Malleswaram, Bengaluru: Transforming into an upscale locality

Earlier known as one of the oldest localities in Bengaluru — India’s very own Silicon Valley — Malleswaram has witnessed rapid real estate development, while simultaneously keeping the city’s traditional values intact. Located in the northern part of Bengaluru, Malleswaram is famous for its shopping areas and temples. 

Abutted by Armane Nagar and Benson Town, this micro-market has emerged as an upscale area for residential buyers as well as commercial occupiers. The area has both middle-class and working-class residents. However, the eastern part focuses on working class while the western part caters more to luxury home seekers.

Extending from Link Road in the east to the railway station in the west, Malleswaram is flanked by CV Raman Road in the north and Mahakavi Kuvempu Road in the south. NH4 (Tumkur Road) provides good connectivity to various parts of the city. Public transport is easily available in the area. 

The Malleswaram property scenario has undergone a complete transformation from being viewed as a very laid-back area to having highly developed infrastructure, and from old bungalows to a tall skyline. It has also evolved into a well-developed business district providing a variety of commercial spaces and good retail space options. As a result, the Malleswaram real estate market is witnessing a massive face-lift when compared to other old localities of Bengaluru.

A major factor responsible for the social and physical infrastructure development of this locality is the contribution of the IT industry and interest from globe-trotting businessmen looking for both homes and office spaces. This has accelerated the demand for quality properties that command good value and offer the latest amenities.

Improved roads provide good connectivity to educational institutes such as Kendriya Vidyalaya, Cluny Convent School, Rajiv Gandhi Law College and MES College for Arts, Commerce & Science. Some of the prominent hotels in this area include Villa Pottipati and Sheraton Bangalore, while Mantri Square and Orion Mall cater to shoppers of domestic and international retail brands. Hospitals include Cloudnine, Columbia Asia and K G General hospital.

Developers like Brigade Group, Embassy Group and Salarpuria Sattva are active with high-end apartment projects which offer a good mix of options to the middle-class and high-end home buyers. Property prices in Malleswaram range between Rs 8,500-14,000 per sq. ft, with the specific price of a project being a function of its exact location, completion status and amenities provided by the developer.

Even with the fast pace of economic development, the city still queues up for property options in locations which retain some of the flavour of old Bangalore. Considering the close proximity to the international airport with the completion of NH4 Expressway and the Metro link, this area is a major attraction for both developers and homebuyers alike.

The writer is managing director-Bengaluru and Kochi, JLL India