The palace sweated an accent. The palace was sweating. Magnificent Works of Art
Lhasa, translated from Tibetan, means “Land of the Gods” and the presence of the divine is really felt everywhere here.
When you come to Lhasa, especially on your first trip to Tibet, the first thing you notice is the Potala Palace (Tib.: པོ་ཏ་ལ potala, Chinese: 布达拉宫 budalagong), towering on Mount Marpo Ri in the city center , which for many centuries was the winter residence of the Dalam Lamas. The palace is named after Mount Potalaka, the mythical habitat of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, the living embodiment of which is the Dalai Lama.
Construction of the Potala began in 637 by the king of Tibet, Songtsen Gampo. However, after a fire and internecine wars, the palace was completely destroyed and acquired its present appearance already under the fifth Dalai Lama in the middle of the 17th century.
In 1645, the Fifth Dalai Lama ordered the construction of the White Palace to begin. Three years later, in 1649, the 9-story structure was completed and the Dalai Lama moved into it from Drepung Monastery. Subsequently, the construction of the Red Palace was started, which was erected by 1694. An interesting fact, which is still the cause of various disputes and disagreements, is that until the completion of the construction of the palace, the death of the Fifth Dalai Lama was hidden from the people. According to the data, the Fifth Dalai Lama died in 1682, but this news was kept in deep secrecy. There are many opinions about the reasons for hiding the death of the Fifth Dalai Lama. One version says that death was hiding from the people in order to complete the construction of the Red Palace. After all, the people building the palace were inspired by the deepest faith and respect for the Fifth Dalai Lama. The news of his death could stop the construction of the Palace, so his death was hidden for 12 years until the construction of the palace was completed.
Potala consists of 13 floors with a total height of 118 meters. Inside there are one thousand rooms, in which there are more than one hundred thousand altars and two hundred thousand Buddhist statues and images. Particular attention is paid to the stupas, which contain relics of the Fifth and Thirteenth Dalai Lamas. Currently, the Potala attracts thousands of Buddhist pilgrims. They circumambulate the kora (ritual detours) around the Palace, recite mantras and prayers, and make prostrations.
Mount Chakpo Ri rises opposite the Potala. In the 15th century, a medical college was located on this mountain, which, unfortunately, was destroyed in 1959. Now Chakpo Ri attracts pilgrims and tourists with its rock paintings. Many of them have survived since the time of King Songtsen Gampo (7th century).
I want to return to this place of power again and again, inhale this rarefied air with the aromas of incense, yak oil and crystal freshness, slowly make bark around the Potala, absorbing its history and wisdom.
The Potala Palace is a huge religious and administrative complex in Lhasa, an autonomous region of southern Tibet, China. It is located on Mar Po-ri (Red Mountain), 130 meters above the Lhasa river valley and rises abruptly from its rocky base.
The Potrang Karpo (White Palace), completed in 1648, once served as the seat of the Tibetan government and the main residence of the Dalai Lama; since the middle of the 18th century it has been used as a winter palace. The Potrang Marpo (Red Palace), built in 1694, contains several chapels, sacred statues, and the tombs of the eight Dalai Lamas; it remains a major pilgrimage site for Tibetan Buddhists.
Story
The Tibetan king Sron-brtsan-sgam-po commissioned the construction of a palace in Lhasa in the 7th century. Significantly smaller and less complex than its 13 km2 successor, it has been called the Potala ("Pure Land" or "High Heavenly Realm") for reasons that are not historically documented, although Mount Potala in India seems to be a likely source. Tibetan Buddhists recognize the Dalai Lama as the incarnation of Avalokiteshvara (Chinese: Guanyin), a bodhisattva whose home was on Mount Potala.
Subsequently, the palace was destroyed, and in 1645 the fifth Dalai Lama ordered the construction of a new castle that could ensure his role as both a religious and state leader. Lhasa has been re-selected as a place of pilgrimage due to its importance and proximity to three major Buddhist monasteries: Sera, Drepung and Ganden. The new Potala Palace was built on Mar-po-ri for the security provided by the elevated position. Up until the middle of the 18th century, the Potala was a major Tibetan military stronghold.
