Singapura Varadaraja Swamy Temple and Inscriptions

Singapura, a historic locality in north-west Bengaluru, is known for its Varadaraja Swamy Temple, once called the Tiruvengalanatha Temple and over 500 years old. Despite many alterations, the sanctum, sukhanasi and walls keep their original style, and a figure near the sukhanasi resembling Singappanayaka suggests a role in its building. The temple's most striking feature is a 40-foot monolithic deepastambha with intricate carvings and Sri Vaishnavite symbols.

Three inscriptions show Singapura as a thriving Sri Vaishnavite centre under the Vijayanagara rulers. The earliest, of 1528, names the temple hill Tirumala, making this the earliest known Chikka-Tirupati around Bengaluru, and it mentions wetlands that suggest Singapura lake is at least 500 years old. The stone had been moved to a family farm in the 1970s after road works dislodged it. Every three years the village still holds a festival, or Jathre, bringing together deities from Singapura and neighbouring villages.