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Lhasa Tour of
Potala Palace
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Originally built by King Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century,
Potala Palace is located on the Red Hill of Lhasa, Tibet. Destroyed
by lightning and war, Potala Palace had been rebuilt by the Fifth
Dalai Lama in 1645. Since then, Potala Palace has become the seat of
Dalai Lamas and also the political center of Tibet. The thirteenth
Dalai Lama extended it to the present size, 117 meters (384 ft) in
height and 360 meters (1,180 ft) in width, covering an area of more
than 130, 000 sq meters (about 32 acres). Mainly comprised by the
White Palace (administerial building) and the Red Palace (religious
building), Potala Palace is famous for its grand buildings,
complicated constructions, devotional atmosphere and splendid
artworks.
Upon entering the East Portal, visitors will come into the Deyang
Shar courtyard where Dalai Lamas watched Tibetan opera. West of the
courtyard is the White Palace. As the winter palace of Dalai Lamas,
the White Palace is a seven-floor building originally built in 1645.
The wall of the palace was painted to white to convey peace and
quiet. The Great East Hall on the fourth floor is the largest hall
in White Palace, occupying a space of 717 sq meters (about 7,718 sq
ft). This hall was also the site for holding momentous religious and
political events. The living quarters and offices of regents are on
the fifth and sixth floors and while the top floor consists of the
East Chamber of Sunshine and the West Chamber of Sunshine. Because
of the sunshine in the chambers all year round, the East and West
Chamber were the places where Dalai Lamas lived, worked and studied.
The furnishings are sumptuousness and comfortable, revealing the
dignity of Dalai Lamas. Standing on the spacious balcony, visitors
can look down on beautiful Lhasa.
In the middle of the Potala Palace the Red Palace exists. Built in
1690 after the death of the Fifth Dailai Lama, the wall of the
palace was painted to red, representing stateliness and power. The
Red Palace is renowned for its religious status, gorgeous stupas and
precious culture relics. The Great West Hall in the middle is the
largest hall of Potala Palace with an area of 725 sq meters (about
7,804 sq ft). Beautiful murals painted on inner walls described the
glory and power of the Fifth Dalai Lama, and the corridor upstairs
is also painted by many religious murals such as the figures of
Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Dalai Lamas; the genetic stories of
Buddhism; the historical events such as marrying Princess Wencheng
and building Jokhang Temple. One of the most famous murals described
the Fifth Dalai Lama's visit to Emperor Shunzhi in Beijing in1652.
There are another three chapels around the Great West Hall. The
North Chapel Potala Palace, Lhasais dedicated to Sakyamuni, Dalai
Lamas, Buddhas of Three Generations and Medicine Buddha. The stupa-tombs
of the Eighth, Ninth and Eleventh Dalai Lama are also situated here.
Besides, Visitors can also find a volume of Kanjur (Beijing Edition)
donated by Emperor Yongzheng on the bookshelf. The East Chapel is
consecrate to Tsong Khapa, founder of the Yellow Hat Sect. His
two-meter-high (6.56 ft) figure is surrounded by other 70 statues of
famous lamas.
The South Chapel is dedicated to Padmasambhava, a famous Indian monk
who introduced Esoteric Buddhism to Tibet in eighth century. To the
west of the Great West Hall is the Stupa Chapel where the stupa-tombs
of the Fifth, the Tenth and the Twelfth Dalai Lamas are situated in.
With a height of 14.85 meters (about 48.72 ft), covered by more than
3,000 kilograms (about 6,613pounds) gold foil and decorated with
thousands of pearls, gems, corals, ambers and agates, the Fifth
Dalai Lama's stupa-tomb is regarded to be the highest and the most
luxury one. The Three-world Hall, which is located on the highest
point of Potala Palace, is the holy shrine of Chinese Emperors. It
was built in 1690 and Dalai Lamas used to come here to show their
respect to the central government every year.
Dharma Cave and the Saint's Chapel in the middle of the Red Palace
are the only two constructions preserved since the seventh century.
Dharma Cave was the place where King Songtsen Gampo studied
Buddhism. The statues of King Songtsen Gampo, Princess Wencheng, and
Princess Bhrikuti were built in the seventh century. The Saint's
Chapel on the third floor worships Chenrezi, the bodhisattva of
compassion. The statue of Chenrezi is surrounded by statues of Tsong
Khapa, Padmasambhava, the Fifth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Dalai
Lamas.
The thirteenth Dalai Lama died in 1933, and people believed that he
was as great as the Fifth Dalai Lama. So his stupa chapel to the
west of the Great West Hall is only 0.86 meters (2.82 ft) lower than
the Fifth Dalai Lama's. It was built in 1934, so it's the latest
building in Potala Palace. Murals inside also illustrated the life
of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama. The precious complete volumes of
Kanjur have also been preserved in the chapel.
There are also many other constructions in Potala Palace which
include: the School of Buddist Logic, the seminary, the printing
House, gardens, courtyards and even the jail. For more than 300
years, Potala Palace has treasured many culture relics such as
murals, stupas, statues, thangkas, and rare sutras. Potala Palace is
indeed a must-see for both visitors and researchers.
Tour Lhasa
with Great Wall Adventure Club, the best
Lhasa
tour agent to help
you with your hotel booking and transfers.
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