Potala Palace - Masterpiece of Tibetan Architecture

The history of Potala Palace can be traced back to its original erection by Srongtsen Gampo around 1,300 years ago. The Fifth Dalai Lama reconstructed, and the later successors expanded it to present scale.

Srongtsen Gampo built

In the early seven century, the emperor of Tubo Kingdom set Lhasa as capital city and married Princess Wencheng of Empire Tang. He ordered to build a palace on the Red Hill as gift for Wencheng, also the residential palace for him and Wencheng. The erection completed in 631. It is said that total of 999 rooms and one meditation cave were built.

After the extinction of Tubo in 842, the Potala Palace suffered great damage from constant wars and natural disasters. Only a small hall Phakpa Lhakhang and the meditation cave Chogyel Drupuk survive.

The Fifth Dalai Lama reconstructed

In the year 1645, the Fifth Dalai Lama – Lozang Gyatse launched the reconstruction of Potala Palace which remains as the present structure. 3 years were spent to finish the external structure, while the interior, including the decoration, took 45 years to complete. In 1649, Lozang Gyatso moved government from Drepung Monastery into the Potrang Karpo which is more famous as the White Palace. The expansion carried on. The famous Red Palace, or the Potrang Marpo was built between 1690 to 1694. The later successors after the Fifth Dalai Lama also set Potala Palace as winter palace, expanded its scale and renovated.

Today’s Potala

Today, the Potala Palace still keeps its holiness as a Buddhist sacred site. Many precious historical relics are collected in the Palace and opened for publics. Each day, the devoted pilgrims attend the Kora around the site. Tourists come to admire the beauty of Potala Place from all over the world.

The White Palace, or Potrang Karpo is famous for its white outlook. It was built by the Fifth Dalai Lama, and used to be the residence also office of the Fifth and later successors. The Thirteenth Dalai Lama extended the White Palace to today’s size in the early 20th century. There are living quarters, offices, meditation house, reception room, etc. The White Palace has 7 storeys. The top one is the personal living hall of Dalai Lamas. The fifth and sixth are used for working and other daily affairs. The forth storey has one of the most important halls of Potala Palace - Coqen Hall where houses the throne of Dalai Lamas. Many important ceremonies were held here.

Red Palace

The Red Palace is also known as the Potrang Marpo. Larger and taller than the White Palace, the Red Palace is featured in red painted walls, and arranged by the structure of Mandala. It consists of various halls and chapels, and connects the White Palace from east.

There are 8 golden stupas inside the Red Palace which contain the mummified bodies of deceased Dalai Lamas. Among all the stupas, the central one is the most important the stupa for the constructer of Potala Palace – the Fifth Dalai Lama. About 15 meters high, the Stupa of Fifth Dalai Lama is built of sandalwood, and resplendently coated in 3,727 kg solid gold and studded with 18,680 pearls and semi-precious jewels. Three stupas of other Dalai Lamas were built around, including the Twelfth Dalai Lama, the Tenth Dalai Lama, 13th Dalai Lama.

Phakpa Lhakhang Hall and the meditation cave Chogyel Drupuk are the oldest architectures in the Red Palace which were built the reign of Srongtsen Gampo (7th century).

Arts and Relics Inside Palace

It is no exaggeration to say the Potala Palace is a palace of treasures. The long history, important role of political and religious center for centuries helped the palace to collect numerous precious articles and artifacts around the Tibet.

Buddhist sculptures, wall paintings, Tangka and other relics of Buddhism are the most featured. They were built or made centuries ago, and decorated with gold and jewels. The Potala Palace also keeps thousands of rare original Buddhist scriptures.

Where is the Potala Palace located?

Most region of Lhasa city lies on the northern side of Lhasa River. The Potala Palace is conveniently located in the central city – Beijing Mid Road of Chengguan District. The site, including the huge square in front and a large park near to back, covers a large area for locals and tourists to walk around. Tourists usually accommodate at nearby regions where one can easily walk to see the Potala Palace.

Surrounding sites

Potala Palace sits on the region which used to be the old Lhasa city. Many famous tourist sites are within walking distance from Potala Palace, such as the Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Small Jokhang Temple, etc. Travelers usually explore the Potala Palace in the morning, then go to visit Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street in the rest afternoon.

Classic visiting route is a one-way visiting from the front entrance to the exit gate on the back of Palace. Travelers usually enter the gate, and pass through ticket office, then start to climb several zigzag steps to the gate of the White Palace. Visit the living quarter and office area of Dalai Lamas in the White Palace. Then you will explore inner chapels of the Red Palace from the top storeys to the lower. Last, you will exist the Red Palace from the back door. Go down some steps, you will get to the exist gate of Potala Palace.

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There are four top recommended locations for you to take the best photos of Potala Palace.

• First is the large square in front from which you can take the full-face photos of Potala Palace.
• The second location is on the Chakpori (southwest of the palace, west of the square) which has a tall stage for you to frame the best scene. In the early morning, many shutterbugs will wait on the Chakpori to shot the amazing sunrise.
• The third location is on the roof of the Jokhang Tmple from which one can see the Potala Palace rising among other buildings.
• Zongjiao Lukang Park is also a good place to shot the great scenery of Potala Palace, because here you can enjoy the beautiful reflection of Potala Palace in the lake water.