Medieval Nepal: The Thakuris, the Mallas and the Western Principalities

After the Lichchhavis, Nepal's history splits into two stories that run side by side: the rich city-states of the Kathmandu valley under the Mallas, and the many small kingdoms of the western and central hills. This chapter covers both, because exam questions often move between them.

Rulers' reign years vary between sources and are given as "around" when they are approximate. Treat the order of rulers as the key fact and confirm exact years in your textbook.

The Thakuri period

As Lichchhavi power faded, rulers known as Thakuris took over in the valley. Raghavadeva is traditionally linked with the start of the Nepal Sambat around 879 AD. The Thakuri period is often described as a time when central power was weak and local lords were strong, before the Mallas rose.

The early Mallas

The word Malla became the royal title of a long line of kings. Arideva (also called Ari Malla) is traditionally named as the first Malla king, around the beginning of the 13th century. During these early centuries the valley faced raids from outside. A well-known one was the raid of the Sultan of Bengal, Shams-ud-din Ilyas, in the middle of the 14th century, which damaged temples and the city.

Jayasthiti Malla: the great reformer

Jayasthiti Malla (reigning in the later 14th century) restored order and united much of the valley. He is remembered above all for social and legal reform. He is traditionally credited with organising society into groups according to occupation and with setting out rules and codes for social life, and with fixing systems of measurement and land administration. Many exam questions refer to him as the person who gave the valley a structured society and laws.

Yaksha Malla and the division of the valley

Jayasthiti's grandson Yaksha Malla (15th century) was a strong ruler who extended his power widely. After his death, around 1482, the kingdom was divided among his sons and the valley eventually settled into three kingdoms:

• Kantipur (Kathmandu)
• Lalitpur (Patan)
• Bhaktapur (Bhadgaon)

The three Malla kingdoms rivalled one another for the next three centuries. They fought, formed alliances and competed in a different way too: by building. That is why the squares of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur are full of palaces and temples from this age.

Famous Malla kings

• Pratap Malla (Kathmandu, 17th century). A scholar, poet and builder who knew several languages. He added many monuments to Kathmandu's Durbar Square, including the famous inscription in many languages on a wall, and the tank at Rani Pokhari is also linked to him.
• Siddhi Narasimha Malla (Patan, 17th century). A devout ruler, known for the Krishna Mandir in Patan.
• Bhupatindra Malla (Bhaktapur, around the turn of the 18th century). Builder of the five-storeyed Nyatapola temple and many other works.
• Jayaprakash Malla (Kathmandu). The last Malla king of Kathmandu, defeated during the unification in 1768.

The last rulers of Patan and Bhaktapur, Tej Narasimha Malla and Ranajit Malla, also lost their kingdoms to Prithvi Narayan Shah in the late 1760s.

Society, culture and festivals

Malla culture is the heart of the valley's Newar heritage. Many of the festivals still celebrated in the valley, such as Indra Jatra, Kumari Jatra and Bisket Jatra, took their present shape or grew in importance during this time. Art, wood carving, metalwork, music and drama flourished. The Kumari tradition is associated with the later Malla period, especially with Jayaprakash Malla. Trade with Tibet continued to bring wealth.

The western hills: Khas Malla and the principalities

While the Mallas ruled the valley, a different power rose in the far west. The Khas Malla kingdom (also called the Karnali-based or Sinja kingdom) developed around the Karnali region, with its capital traditionally at Sinja in the Jumla area. It grew powerful for a time but later broke up into smaller states.

From the break-up of such larger powers came two famous groups of small kingdoms in the hills:

• The Baise Rajya — the "Twenty-two principalities" in the western hills.
• The Chaubise Rajya — the "Twenty-four principalities" around the Gandaki region and beyond.

The kingdom of Gorkha, which would later unify Nepal, was one of the small Chaubise states. It was traditionally founded by Dravya Shah in the 16th century, and its kings slowly strengthened it. We follow it in the unification chapter.

Exam focus

• First Malla king (traditionally): Arideva.
• Great social reformer: Jayasthiti Malla.
• King during whose time the valley divided into three kingdoms: Yaksha Malla's successors (around 1482).
• Three Malla kingdoms: Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur.
• Builder of Nyatapola: Bhupatindra Malla (Bhaktapur).
• Last Malla king of Kathmandu: Jayaprakash Malla.
• The principalities: Baise (22) and Chaubise (24); Gorkha was among the Chaubise.
• Founder of the Gorkha line: Dravya Shah.

Previous: the Lichchhavi period. Next: the unification of Nepal.