Malleswaram - Shopper's Paradise?

At the last team outing, I had asked a couple of my local Bangalore colleagues where they did their clothes shopping and two of them swore by Malleswaram. On Saturday, my mother and I snuck out to check out this place in North which is a good hour's drive away. When we arrived, I did not expect it to be so crowded. Crowded is an understatement, since it was the day before Ganesh Puja, they were selling puja items along the center of 8th Cross Road and everyone was clamouring to buy all their puja items. A few hours later by 5 pm, the crowds had doubled and my mother and I had to literally push our way out to get to the main street. I must admit, it was very exciting to shop there and I would go back in a heartbeat and am planning to take future visitors if they can brave the crowds. My mother vowed to never go back :-) They have a large selection of stores within a short distance. My mother and I bought a sari for my SIL, some clothes for my nieces/nephews and the Ganesh puja items all in one place and if we had more time, the possibilities were endless.