Of the more than 1,000 rooms in the Potala, the holiest are Chogyal Drubhuk and Fakpa Lhakhang, remnants of the original Sron-brtsan-sgam-po palace; the latter contains the sacred statue of Arya Lokeshvara (Avalokiteshvara). The sacred complex contains over 200,000 statues and 10,000 altars. Its value was recognized by the Chinese Cultural Relics Commission and the palace was saved during the Cultural Revolution.
As a symbol of Tibet, the Potala Palace has many things to see, the architecture of the entire structure, magnificent well-preserved artworks, and various kinds of religious treasures.
Tibetan architecture
The Potala Palace is one of the most striking architectural structures standing on a steep hill. With a majestic exterior of 13 tiers with a total height of 117 meters, the entire palace was built of wood and stones. The walls were lined with granite 2-5 meters thick.
The roof and cornices are made of wood with beautiful Buddhist carvings. The palace can be divided into two main parts: the White Palace around and the Red Palace in the center. The White Palace was the residential quarter of the Dalai Lama and an office for political and Buddhist affairs. And the Red Palace is the main building, consisting of an intricate layout of various Buddhist halls, chapels and libraries.
Magnificent Works of Art
Inside the majestic palace is a real treasure trove of magnificent works of art. The most outstanding art is the 698 murals on the walls and along the corridors, which describe some of the important events that happened during Tibetan history, such as Princess Wencheng in Tibet, and the life stories of famous Buddhist masters, such as the 5th Dalai Lama.
In addition to wall paintings, you can also find a large number of exquisite paintings on silk, fabric or paper, framed in colored satin, which mainly tell about the history of Tibet, religious figures and Buddhist teachings. In addition, there are many types of handicrafts that give an opportunity to present Tibetan local life.
Religious Treasures
The Potala Palace is one of the most sacred buildings in Tibetan Buddhism. This is the palace of the leader of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama. In ancient times, the Potala opened a Buddhist school to teach Buddhism. More importantly, the Potala Palace houses many stupas of past Dalai Lamas.
Both the Red Palace and the White Palace have many valuable statues, especially the 2m high Tsong Hapa statue (in the East Chapel), the silver statue of Padmasambhava (in the South Chapel) and the statues of Sakyamuni, the Dalai Lama and the Medicine Buddha (in the North Chapel).
In 1994, the Potala Palace was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Two other sites - Tsuglagkhang Temple (Jokkhang), one of the most sacred sites in Tibetan Buddhism, and Norbuglingka (Precious Palace), the Dalai Lama's former summer residence - were added to World Heritage Sites in 2000 and 2001, respectively.
The ancient kings of Tibet were mostly mystics, and many of them had strong ties with the wonderful land of Ergor, or Shambhala.
I don’t know exactly what exactly influenced the decision of King Songtsen Gampo to choose the Red Mountain for his palace, but it is known that he built the Potala on the site of his meditation. This cave of his meditations is still safe and sound, despite the various periods of Tibetan history, which did not spare the Potala.
The name "Potala" is borrowed from Sanskrit, and in Tibetan it sounds like "Potola" or "Puto", which means "mystical mountain" in translation. It consists of 2 parts - the Red Palace and the White.
The White Palace surrounds the Red Palace like a protective wall. It is very symbolic: after all, the white palace is the seat of the administrative, secular power of Tibet. The head of the Tibetan administration was the Dalai Lama. But few people mention that, apart from the head of the Government, for some time the Tashi Lama, the spiritual Head of Tibet approved by the Lords of Shambhala, also lived in the Red Palace.
The last Tashi Lama was forced to flee the Potala after a plot by the penultimate Dalai Lama. Thus, the penultimate Dalai Lama rejected the great Patrons of Shambhala. And soon after this tragic event, Chinese troops entered Tibet. Karma. The young Dalai Lama, the heir of the traitor Lama, our contemporary, had to move to India, where his residence is still located.
And Shambhala closed its gates to the Tibetan people. But not very tightly, the invisible Hand is still there, and the Kalachakra Teaching, which came from the Tower of Shambhala, finds ways for life in the world. And it's good that way.
Below is an excellent account of the modern Potala.
Original taken from anton_ermachkov to the Potala Palace
The Potala Palace, located on the Red Mountain in the center of Lhasa, is not only the main attraction, the shrine, the largest monumental structure in all of Tibet, but also the highest palace in the world. This palace is a unique monument of culture and art and a truly architectural masterpiece.
