Lhasa - Potala Palace

Day 2 - Lhasa

Potala Palace
The Potala Palace was first built by King Songtsen Gampo, in 637 for his Chinese bride Princess WenCheng. The construction of the present palace began in 1645 under the fifth Dalai Lama. In 1648, the Potrang Karpo (White Palace) was completed, and the Potala was used as a winter palace by the Dalai Lama from that time. The Potrang Marpo (Red Palace) was added between 1690 and 1694.

Main street in front of the palace compounds.

Taken in front of the main entrance.

Cute goat. It was roaming around while we were waiting to go in.

Side wall of the compound. Tourists enter via the side entrance. We need to show them our passports in order to enter.

View of the palace upon entering the gates.

There's a residential area at the bottom of the palace.

There is an unnamed monument at the start of the stairway.

Even though there are not THAT many steps, it took us a long time to climb. The thin air and high altitude makes one tire really quickly.

Almost there!!!!!

The climb up :) Too much UV!!

Reached the top of the stairs.

Entrance. Note the figurines on the top of the doorway.

Murals on the walls.

Ticket into the palace. Only a limited number of tickets are issued each day. These tickets have allotted time for visitations.

Official entrance into the White Palace.
The palace was for secular uses and contained living quarters, offices, the seminary and the printing house. A central, yellow-painted courtyard known as a Deyangshar separates the living quarters of the Lama and his monks with the Red Palace, the other side of the sacred Potala, which is completely devoted to religious study and prayer.

Close-up of entrance. Windy. Once inside, no photography again :(

I like the tiny little curtains which flaps in the wind.

View of Lhasa city upon exiting the palace.

Descending path. Interesting feature on the ground. Probably used to direct rain water.. else it would be too slippery.

More prayer flags along the slopes behind the palace.

Close-up of prayer flags.

Back view of the palace.

Interesting carved stone tablets along the path.

Wall.

Wall.

Prayer wheels found along the external wall at the exit.

Full view of the palace.