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Potala Palace, Lhasa
186 ASIA

Perched on Lhasa's highest point, the Potala Palace is arguably the greatest
monumental structure in Tibet. Thirteen stories high, with more than 1,000
rooms, it was once the residence of Tibet's chief monk and leader, the Dalai
Lama, and therefore the center for both spiritual and temporal power. After
the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959, the palace became a museum,
serving as a reminder of Tibet's rich and devoutly religious Buddhist culture.
The first palace on the site was built by Songtsen Gampo in 641, and this was
incorporated into the larger building that stands today. There are two main
sections-the White Palace, built by the 5th Dalai Lama in 1645, and the Red
Palace, which was completed in 1693.

-< Heavenly King Murals ~ Chapel of the Roof of the Chapel of
The east entrance has 13th Dalai lama the Sth Dalai lama
sump b.J ous images of
the Four Heavenly Kings,
Buddhist guardian figures. Red Palace

Western Castle
or Bastion

-< Golden Roofs
Seemingly floating
above the huge
structure, the gilded
roofs (actually copper)
cover the tuner ary
chapels dedicated to
previous Dalai Lamas.

-<Western Hall
The largest hall inside
the Po tal a, the Western
Hall is located on the
first floor of the Red
Palace and contains
the holy throne of the
6th Dalai Lama .

-< Chapel of the 13th Dalai lama
This chapel holds the funerary stupa of Base
the 13th Dalai Lama, rising up nearly 43ft Purely structural, this
(13 m) in the gloomy interior. The stupa holds the palaces
contains the lama's mummified remains onto the steep hill. ~ 3-D Mandala
and is coated in gold and jewels. This intricate mandala of a palace,
covered in precious metals and
-< 3D Mandala jewels, embodies aspects of the
Buddhist path to enlightenment.

KEY DATES
AD 641 800s 1642 1922 1994
The first Potala The Tubo kingdom The 5th Dalai Lama The 13th Dalai Lama UNESCO adds the
Palace is built by collapses and the becomes spir~ual renovates much of Potala Palace to
Songsten Gampo, Potala Palace is and political leader the White Palace and its list of \1\brld
founder of the almost completeo/ of Tibet andre- adds two stories to Heritage Sites.
Tubo kingdom. destroyed. constructs the palace. the Red Palace.