I don’t remember where and when I first saw a photo of the Potala Palace, but since then I wanted to definitely come to Tibet and see this miracle live!
Photo 2. The palace is located at an altitude of 3,700 m on the Red Hill (Marpo Ri) in the middle of the Lhasa valley. Numerous pilgrims go around the hill with the palace, making a kora - a ritual detour of the holy place. Along the bark are numerous prayer wheels and shopping arcades.
In 637, the king of Tibet, Songtsen Gampo, erected the first building here in the place where he used to meditate. When he decided to make Lhasa his capital, he built a palace. After his betrothal to the Chinese princess Wen Cheng, he expanded the palace to 999 rooms, erected walls and towers, and dug a bypass canal. In the second half of the 8th century, lightning struck the palace and the wooden buildings burned down, then, due to internecine wars, the palace collapsed. Now only the Fa-Vana cave and the Pabalakan hall have survived.
The palace in its present form began to be built in 1645 on the initiative of the V Dalai Lama. In 1648 the White Palace was completed, and the Potala began to be used as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas. The Red Palace was completed between 1690 and 1694. 
Photo 3. 
Photo 4. The heart of the complex is the Red Palace (Potrang Marpo) - the highest part in the center. This part is entirely devoted to religious education and Buddhist prayers: 
Photo 5. The building consists of many halls, chapels and libraries on several levels with galleries and winding corridors. Richly decorated with paintings, gems and carvings, it contains several temples and tombs of eight past Dalai Lamas: 
Photo 6. The White Palace consists of a large eastern pavilion, a solar pavilion, the living quarters of the regent and mentor of the Dalai Lama, as well as government offices: 
Photo 7. The Large Eastern Pavilion was used for official ceremonies; the Dalai Lama actually lived and worked in the Solar Pavilion: 
Photo 8. 
Photo 9. We rise: 
Photo 10. Interesting wall material :) 
Photo 11. The palace was the main residence of the Dalai Lama, until the forced departure of the XIV Dalai Lama in 1959 to India and obtaining political asylum there. The Chinese government uses the complex as a museum. In 1994, the complex was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. 
Photo 12. Since the Chinese comrades have one hour to visit the palace, the inspection of the interior takes place almost at a run, but still I don’t understand how it happened that this is the only photo I took inside the palace: 
Photo 13. On one of the tiers of the complex: 
Photo 14. A good view of Lhasa opens from the upper tiers of the Potala: 
Photo 15. 
Photo 16 
Photo 17. And backlit: 
Photo 18. A little closer: 
Photo 19. On the square in front of the palace, the Chinese built an excellent fountain, which attracts crowds of tourists and citizens every evening. Tourists, having spread their tripods, are trying to capture the beauty of the Potala at night, children are running under jets of water, parents are running after children, couples are secluded on benches, and the Chinese military and firefighters are vigilantly watching everything that happens :)) 
Photo 20. 
Photo 21. 
The Potala Palace appears first in the list of the most important cultural and historical monuments of Tibet, protected by the state. The Potala is a palace-castle unique in the world in terms of its high-altitude location and size; its image is the emblem of Lhasa and all of Tibet. The Potala Palace is an imperishable and magnificent monument of ancient Tibetan architecture. In December 1994, the Potala Palace was officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
The Potala Palace is built on the southern slope of the Red Mountain in the capital of Tibet, Lhasa. The back side of the Potala Palace rests on the slope of the mountain, has a trapezoid shape, tapering at the top, against the background of the blue sky and white clouds of Tibet, the palace, painted in white and red, looks like a majestic, fabulous castle.
What does the name of the Potala Palace mean? In Tibetan, "potala" is translated as "the dwelling place of Avalokiteshvara", in India "potalaka". And the mountain on which the Potala Palace is located is called Puto in religious literature, and is considered sacred because, as the legend says, the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara appeared on this mountain. Interestingly, in Zhejiang Province of China, there is a second Mount Putuo (普陀山, Putuoshan), which is sacred for the same reason.
The Potala Palace is 119 meters high from its base, 350 meters long from east to west, 270 meters wide from north to south, with a construction area of 130,000 square meters, and together with the forecourt and the pond behind the palace, the total area of the Potala palace complex is 360 thousand square meters!
