hindi or English movies. Watching regional movies by famous actors in Bangalore is an experience! It is like celebrating a festival with lots of whistles and hooting.

The Sampige and Cauvery theatres are two of the old theatres that have been there since I lived in the area. These theatres bring me back many precious memories, as watching movies on a Saturday morning at these theatres was a family affair.

Malleswaram also has a huge multiplex theatre in Mantri Square Mall. The cinema franchise that runs movies in the mall is the Inox Movies Theatre.

Eat local food

One thing that I miss a lot about home is the food. The food is unique and absolutely delicious, especially the local food. Malleswaram is home to many restaurants that serve local Bangalorean food. We love our doses, uppit, pongal and filter coffee. A few of the popular darshinis (fast food vegetarian restaurants) to eat local food in Malleswaram are, Central Tiffin Room (CTR), Sri Krishna Bhavan, Veena stores and Halli mane. I recommend trying out the Benne Masala dose, Pongal and Bisi bele bath, and, of course, the filter coffee.

Closing Notes

When you visit Bangalore, go to Malleswaram and explore the old side of Bangalore. These are the top 5 things to do in Malleswaram, even though the area has a lot of other things to offer. The people are nice and friendly, and the scenery is beautiful. It is also an area with a large part of greenery left in the city.

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