malleswaram

“Wish you a wonderful weekend”, screams the RJ through the radio as my car labours through the serpentine traffic. For the happy weekend to begin, I must get first home, and so must the lakhs of office-goers. Friday evenings in Bengaluru are not like any other day. I am now at the nerve centre of the city, Majestic, which seems to be bursting at its seams. Throngs of travellers scramble towards the KSRTC bus stand for their weekend trip to their ‘native’ or some holiday destination. Private buses are parked haphazardly along the roadside, and travellers have no other option…

The 84th edition of the Gangamma Jathre (Fair) at Malleswaram drew Bangaloreans in large numbers. The origin of this Jathre can be traced to the rich tradition of worshipping Nada Devathe or local deities in our city. Gangamma is believed to be one of the seven deities of Bengaluru. Gangamma temple. Pic: Sridhar C R Jathre at Gangamma Temple near the famous Kadu Malleshwara Temple was a three day affair that began on 14th May and concluded on 16th May with a grand Karaga procession.During the period of festivity devotees flocked the Gangamma temples in large numbers and offered Ragi…

The waiting was over! .. after three long years, I boarded the British Airways flight, back home to Namma Bengaluru.  My thoughts now raced to the urban transformation that would welcome me home. Three years is not a long time to expect sea-changes in one's neighbourhood.  But, from what I had heard, I expected to view a few more concrete, ornamental, apartment blocks amidst some marvellous temple towers in modern day Malleswaram.I began to visualise my home city as a ‘motor-driven', ‘rock-king' place, heralding the 21st century charm as well.On the very second day I landed, I couldn't wait, but…

"From Central Talkies to Malleshwaram 18th Cross, would be a great walk and sunlight would not fall on the ground. That is my memory of Sampige road."Sampige Road - the wonderfully fragrant name holds a lot of memories for many Bangaloreans who grew up in and around Malleswaram. The huge Malleswaram Circle, the horses in the jataka stand, the fragrance of the bouquet shop, shoppers at 8th Cross and the temples - all this give Sampige Road a typical south Indian look and feel.Listen to Vimala Rangachar, grand daughter of Venkataranga Iyengar, the founder of Malleswaram, and other old time…

Malleshwaram Circle was a very beautiful junction, where lovely avenues criss-crossed. Huge trees lined up on all the four roads and made this place a literal heaven. A grade separator made its way about five years ago and hundreds of trees were bidden good-bye. We could not see the sky in those days. But today, people walk under the scorching sun. Many businessmen at the junction, who were running their business for the last 50 to 100 years, have lost their business.For example, there was this beautiful flower shop which was more than hundred years old. I saw the concept…

It was the year 1848. Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV was the Maharaja of Mysore. A plague epidemic had hit Bangalore. Perturbed by living conditions in the cramped city area (primarily in and around present day Majestic), the forward-looking Dewan of Mysore, Sheshadri Iyer, initiated the creation of Malleswaram and Basavanagudi. His vision was to create new and clean suburbs to accommodate the city’s burgeoning population. A view of Margosa Road. Pic: Author.I remember going to Malleswaram as a kid tagging along with my mother for shopping sprees. A lot of memories come flooding back - the Malleswaram Circle Jataka (Tonga/horse cart)…