The beginning of the construction of the Potala Palace dates back to the 30s of the 7th century AD. According to historical sources, the Tufan leader Srontszangampo decided to make Lhasa his capital. First of all, he ordered the construction of a royal palace on the top of the Red Mountain in Lhasa, where his meditation caves already existed. After her betrothal to the Tang princess Wencheng took place and Wencheng arrived in Tibet, Srontszangampo built 999 rooms on Red Mountain. Together with the palace built earlier, a complex of a thousand rooms turned out! In addition, a wall with a length of 500 meters on each side was erected around. There were 4 gates decorated with turrets in the wall, and a bypass channel was dug. Unfortunately, in the second half of the 8th century, due to a lightning strike, the wooden buildings of the Potala Palace burned down. In addition, at the end of the existence of the Tufan kingdom, an internecine war of local tribes broke out, which led to the destruction of the original Potala palace. Only the Fawan Cave and the Pabalakan Hall have survived.
The Potala Palace that we see today was built over several centuries, starting from the 17th century. Dalai Lama 5th Agwan Lobsan Jamtso, in 1645 gave the order to restore the destroyed Potala Palace. In 1652 Dalai V made a trip to Beijing. Upon his return to Tibet, the Dalai 5th moved from his former abode, the Drapung Monastery, to the White Palace of the Potala, which had been completed by that time. Interestingly, after the reincarnation of the 5th Dalai Lama, no one dared to inform the people about this, as the rulers were afraid that the people would rebel and stop working on the construction of the Potala Palace. The power of the 5th Dalai Lama was so strong that his reincarnation was hidden for more than 10 years in order to complete the construction of the palace.
In 1690, in the 8th year after the death of Dalai 5th, Disa Sanjie Jamtso, in the name of the 5th Dalai Lama, undertook the construction of the Red Palace and memorial stupas in the Potala complex, for which part of the dilapidated buildings were demolished. 7 thousand people of masters and workers were employed in the work, 2134 thousand liang (1 liang = 150 grams) of silver were spent, by order of the Qing Emperor Kangxi, 114 Han and Manchu masters were sent for construction, and Nepalese masters also took part in the work. In 1693, the work was completed, and on the 20th day of the 4th month according to the Tibetan calendar, the consecration of the Red Palace took place. A memorial pillar was erected in front of the facade of the Potala Palace in memory of the completion of construction. Since then, there have been no major changes in the layout of the Potala Palace.
When you enter the gates of the palace from the square in front of the Potala Palace, you find yourself inside a courtyard, fenced on three sides by a high wall. Directly to the north is a wide stone staircase. From here you can see the east entrance and the west entrance. The main one is the eastern entrance (in Tibetan “pintsodolan”). Entering it and passing a dark stepped corridor, you find yourself in Deyangxia. This is a flat area of 1600 square meters at the entrance to the White Palace. Here theatrical performances were arranged for the Dalai Lama, high clergy and officials. There are galleries on the southern and northern sides of the site, rooms on the eastern and western sides served as classrooms for titled monks. And the entrance, directly facing the west, is the main entrance to the White Palace of the Potala.
White Palace Potala
The White Palace of the Potala is located to the east of the Red Palace, in the White Palace there is the Great Eastern Pavilion, the Solar Pavilion, the living quarters of the regent and mentors of Dalai, and government offices.
Great Eastern Pavilion(in Tibetan "Tsotsinsha") - the largest pavilion of the White Palace. Important events of a political and religious nature were held here, in particular, the enthronement ceremonies of the Dalai Lamas. In the center of the pavilion, against the northern wall, is the Dalai Lama's throne. There are many frescoes on the walls of the pavilion, two groups of frescoes are of particular interest: the frescoes on the theme of "turning a monkey into a man" and the frescoes telling the story of Princess Jincheng.
solar pavilion located at the top of the Great Eastern Pavilion. There are two solar pavilions: east and west. They served as living quarters for the Dalai Lamas. The Western Solar Pavilion was built in the later years of the 13th Dalai Lama. Most of the year (summer and autumn) the Dalai Lama spent in the summer residence of Norbulingka, and the Potala Palace served as his winter Palace.
It was in this pavilion that the Dalai Lama spent his time reading sacred texts, administrative affairs, and vital functions. The western sun pavilion was the living quarters of the Dalai Lama on the 13th, and the eastern sun pavilion was the quarters of the Dalai Lama on the 14th. The pavilion houses a golden Buddha statue, a jasper figure of Avalokiteshvara, scrolls of sacred sutras, porcelain, a tea set made of gold and jasper, brocade blankets, and more.
