Every Bangalorean is familiar with the Malleshwaram area in the northern part of Bangalore. Though many have lived here and often gone shopping or eating in this area, little do they know how the area got its name. If the family has an older generation telling tales to the younger ones, am sure they would have told about this too.

Malleshwaram gets its name from the famous temple of Kadu Malleshwara (Kadu means forestand Kadu Malleshwara meaning the lord of the forest, Malleshwara), which is located here in Malleshwaram. This temple is one of the many old temples that Bangalore has to its credit. It is the home of the Lord Malleshwara (Synonymous to Lord Shiva) and was built in the Dravidian style some 200 odd years ago. As glorious as it was then, even today, this temple is stands strong attracting several thousands of tourists every year. In the front side of the temple is the famous Nandi Teertha Temple. This temple was recently excavated and it is believed that the central pond that exists today was found as is, intact, during the excavation. It is also believed that the Vrishabhavati River (a small river in the past, now mostly a canal with industrial waste dumps) has its origin here.

I will not be wrong if I say this area of Bangalore in itself is a temple tour. We already saw two temples and I will not be doing justice if I forget to mention the Lakshmi Narasimha Temple just a few yards away. It is another serene complex with the temple of the Lord Narasimha and his better-half Sri Lakshmi Devi. It is another reflection of the Dravidian architecture. In spite of the noise from the overflowing traffic in the vicinity, this temple street consisting of the aforementioned temples is bliss amidst commotion.