All You Need to Know About Potala Palace

What is the highest palace in the world? It stands on the roof of the world, and from any Angle, its background is the vast sky. This not-to-be-missed attraction in China is the Potala Palace, which has been described as the pearl of Tibetan culture. If you're planning to take a trip to China, the Potala Palace in Tibet could be on your bucket list.

What is Potala Palace?

The Potala Palace is one of the historic buildings in Tibet, China. It is situated at an altitude of 3,700 meters on the Red Mountain in the center of Lhasa, which has become a well-known monument in the world for its history of construction, the national aesthetic characteristics of its architecture, and the unique value for the study of the social history, culture, and religion of the people of Tibet.

This magnificent 1,300-year-old palace has stood for centuries as a testament to Tibetan Buddhism. Noted as one of the iconic landmarks in China, this site has attracted thousands of pilgrims from home and abroad every year to pay homage.

Ranked as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1994, this palace has long been regarded as "a bright pearl inlaid on the roof of the world."

The Potala Palace Printed on the 50 Yuan

Highlights Inside Potala Palace

Today, let's take a day trip to enjoy the highlights of Potala Palace in Tibet with your families and friends. Climbing up the seemingly endless steps will take your breath away, both physically and spiritually. But, just standing in the heart of Lhasa, the Potala Palace is where you can learn much about Tibet's religion, culture, and history.

With a distinctive Tibeto-Burman style, the Potala Palace is a well-preserved palace complex in Tibet that is regarded as one of the top ten earthen architecture in the world. The main building is divided into the White Palace and the Red Palace.

White Palace Complex

Due to the white exterior walls, the White Palace was named after where Tibetan lamas lived and worked together for various activities. Because of the daily sunshine here, it is called the East and West Daylight Palace.

White Palace Complex

West Daylight Hall

The West Daylight Hall was the original hall, and the East Daylight Hall was a later replica, both similar in layout, which served as the 13th and 14th Lamas' chambers and administrative offices, respectively. It is a highly hierarchical place where only senior monks and officials can enter. The palace's interior includes a pilgrimage hall, a sutra hall, a study room and a bedroom, all luxuriously furnished.

East Daylight Hall

The 6th and 5th floors of the White House are used for living and official purposes. The East Hall is the largest building in the White House of the Potala with the Dalai Throne and a plaque written by the Tongzhi Emperor. Significant activities in the Potala Palace, such as bed-sitting ceremonies for the Dalai and pro-regime ceremonies, will be held in this hall.

Deyang Shar

There is a wide square halfway up the hill to the east of the exterior of the White House, known as the Deyang Shar, where the Dalai Lama used to watch dramas and hold public activities. The monastery schools and other buildings are on the north and south sides of the square.

Established as a residence for the lamas who served the Potala Palace, the Zhasha was the home of more than 25,000 monks at its maximum. Its outer walls are white, often seen as part of the White Palace.

Red Palace Complex

The Red Palace has a red facade consisting of numerous stupas and Buddhist halls in the top center of the Potala Palace.

Red Palace Complex

Hall of the Dharma King & The Hall of Saints

Step into the palace, and you will find the Hall of the Dharma King (Trulje Chepo) and the Hall of the Saints (Palpa Lhakhang), both of which are reputed to be remnants of the Tibetan regime in ancient China. The Hall of Dharma King is positioned in the center of the Potala Palace, with the peak of Marburi Mountain below it.

The Hall of Saints is dedicated to Songtsen Gampo's central Buddha, a Ganesha statue formed from sandalwood. A golden dome of each lingtha hall covers the roof terrace of the Red Palace. At the top of the palace stand three pagodas, a big one and a small one, with a glorious golden glow. The walls of the outer perimeter of the roof are made of a deep purple-red shrub, decorated with various gold ornaments, and topped with substantial gilt banners and red sutras, which reflect the distinct Tibetan style.

Other Palaces in the Red Palaces

Furthermore, other palaces are also significant in the Red Palace. The Hall of the Three Realms of Prosperity (Satsang Rangye) is the highest in the Red Palace, with a considerable collection of scriptures and portraits of the Qing emperors.

The Hall of Altars (Lhakhang) has three huge bronze altars (mandalas) dedicated to the three Tantric Buddhas. The Hall of Holiness (Rinchen Lhakhang) is dedicated to the Nyingma Patriarch of Tantric Buddhism, Liangyan, and his incarnations. Finally, the Hall of Lineage (Zhongyel Lhakhang) is dedicated to the twelve-year-old golden statue of Shakyamuni, the silver statue of the Fifth Dalai, and the stupa of the Tenth Dalai in this hall.

