| Pratap Malla the Greatest | |||||
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 King Pratap Malla at prayer, watercolors on multi-layered paper, 17th century | |||||
| King of Kantipur | |||||
| Reign | 1641–1674 | ||||
| Predecessor | Lakshmi Narasimha Malla | ||||
| Successor | Nripendra Malla | ||||
| Born | 1624 | ||||
| Died | 1674 | ||||
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| Dynasty | Malla | ||||
| Father | Lakshmi Narasimha Malla | ||||
| Religion | Hindu | ||||
Pratap Malla (1624–1674 A.D.) was a Malla king and the eighth King of Kantipur from 1641 until his death in 1674. He attempted to unify Kathmandu Valley by conquering Lalitpur and Bhaktapur, but failed in the effort. He was successful in extending and securing the borders of Kantipur and was responsible for the monopoly over trade with Tibet. The resulting prosperity led to the construction of the majority of the buildings around Durbar Square during his reign. His reign is seen as a cultural and economic high point of the Malla dynasty.
A statue of Pratap Malla is found standing on a column facing the palace in the square. His image can also be seen in the niche above the Hanuman Dhoka Palace gate. The niche above the gate is Krishna in his ferocious tantric aspect, flanked by more gentle, amorous Krishna surrounded by gopinis, and by King Pratap Malla playing a lute, and his queen.