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🏰 When Three Kings Ruled the Size of Brooklyn
The Surprisingly Modern Rivalry of Kathmandu’s Ancient Kingdoms
Imagine this:
Three royal families.
Each lives just a few kilometers from the other.
Each claims to be more divine, more cultured, and more powerful.
They build stunning palaces, throw massive festivals, and show off their wealth in temples that still stand centuries later.
No, this isn’t a medieval soap opera. This is Kathmandu Valley in the 15th century—and it’s eerily like a rivalry between high-end gated communities.
🏘️ A Tale of Three Tiny Kingdoms
Back in the 1400s, the Kathmandu Valley was split into three kingdoms:
• Kathmandu (Kantipur)
• Patan (Lalitpur)
• Bhaktapur (Bhadgaon)
Each ruled by a Malla king, each sitting just 5 to 12 kilometers apart—like Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan, all trying to one-up each other.
How big were they?
• The entire Kathmandu Valley is about 220 square miles, roughly the size of Brooklyn.
• Each kingdom occupied areas as small as 5 to 15 square miles—smaller than Central Park in New York.
• And yet, they operated like full-blown mini empires.
💰 How Rich Were They?
For their size, shockingly rich.
• The valley sat on key Himalayan trade routes, collecting taxes from merchants between India and Tibet.
• Local artisans were renowned for metalwork, thangka painting, and wood carving.
• Kings reinvested in temples and festivals as both spiritual acts and power statements.
🔱 Why the Rivalry?
It all started when King Yaksha Malla divided his kingdom among his sons in 1482. What followed was a centuries-long sibling rivalry—in stone and spirit.
Each kingdom tried to outshine the others by:
• Building bigger temples
• Hosting more elaborate festivals
• Patronizing more artists and monks
⚔️ So... What Went Wrong?
They were too busy competing to unite.
In the 1760s, King Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha saw the opportunity. By 1769, he had conquered all three cities—unifying Nepal.
🪷 What They Left Behind
Despite their fall, the legacy lives on:
• Kathmandu Durbar Square: Royal palace, Kumari Ghar
• Patan: Golden temples and artisan alleys
• Bhaktapur: Timeless wooden windows and five-tier pagodas
💬 Q&A: Secrets of the Three Kingdoms
Q: Were the three kingdoms really that close together?
A: Absolutely! You could walk between them in under two hours.
Q: Why didn’t they just unite?
A: Ego, politics, and sibling rivalry. Each king wanted to be the top ruler.
Q: How many people lived in each kingdom?
A: Historical estimates suggest 20,000–50,000 residents per kingdom.
Q: How did they afford all the luxury?
A: Trade with India and Tibet + artisan economy = big money.
Q: What’s different about them today?
A: Kathmandu is the capital, Patan is artsy and relaxed, and Bhaktapur is a living museum.
Q: Can we still visit what they built?
A: Yes! Their palaces and temples are UNESCO sites and open to all.
💡 Final Thought:
If you ever walk through the Kathmandu Valley, just remember:
You’re not just walking through a city. You’re walking through three ancient egos, frozen in time—and beauty.
