When the Licchavi line faded, Suryavamsi Thakuri houses ruled the valley — known chiefly from the Gopalarajavamshavali, and overlapping so much with the Licchavis that historians warn "the distinction is not always clear." Out of the dynasty came one of Nepal's most consequential kings: Gunakama Deva (गुणकामदेव, r. 949–994), who founded Kantipur (कान्तिपुर) — the city that became Kathmandu — built the Kasthamandap (काष्ठमण्डप), the wooden pavilion that gave the capital its name, and instituted the great Indra Jatra festival.लिच्छवि वंश लोप्यो, ठकुरीहरूले लिए। सबैभन्दा ठूलो उपलब्धि गुणकामदेवको: उनले कान्तिपुर शहर बसाले, काष्ठमण्डप बनाए र इन्द्रजात्रा सुरु गरे।
The Khas Mallas of Jumlaजुम्लाका खस मल्लहरू
While the valley churned, the far west built an empire. From their capital at Sinja (सिन्जा, Jumla), the Khas Malla kings ruled a realm that stretched from the Gandaki to Guge, Garhwal and the Terai. Ashok Challa (अशोकचल्ल, 13th c.) was the apogee — his Dullu pillar records the dynasty's claims. Crucially, the Khas language of the Sinja court is the direct ancestor of modern Nepali (खस भाषा → नेपाली). Jitari Malla invaded the Kathmandu Valley three times; Ripu Malla, in 1312, left his own pilgrim inscriptions beside Ashoka's at Lumbini.पश्चिममा जुम्लाको सिन्जाबाट खस मल्लहरूले गण्डकीदेखि गढवालसम्म साम्राज्य चलाए। सबैभन्दा महत्वपूर्ण: त्यहाँको दरबारी भाषा — खस भाषा — आजको नेपाली भाषाकै पुर्खा हो।
The Karnatas of Simroungarhसिम्रौनगढका कर्णाटहरू
In the southern plains, Nanyadeva (नन्यदेव) was enthroned on 10 July 1097 at Simraungadh (सिम्रौनगढ, Bara district) as Mithileshwara. His Karnat dynasty ruled Mithila until 1324, when Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq sacked the city. The refugee king Harisingh Dev fled north — and his son Jagatsingh married Nayak Devi, heir of Bhaktapur. Through that marriage, Maithili language and culture entered the Kathmandu Valley, where the Malla kings would later write their court dramas in it.दक्षिण तराईमा नन्यदेव १० जुलाई १०९७ मा सिम्रौनगढमा गद्दीमा बसे। त्यो वंश १३२४ मा टुग्लकले सक्यो; तर त्यहाँबाट भागेका हरिसिंहका छोराको भक्तपुरका उत्तराधिकारीसँग विवाह भयो — र मैथिली संस्कृति उपत्यकामा पस्यो।
"The Thakuri centuries look like confusion in the chronicles. Look closer and they are a crucible: three languages, three kingdoms and one trade network being forged into what would later be called Nepal.
ठकुरी काल अस्तव्यस्त देखिन्छ — तर त्यहीं तीन भाषा, तीन राज्य र एक व्यापार-नेटवर्क एक 'नेपाल' बन्दै थियो।