Bhaktapur, known locally as Khwopa and historically called Bhatgaon, is a city in the east corner of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal located about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) from the capital city, Kathmandu. Bhaktapur is the smallest city of Nepal as well the most densely populated. Along with Kathmandu and Lalitpur, Bhaktapur is one of the three main cities of the Kathmandu Valley and is a major Newar settlement of the country. The city is also known for its Newar tradition, cuisine and artisans. Bhaktapur suffered heavy damage in the April 2015 earthquake.
The Malla dynasty was the ruling dynasty of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal from 1201 to 1779. This dynasty was founded by Arideva Malla. Though latter Mallas were regarded as belonging to Raghuvanshi dynasty, they were also seen as continuation and descendants of the Licchavi dynasty. Later Malla kings also traced one section of their lineage from Nanyadeva, the founder of the Karnat dynasty of Mithila. The term malla means wrestler in Sanskrit. The first use of the word malla in the Kathmandu Valley begins from 1201. The Malla period was a golden one that stretched over 600 years, as they presided over and flourished the Newar civilization of Nepal Mandala which developed as one of the most sophisticated urban civilisation in the Himalayan foothills and a key destination in the India-Tibet trade route.
Jaya Prakash Malla was the last king of Kantipur which corresponds to present-day Kathmandu. He ruled from 1736 to 1746 after succeeding his father Jagajjaya Malla, and then from 1750 until his death in 1769.
Bhupatindra Malla was a Malla Dynasty King of the Kingdom of Bhaktapur who reigned from 1696 until his death in 1722. He is the most widely known king of Bhaktapur and is among the most popular of the Malla dynasty. He is popularly known in Bhaktapur as nepaḥ juju, meaning the king of the Newars. His reign was characterized by the construction of numerous palaces and temples with the Nyatapola temple being his most revered contribution. An integral part of the local folklore, Bhupatindra Malla is regarded as a great builder and a lover of arts whose reign is considered the cultural high point of Bhaktapur.
Raya Malla was a Malla Dynasty king and the first King of Bhadgaon after the division of Kathmandu Valley into Kantipur, Patan, and Bhadgaon. He reigned from 1482 until his death in 1505. He was the son of Jayayakshya Malla. His younger brother, Ratna Malla, ruled over Kantipur.
Ranajita Malla was the last king of the Malla dynasty who ruled Bhaktapur from 1722 to 1769. After his defeat by the Gorkhali forces of Prithivi Narayan Shah in 1769, he left for Varanasi. He is widely known for his contributions to Nepal Bhasa literature, in particular his plays are generally praised by modern scholars. He has been generally described as a peace loving, simple and religiously devoted monarch who allowed his citizens to advice and criticize him. However, his reign was characterized by constant disputes with Kantipur and Gorkha. He is also known for the crisis of succession during his reign when he favored his concubine's issue over his queen consort's, who more generally liked which caused a lot of mutiny in the kingdom especially in cities in like Thimi and Banepa.
The Battle of Kathmandu or Siege of Kathmandu or Siege of Kantipur is a battle which occurred during the Unification of Nepal. It was fought in Kathmandu in 1768, and resulted in the defeat of its king Jaya Prakash Malla by conquerors Prithvi Narayan Shah, king of the adjoining Gorkha Kingdom.
The Battle of Bhaktapur was the final campaign in the Gorkha conquest of Nepal. It took place in Bhaktapur in 1769, and resulted in the victory of the Gorkhali king Prithvi Narayan Shah, giving him control of the entire Kathmandu Valley and adjoining areas.
The Battle of Lalitpur in 1768 ended with the Gorkha conquest of Lalitpur, one of the three kingdoms in Nepal centered in the Kathmandu Valley, and the loss of the rule of the native Newars.
The Kingdom of Lalitpur, also known as Patan, was a kingdom ruled by the Malla dynasty of Nepal. It was established in 1482 after King Yaksha Malla's death. His sons divided the kingdom into four parts: Bhaktapur, Kantipur, Lalitpur, and Banepa.
In the 11th century, a powerful empire of Khas people emerged in western Nepal whose territory at its highest peak included much of western Nepal as well as parts of western Tibet and Uttarakhand of India. By the 14th century, the empire had splintered into loosely associated Baise rajyas, literally 22 states as they were counted. The rich culture and language of the Khas people spread throughout Nepal and as far as Indo-China in the intervening centuries; their language, later renamed the Nepali language, became the lingua franca of Nepal as well as much of North-east India. In south-eastern Nepal, Simraungarh annexed Mithila around 1100 AD, and the unified Tirhut stood as a powerful kingdom for more than 200 years, even ruling over Kathmandu for a time. After another 300 years of Muslim rule, Tirhut came under the control of the Sens of Makawanpur. In the eastern hills, a confederation of Kirat principalities ruled the area between Kathmandu and Bengal.
The Kingdom of Bhaktapur, also known as Bhadgaon, was a kingdom ruled by the Malla dynasty of Nepal from 15th century until its annexation in the 18th century. It was established in 1482 after King Yaksha Malla died and his sons divided the valley into four kingdoms: Bhaktapur, Kantipur, Patan, and Banepa. Banepa, however, was soon annexed by or submitted itself to Bhaktapur.
Bhaskara Malla was a Malla ruler and the twelfth king of Kantipur. He succeeded his father Bhupalendra Malla in 1700 as the King of Kantipur and also ruled Patan under the name Mahindrasimha Malla from 1717 until his death in 1722.
Srinivasa Malla was a Malla dynasty king and the King of Patan. He was the son of Siddhi Narasimha Malla and reigned on Patan from 1661 until his abdication in 1685.
Indra Malla was a Malla dynasty king and the King of Patan. He succeeded Loka Prakash Malla and reigned from 1706 until his death in 1709.
Vira Mahindra Malla, also known as Mahendra Malla, was a Malla dynasty king and the King of Patan. He succeeded Vira Narasimha Malla and reigned from 1709 to 1715.
Riddhi Narasimha Malla, also spelled Hridinarasimha, was a Malla dynasty king and the King of Patan. He succeeded Vira Mahindra Malla and reigned from 1715 until his death in 1717.
Vishnu Malla was a Malla dynasty king and the King of Patan. He succeeded Yoga Prakash Malla and reigned from 1729 until his death in 1745.
Briddhi Lakshmi was the queen consort of the Kingdom of Bhaktapur, the first wife of Ranajit Malla and a well renowned Newar language poet. For a brief period, she was also the monarch of an independent Thimi and Banepa. She is today mostly remembered for the songs and poems she composed, some of which are still sung today by traditional Dapha groups in Thimi.
