Place of the Gods – Potala Palace
Lhasa is the Capital city of Tibetan Autonomous Regions of the people’s republic of China and Lhasa is mainly popular among west and local people because of Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple.
What is the Potala Palace used for?
During that time the Potala Palace served as a place for meditation, retreats and a place for entertainment for the kings and Dalai Lamas.
Lhasa is one of the highest city in the world. Lhasa was called as Rasa back them and Lhasa literally mean “place of the gods” in the Tibetan language. Potala is the highlight of Lhasa. Potala Palace Is truly a wonder of global architecture and is the highest ancient palace on the planet at 3,750m above sea level. Potala has 1000 shrines. Tibetan Buddhism emerged during the first Dharma king (Songtsen Gampo ) in the 7th Era. During that time the Potala Palace served as a place for meditation, retreats and a place for entertainment for the kings and Dalai Lamas. View the spectacular Potala Palace. The construction of the great Potala is truly mesmerizing and treasure and Construction of Potala began as a single white palace (Phodrang Kharpo) in 1645 by the Fifth Dalai Lama. He moved from his resident Drepung monastery to Potala in 1649. In 1682 His Holiness fifth Dalai Lama passed away before the beginning of the red palace’s construction and at the time of His Holiness’s passing, there were a great number of disputes taking place. In order to continue the construction, Desi Sangyal Gyamtso – a prominent governor of Tibet, concealed the Dalai Lama’s death for 12 years until the completion of the red palace. Since the late 18th century the site has been used as a winter palace for successive Dalai Lamas until now.
What is the Potala Palace made of?
Potala Palace was made of stones and wooden structures. The architecture of Potala Palace is truly beautiful and mesmerising.
The Potala Palace covers over 13 hectares or 32 acres in its entirety. The interior space comprises an amazing 130,000 square meters which are more than 426,509 square feet. Potala Palace is the highest palace in the world. Potala has 1,000 chapels and the top one is for the successive Dalai Lamas. In 1922, the 13th Dalai Lama made a number of renovations to the complex and added two floors to the Red Palace. Recent renovations occurred from 1989 to 1994 and again in 2002. Potala was a sacred hill before Fifth Dalai Lama converted it into Palace. There are three hills in Lhasa that are considered as the three protectors of Tibet, namely; Chokpo Ri known as Vajrapani, Pongwari was known as Manjusri and Marpor knew as Avalokitesvara.
Why did they build the Potala Palace?
In 637, The Great King Songtsen Gampo built white Palace for his Bride-To-Be and was destroyed in the ninth century and renovated by the Great Fifth Dalai Lama.
Potala Palace is the landmark of Tibet and is one of the greatest wonders of the world. The Stunning and spectacular figure of the Potala is one of the starting sites for the tourist. Potala is not only attracting the tourists around the globe but an important spiritual site for the Tibetans. Thousands of Tibetan from the different province will visit Lhasa to get the blessing from Potala and Jokhang. There are many Tibetan who walked to Lhasa from their hometown just to get the blessing. Potala Palace is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage site in the year 1994.
Where does the 14th Dalai Lama live?
14th Dalai Lama was stayed on the top chapel out of 1,000 chapels.