The Malla Dynasty was the ruling dynasty of Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, from the 12th to the 18th century. At that time only the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding region was known as Nepal or Nepal Mandala. In the late 15th century, the Kathmandu Valley was divided into three kingdoms of Bhaktapur (Bhadgaon), Kathmandu (Kantipur) and Patan (Lalitpur). The Malla dynasty came to an end in 1769 when Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha invaded the valley, thus inaugurating the Shah dynasty of Nepal.
The three main cities in the Kathmandu Valley are:
Close-up of the statue of the Parthivendra Malla family in KathmanduDurbar Square. (618k) Statue of King Bhupatindra Malla, worshiping the Goddess Taleju on a column in front of the Lu Dhowka (Golden Gate) in BhaktapurDurbar Square. (594k) Close-up of the statue of King Yoga Narendra Malla, in Namaste, worshiping the Goddess Taleju in front of the Royal Palace in PatanDurbar Square. (645k)