Nepal Mandala

Kirtipur with the Himalaya in the background.
View of Kathmandu Valley.
Map from 1886 showing Nepal Mandala between Gorkha in the west, Khatang in the east and Muckwanee in the south.
Silver coin issued by the kingdoms of Nepal Mandala, circulated in Tibet till the 18th century.

Nepal Mandala (Nepali: नेपाल मण्डल) is the ancient geographic division of Nepal into different regions. It was characterized by three major divisions: “Purwanchal” (Eastern Region), “Madhyamanchal” (Central Region), and “Pashchimanchal” (Western Region). These divisions were further subdivided into smaller areas known as “Mandals.” The concept of Nepal Mandal has historical significance, reflecting the administrative and cultural organization of the region in earlier times. It is marked by cultural, religious and political boundaries that lies in present-day central Nepal.[1] It consists of the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding areas.[2][3] The rule of the indigenous Newars in Nepal Mandala ended with its conquest by the Gorkha Kingdom and the rise of the Shah dynasty in 1768.[4]

According to the Outline History of Nepal, Nepal consisted of three kingdoms during the early medieval period: Khas in the west, Karnatak in the south and Nepal Mandala in the center.[5]

Bhaktapur was the capital of Nepal Mandala until the 15th century when three capitals, including Kathmandu and Lalitpur, were established.[6]

  1. ^ Prajapati, Subhash Ram (2006). "Nepal Mandal". In Prajapati, Subhash Ram (ed.). The Masked Dances of Nepal Mandal. Thimi: Madhyapur Art Council. ISBN 99946-707-0-0. Pages 9-11.
  2. ^ Dhungel, Ramesh K. (January 2007). "Anguished Cry of a Defeated Ruler: A Raga Song Composed by Ranajit Malla". Contributions to Nepalese Studies. Retrieved 22 February 2013. Pages 95-102.
  3. ^ Slusser, Mary (1982). Nepal Mandala: A Cultural Study of the Kathmandu Valley. Princeton University. ISBN 978-0-691-03128-6. Page vii.
  4. ^ Waller, Derek J. (2004). The Pundits: British Exploration Of Tibet And Central Asia. University Press of Kentucky. p. 171. ISBN 9780813191003.
  5. ^ "Outline History of Nepal" (PDF). Higher Secondary Education Board. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2012. Page 2.
  6. ^ Michael, Thomas and Cuhaj, George (2009). Standard Catalog of World Gold Coins. Krause Publications. ISBN 9781440204241. Page 1062.