Way to Tibet – Potala Palace

That afternoon, the sky was a clear pretty blue after the rain tricked all morning. A good time to visit the grand Potala Palace!

As the local government adopted a policy to limit the number of visitors, we did enjoy a nice visit inside though some sections of the temple were under repaired. 


The magnificent Potala Palace stands under the clear blue sky

The word Potala is the Tibetan pronunciation for “Potara” in Sanskrit, which means Buddha. So Potala Palace indicates a Palace where Buddha lives. It was once the political and religious center of Tibet.

Looked up at the silhouette stood out against the clear blue sky, we were so very much impressed by it’s outstanding style of architecture, and we could even sense the Buddhism cultural connotation hidden behind, which revealed the solemn manner of Tibetan religion thoroughly.

The grand Potala Palace is built against the Red Mountain with a height of 3,700 meters above sea level. Due to its outstanding workmanship, the palace and the mountain seem to melt into one another. In 1994, it was listed into the World Heritage List by UNESCO. 


The palace and the mountain seem to melt into one another. Further, the mountain we do not know the name has already piercing into the sky.

As one of the 10 major stone-and-wood-structured constructions of the world, Potala Palace stretches 360 meters east-west and is about 300 meters wide south-north. Covers an area of over 360, 000 square meters, Potala Palace is mainly comprised by 4 parts: the White Palace, the Red Palace, the Dragon King Pool Park (Longwang Tan Park) and several affiliated buildings.

The White Palace is the administrative building. The resting place of Dalai Lama is located on the top of the palace called Sunlit Palace. The Red Palace is the religious building locates on the center of the whole construction, which symbolizes the center of Universe. Outwardly the highest Red Palace building is 13 stories high, but actually it is a 9-layer construction with a height of 115.7 meters. The White Palace is 7 stories high.


From this angle, one could see clearly the White Palace - administrative building


The Red Palace - religious building

Before we entered this grand building, we had to climb up hundreds of stone steps. During the climbing, we grabbed a closer look of this construction from the outside and took lots of photos.

As the Potala Palace was 3700 meters above the sea level, when we reached the top of the stone steps, all of us were gasping for air which made photographing not a piece of cake. 



Tourists took photos before entered the palace. If you are an amateur photographer, please note that photography is not allowed inside the palace, so it might as well take as many photos as you can when climbing the steps. 


The White Palace was so very close at hand which had a rough surface. It looked much brighter under the sunshine. 


The golden roof of the Red Palace


Take a closer look of the golden roof, which locates on the top of the palace.


It was a fine day, we could take a bird view of the brand new Lhasa city from Potala Palace, which surrounded by numerous snow mountains. With the development of local economy, new buildings were sprang up in this city.


Take a bird view of the big square in front of the palace


The Lhasa city


City surrounded by snow mountains


Take one more look of the bright White Palace and solemn Red Palace


From another angle 


The Red Palace


Part of White Palace


A platform connects the White Palace and Red Palace


The ticket office 


Entry gate of Potala Palace


The steep wooden ladder outside the White Palace. The middle section of the latter is used exclusively for Dalai Lama and officials from Qing government 


Red gate with lucky spikes 


A well decorated suite for Dalai Lam, for studying, resting and working use. 


Red Palace’s corridor 


This was the Stupa for the 5th Dalai Lama. It is said that the body of the tower was consuming more than 5,500 kg of gold for building. 


This was the golden Stupa for 13th Dalai Lama, looks so bright

On the 3 floor of the Red Palace, east side, there is a divine hall called “Dui Kuo Lacan”, inside which worships a wooden mini city that symbolizes the ideal world of Buddhism.


It is an amazing wooden model glittered with gold 


A well decorated living room


Delicate mural


Gold inlaid Tangka made in Qing Dynasty


Wanna start your own trip to Lhasa? Come with us and enjoy your 4 Days Lhasa Highlight Tour