Malla Nepal

The Malla dynasty ruled Nepal Mandala, the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding hills, from 1201 to 1769. Its founder Arimalla first took the Sanskrit title Malla, meaning wrestler. The kings made Nepal Bhasa their court language and grew rich on the India-Tibet trade; in 1260 they sent artisans to Tibet, including Araniko, who built the white stupa at Miaoying Temple for Kublai Khan's Yuan court.

In 1337 Jayari Malla ruled a valley shared by competing towns. Jayasthiti Malla reunited it between 1382 and 1395 and issued a law code organising society around caste; under Yaksha Malla, united Malla power reached its height.

After his death the valley split into Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan, whose kings competed in building temples and palaces. Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha took the valley in 1768 and 1769 after the Battle of Kirtipur, ending Malla rule.