Red Palace Potala
The Red Palace served as a place of prayers in the name of Buddha and other places of worship. The main premises of the Red Palace are pavilions with memorial stupas of the Dalai Lamas and places of worship for other purposes. In total, there are 8 memorial stupas in the Red Palace of the Potala, of which the most luxurious are the stupas of the Dalai Lama on the 5th and the Dalai Lama on the 13th. The size and splendor of the design of the stupa symbolizes the contribution to the development of the country and society made by this Dalai Lama. In addition, the Red Palace of the Potala houses numerous religious monuments and skillful products made of precious stones and metals, skillfully made carvings, rare editions of sacred texts, as well as sculptures of Buddhist saints, “tanka” icons, cult attributes, sacrificial accessories, and so on. In the fresco gallery on the fifth floor of the Red Potala Palace there is a whole group of frescoes reproducing episodes of the construction of the Potala Palace.
Stupa of the Dalai Lama on the 5th occupies the 4th floor, but it itself is equal in height to a 5-storey building! At 14.85 meters high, this stupa is made of solid gold and is the tallest of the stupas in the Potala Palace. They say that the decoration and contents of this stupa equals half of the wealth of all mankind.
The second highest stupa is Stupa of the Dalai Lama on the 13th. The beginning of the construction of the stupa dates back to 1934, it took 3 years to build. The height of the stupa is 14 meters, on the inner wall of the pavilion there is a fresco dedicated to the life of the Dalai Lama on the 13th, including an episode of the Dalai Lama's trip to Beijing, where he was received by Emperor Guangxu and Dowager Empress Cixi.
West Great Hall(in Tibetan "Sysipintso") is located to the east of the pavilions with stupas, its area is 680 square meters. This is the most spacious hall of the Red Palace in the entire Potala Palace. In this hall, the 5th Dalai Lama held receptions, sacrifices and so on. The western hall also houses a pair of brocade panels woven from gold threads, which were donated by the Chinese emperor in 1696 on the occasion of the completion of the construction of the Red Palace of the Potala. There is also a banner presented by Emperor Qianlong with the emperor's autograph and the inscription "A place exuding paradise." This banner is above the throne of the Dalai Lama.
In the highest pavilion of the Red Palace of the Potala, in the hall near the western wall, statue of the eleven-faced and thousand-armed bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, which was made of pure gold and silver by order of the 13th Dalai Lama.
Of the earliest buildings of the Potala Palace, only the Fawan Cave (“Jujiezhupu”) and the Pabalakan Pavilion have survived. Fawan Cave with an area of 27 square meters, it is distinguished by its modest decoration. According to legend, the Tufan king Srontszamgambo himself comprehended the sacred texts in this cave. In the cave there are statues of Srontszangambo, Princess Wencheng, Princess Chizul, Ludongzang - persons known from the time of the Tufan Kingdom. In addition, utensils (hearth, stone vat, stupa), which, according to legend, were used by Srontszangambo, have been preserved. Pavilion Pabalakan also called the pavilion of Avalokiteshvara, it is located above the cave of Favana.
The pavilions with the stupas of the Dalai Lamas on the 7th, 8th, 9th, as well as the pavilions with the stupas of the Dalai Lama on the 5th and 13th have roofs completely covered with gilding. The same golden roofs crown the Pabalakan and Ramlakan pavilions. Together they form a brilliant ensemble of golden roofs. Most roofs have the traditional shape of Chinese roofs with soaring corners. On the ridges of the roofs there are decorations in the form of bell-shaped monasteries, which rest on lotus pedestals. The soaring corner structures of the roofs are decorated with figurines of mythical Buddhist animals.
The Potala Palace is a treasure trove of priceless pieces of art and art, as well as historical monuments. Even for frescoes, dyes made from precious metals and stones were used. These frescoes amaze with brightness and freshness. About 10,000 “tanka” icons are kept in the Potala Palace, most of which were made by prominent artists of antiquity. A rich collection of editions of sacred texts, many of which are made at a high artistic level and are worthy of being considered a work of art. Not a few publications are unique. There are about 100 canon scrolls made on palm leaves and brought from ancient India and other places. The earliest text on palm leaves dates back more than one millennium. The technique of publishing sacred texts includes handwriting in gold and silver ink, applying a gold coating to the text in raised type. For example, there is an edition of "Ganchzhur", made with dyes made from gold, pearls, silver, corals, iron powder, copper dust and sea shells. The paper on which the text is written is resistant to moisture, decay and damage by insects, durable and at the same time elastic.
