Potala

Brief information

The Potala rises above Lhasa on Red Hill: the palace stands at an elevation of 3,700 meters, and its complex covers more than 130,000 square meters. It is not only the former winter residence of the Dalai Lamas but also a Buddhist temple complex. Today, the palace operates as a museum, remains a pilgrimage site, and is used for Buddhist rituals. Construction of the present palace began in 1645. But the site was associated with the ruler Songtsen Gampo as early as the seventh century: a cave where he meditated and a hall are all that remain of the earlier buildings. These remains change how we see the palace: its story begins not with its present grand silhouette, but with a place of seclusion.

What to notice right away

The main contrast is between the palace’s two parts. The Red Palace — a crimson central mass with gilded canopies — contains halls, chapels, and shrines; the White Palace served as the Dalai Lama’s residence and workplace and also housed government offices. Here, color helps distinguish the complex’s religious and residential functions. On the south side of the White Palace is a large white façade. During the Sertreng festival, two enormous joined thangkas depicting Tara and Shakyamuni were raised on it. At the foot of the hill, walls and gates enclose an area with porticoes, while stone stairways alternate with gentler stretches of ascent. Together, these details show how the palace occupies the slope and combines an enclosed palace complex with a place for rituals.