– The Winter Palace Of The Dalai Lamas
The Potala Palace is the landmark impossible to miss, located at the centre of Lhasa City. The original palace was build in the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo on this outcrop, the “Red Hill”, which dominates the city of Lhasa.
Although the Potala palace, which was called the Kukhar Podrang, destroyed by lightning, set them on fire in the 8th and 9th century. There are still two rooms inside the Potala Palace that supposedly date from his time, but it is impossible to tell how extensive this first palace.
The name Potala was derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Potalaka’, which means the abode of Buddhisatva Avalokiteshvara. Now, the palace is known locally as ‘Tse-Podrang’, which means the Summit Palace.
The construction of the present Potala Palace was begun in earnest in 1645 during the reign of the great 5th Dalai Lama. By 1648 the white palace was completed, but the Dalai Lama was passed away.
To finished the rest of the building, known as Red Palace, his chief advisor Desi Sanggye Gyatso had to conceal the death of the Dalai Lama and pretend that he was in a long retreat. Finally, the palace finish in 1694, twelve years after the Dalai Lama’s death.
The Potala Palace represents the traditional architecture of Tibet. Moreover, the well-preserved artworks and many different religious treasures were the main highlights inside the Potala Palace.
The Potala Palace is divide into two different part; the red palace and the white palace.
The white palace mainly consists of administrative purpose and a private quarter for the successive Dalai Lamas. The white palace includes the Deyang Shar (Eastern Courtyard), eastern private apartment, western private apartment, main assembly hall, Tangka rooms, Namgyal monastery and Western courtyard.
The red palace, which looms from the centre of the Potala Palace, is the spiritual purpose parts. In addition, they are many small shrines and eight golden funeral tombs of the Dalai Lamas.
Out of all the tombs, the number fifth Dalai Lamas tomb is the largest and named Unique Ornament Of The World. The tomb has 14 meters in height and almost touch the fourth storey—about 3,700 kilos of gold donated by the locals to build the tomb.