The Potala Palace is a great creation of the Tibetan people and the center of their culture. It embodies the achievements of the Tibetans in architecture, sculpture, painting, metalworking and other fields of science and art. It can be called a museum of science and culture of Ancient Tibet. In addition, the Potala Palace captured the history of economic and cultural contacts of Tibetans with other nationalities of China, Nepal and India. The Potala Palace is the pride of the Tibetan people and the world cultural heritage of all mankind. Also, the palace is very often seen by foreigners who went on a tour of Tibet.
Located on the Red Mountain in the center of Lhasa, the Potala is not only the largest monumental structure in all of Tibet, but also the tallest ancient one.
Myths and facts
The palace is named after the legendary Mount Potala in the South, where the bodhisattva Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara), who is represented on earth by the Dalai Lama, lives. Legend has it that in the 7th century, in order to greet his bride, Princess Wen Cheng, Emperor Songtsen Gampo of Tibet built a 9-story palace with 999 rooms. After the collapse of the Songtsen Gampo dynasty, lightning struck the building and the wooden buildings burned down. Subsequent wars practically destroyed the ancient structure.
The construction of the current palace began in 1645 during the reign of the fifth Dalai Lama. By 1648 the White Palace was built. Red Palace, added in 1694. More than 7,000 workers and 1,500 artists and artisans worked on its construction. In 1922, the 13th Dalai Lama renovated many of the chapels and halls in the White Building and made changes to the Red Building.
The Potala was the main residence of the Dalai Lama until the invasion of Tibet in 1959. The Dalai Lama XIV was forced to leave and received political asylum in India. The rest of the monks were expelled, and the palace was looted by Chinese soldiers. Unlike most Tibetan and, Potala was not destroyed by the Chinese army, and most of the artifacts are well preserved. Today, only a few monks are allowed to be there under strict supervision. The Chinese government uses the complex as a museum to attract foreign tourists.
In 1994, the Potala Palace was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Today, the complex is visited daily by thousands of Tibetan pilgrims and travelers from all over the world.
What to watch
The Potala Palace is located at an altitude of 3,700 m on the Red Hill (Marpo Ri) in the middle of the Lhasa valley. The total area of the complex is 360 thousand m² and consists of two parts: the Red Palace, as the center, and the White Palace, as two wings.
The heart of the complex is the Red Building (Potrang Marpo) - the highest part in the center. This part is entirely devoted to religious education and Buddhist prayers. The building consists of many halls, chapels and libraries on several levels with galleries and winding corridors. Richly decorated with paintings, gems and carvings, it contains several temples and tombs of eight past Dalai Lamas, including pagodas of 200,000 pearls.
Located here is the Great Western Hall with an area of 725 sq.m. is the largest hall in the Potala. The walls of the hall are decorated with beautiful frescoes and paintings. Three chapels surround it on three sides: in the east, in the north and in the south. The Dharma Caves and the holy chapel are the only 7th-century buildings with statues of Songtsen Gampo, Princess Wen Cheng and Princess Bhrikuti still standing inside.
The White Palace (Potrang Karpo) once served as the office building for the local government of Tibet and the living quarters of the Dalai Lama. White walls symbolize peace and tranquility. Great East Hall on the fourth floor with an area of 717 sq.m. was the site of important religious and political ceremonies.
There are also schools of Buddhist logic, a seminary, a printing house, gardens, courtyards and even a prison in the Potala. For over 300 years, the ancient palace has kept many cultural relics such as frescoes, stupas, statues, tanka and rare sutras. Of particular importance is the Fa-Wana cave, in which, even before the construction of the building, King Songtsen Gampo read the sacred texts.
In Lhasa are also open to the public,.
The Potala Palace is open from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm in summer and from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm in winter.
Cost: 100 yuan (about 11.7 €).
Excursions to the palace are limited, tickets are sold by advance requests (1 day in advance) after 17:00 the next day. In one hand give 4 tickets. Only by registering can you redeem an entrance ticket using your documents, where the time will be set for visiting the palace.