History_Ancient_Medieval_Nepal

Bhairab, and of Vishwaroop at Layaku Bahi. Inside the palace he
also erected Sundari Chowk and Mohan Chowk. A pond was dug
at Bhandarkhal and filled it with water brought from Budhaneelakantha
and in the pond installed an image of Narayan
lying on water, an exact replica of the Narayan of Budhaneelakantha.
Pratap Malla was vastly learned and a poet. Many poems
and verses he had composed are still found. He
could compose poems even in Sanskrit. Besides
Sanskrit, he was well versed in Nepal Bhasa, Nepali, Bengali
and Hindi. He also knew Arabic, Roman and English scripts.
The inscription at Mohan Chowk which has fifteen different
scripts bears testimony to this fact. Because of his excellent
poems he conferred on himself the title of 'Kabeendra' (a king
of the poets). Himself learned, Pratap Malla had a galaxy of
learned men in his palace as the Mughal Emperor Akbar had.
Like Akbar he also respected and patronised the learned men
of his time.
Lambakarna Bhatta, who hailed from Maharastra, Nri
Simha Thakur who hailed from Bihar and Jamana Gurubhaju
of Kantipur were some of the jewels in the galaxy of learned
men in the palace of Pratap Malla. He was also very fond of
music. Himself being a musician, musicians were welcomed and
respected in his palace.
Pratap Malla had five sons-Bhupendra Malla, Chakrabartendra,
Nripendra, Mahipatendra and Parthibendra. He wanted
his sons to have experience in the administration of the coun
try even in his life time. With this aim in view He made them
rule over the country for one year in turn. But unfortunately
his second son Chakrabartendra Malla died the next day he took
over the administration of the country. Both the king and queen
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