Discover the Highest Ancient Palace in the World - Potala Palace

Potala Palace

Tibet is the roof of the world, and one of the most beautiful places in the world for dramatic and scenic photography. In Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet, is a structure that towers above the valley below, and is framed by the massive Himalayan mountains. Having stood for centuries, and been a major religious center of Tibetan Buddhism, Potala Palace has been named by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

History of the Palace

The palace is built on the site of a 7th century meditation retreat that was erected by the Tibetan Emperor, Songtsen Gampo. In 1645, the fifth Dalai Lama built the current palace as the seat of Tibetan government, which it remained until Norbulingka was constructed in 1755. After that, the white palace became the winter palace for the Dalai Lamas.

Inside this amazing structure are artifacts and relics from Tibetan culture, history, and religion, including centuries-old statues of Buddha, ancient murals, and priceless antiques. These amazing works of art can be found throughout the entire palace, and many of the murals tell the stories of the various Dalai Lamas throughout history. And there is a whole wall fresco that depicts the life and works of the fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso.

The palace is open to the public, and locals and tourists alike can walk its paved streets and explore one of Tibet's richest historical landmarks. The palace actually consists of two separate palaces, the Red Palace and the White Palace, and outside the palace doors are chapels, schools, galleries and a single tomb!

Two Palaces

The Red Palace holds most of the history of the site, and is situated in the center of the grounds. The Great West Hall, which is the main hall for the palace, is full of murals, books, scrolls, and texts that recorded the lives of many of the Dalai Lamas. Additionally, the Saint's Chapel is the palace's holiest shrine, and it is believed that the cave where Songtsen Gampo first studied Buddhism lies beneath the floor.

The White Palace occupies the part of the grounds to the east and west of the Red Palace, and was built as an expansion of the original palace. The White Palace was the original residence of the Dalai Lamas, and holds the tombs of eight of them. And when viewed from the scenic balcony, it is easy to see why the location was originally chosen.

If you want to visit Lhasa, and take in the beautiful Potala Palace, it is best to go from late spring to the end of summer (May to September), when the weather is most favorable, thou it can get busy during the summer months. However, its busiest time is during the Tibetan New Year, known as Losar, in February or March, and foreign tourists are not permitted in Tibet during Losar.

Getting there...

If you are traveling to Tibet, you can go by plane or train from China, and by plane from Kathmandu. Lhasa Gonggar Airport is the main airport in Tibet, and is a short drive from Lhasa. Several airlines run flights to Lhasa from major cities in China. The railway journey is only available from China, and there are trains that leave daily from several major cities. And the railway station at Lhasa is just a 10 minute ride into the city.

Took photos at Lhasa Gonggar Airport.

Do's

Do... Remember to tour the palace in a clockwise direction.
Do... Book your entry ticket at least one day in advance.
Do... Take your time walking up the steps, as the altitude makes it harder going.
Do... Enjoy the marvels of the Potala Palce.

And Don'ts

Don't... Forget your travel permit, you may be asked to produce it to get in.
Don't... Take photos inside the palace without permission from the monks.
Don't... Take photos of locals, even in the background, without their permission.

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