Potala Palace

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The first palace was originally built in the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo after he moved the capital from Yarlung to Lhasa. It is built on the red hill that is believed to be the Adobe of Avalokitesvara.

It was only in the 17th century that the fifth Dalai Lama established a new government and constructed the Potala Palace in its present form. The Palace is divided into red and white sections. The white section around the entrance on the east side was used for the administrative affair. The red palace on the west side was used mainly for religious purpose and consist of Chapels, meditation rooms, Audience halls, offices, and living quarter of Dalai Lama and Tutors.

Within the red palace, there is also the original cave where the Dharma king Songtsen Gampo used to meditate. There is also a holy statue of Lokesvara made of sandalwood. Legend has it the king himself brought the statue to the palace through his miraculous power.

Apart from these, there are many funeral stupas of successive Dalai Lamas. But Among them, the most amazing one is the funeral stupa of the great fifth Dalai Lama. Because of its size and religious importance, it is called “The sole ornament of the world.

There are also Mandalas of Kalachakra and other meditation deities as well as biographical wall painting of great fifth Dalai Lama and Desi Sanggye Gyatso, his regent.

For Tibetans, the Potala Palace is an important pilgrimage site and for outsiders, it is a great place to see Tibetan culture, art, religion and architecture.

Travellers Guide to the Potala Palace

Your travel agent has to make a prebooking for your entrance permission. Additional to that, travellers can only book it once in a month. So if you miss the palace on the designated date, it is most likely you will miss it. So place with the following point on your mind.

Always keep the palace on your third day in Lhasa, before going westward.
You will have to walk all the way to the top of the palace. It is equivalent to 13th storey high building. With additional to the high elevation of Lhasa, it is a little challenging for many. So be prepared for it.
Once in the palace, they will not allow any drinks from outside, so you will have to buy it inside.
There is a limited number of hours you can spend in the Palace.