Potala Palace

The Collections Inside the Potala Palace

Countless Historical Treasures

The Potala Palace is a paradise for archaeologists, where a vast number of historical artifacts are collected and preserved, including stupas, statues, murals, thangkas, scriptures, and texts, as well as the golden books, jade books, golden seals, and other treasures from the Ming and Qing emperors that indicate the relationship between the Tibetan local government and the central government in history. Among them, one of the most striking is the eight spiritual pagodas from the Fifth Dynasty onwards, gilded and decorated with a dazzling array of precious stones, making them a temple of art.

The Fifth Dalai Lama's stupa is the highest pagoda in the palace; it is wrapped with gold and inlaid with precious gems and jewels. Although the other pagodas are not as tall as the 5th Dalai Lama's stupa, the pagoda's exterior is also decorated with gold and jewelry, making it extremely valuable.

There is a large Bronze Altar Castle in the Lhakhang Hall, which is a three-dimensional model of the world structure of Buddhist teachings, and a pulpit where the Buddha lived and spoke. You will see a long-life tablet of the Kangxi Emperor and a painting of the Qianlong Emperor in Tibetan, Chinese, Manchu, and Mongolian characters in the Satsunglangje Hall. This represents the subordination of the Dalai to the central government over the ages. There is also a large amount of luxurious furnishings and costumes inside the palace where the Dalai resides.

The Murals of the Potala Palace

The interior of the Potala Palace looks like a vast gallery of paintings and art, compared with the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang; here, all the palaces, Buddhist halls, and corridor walls are painted with frescoes and surrounded by various relief sculptures. Most of the murals and engravings are brilliant and colorful. The subjects include highland scenery, historical legends, Buddhist stories, and scenes from the construction of the Potala Palace, all of which have high historical and artistic value.

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Potala Palace Square

Potala Palace Square is the highest urban square in the world. It is also an essential part of the Potala Palace, a World Heritage Site, and is also a modern square that integrates leisure, culture, and assembly.

Regarding the overall layout, Potala Palace Square is wide and flat, flanked by the Tibetan Working People's Cultural Palace to the south and the Potala Palace to the north. A library surrounds the Potala Palace Square, a children's playground, a lounge, and an open-air market, making it the center of Lhasa's tourism and cultural and entertainment activities.

When Is the Potala Palace Built?

According to the historical records, the Potala Palace was built in Lhasa when Songtsen Gampo, the 33rd Zangpo of Tubo, was moved to Lhasa in the thirties of the 7th century AD. After that, all the essential religious and political ceremonies were held here, making it the ruling center of Tibetan politics and religion.

Travel Tips of the Potala Palace

Here are some tips to make your trip to the Potala Palace unforgettable.

1. Plan your Visit as Early as Possible

Travelers should buy the tickets for at least a day to secure their visit. They cost CNY 200 from May to October and CNY 100 for the rest of the year. There are more than 30 sites on the route, so make sure to plan to save time. Remember, in the busy season, each trip lasts a maximum of one hour.

2. Dress Respectfully

Tourists have to dress and act respectfully because this is a sacred palace. Remember to take off your hat and sunglasses at the entrance. Dresses and shorts are also not permitted.

3. No Photos, Please!

It is prohibited to take photos inside the palace due to the sacred nature of the building and the artwork.

4. Prepare for Lots of Walking at a High Altitude.

At 3700 meters above sea level, and with no lift service, you must climb more than 1,000 steps up to the palace. Therefore, be careful about "altitude sickness", which may cause headaches, dizziness, or shortness of breath. If you are concerned about these effects, please take an oxygen tank. Also, medicines for high altitude illness should be on your packing list.

Prepare for Lots of Walking at a High Altitude.

5. The Nocturnal Lights of the Potala Palace

The nocturnal lights at the Potala Palace will be switched off at night, and the lights will be shut off at 22:30. You should arrive before then if you want to take night shots.

Explore Potala Palace With Us!

If you're planning to travel to China and explore the charms of Potala Palace, please don't hesitate to contact us, just simply tell us your interests and needs, and one of our travel experts will create a tailor-made itinerary for you within 24 hrs.