Potala Palace: World's Highest Palace
( 2005-10-14 )

With its worldwide reputation, thePotala Palacestands on the Red Hill overlooking the Tibetan city ofLhasa. At an elevation of about 3,770 meters and with an area of more than 360,000 square meters, the Potala Palace is the highest palace with the largest scale in the world. Its 13-story main portion rises 115 meters high and covers an area of 130,000 square meters.

 Brief Introduction

Situated on Potala Mountain in Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, the Potala Palace was built in the 7th century, for the wedding of the Tibetan king Songtsan Gompo and Princess Wencheng of the Tang Empire.

Since it was completed, the palace has been expanded many times. In 1645, the 5th Dalai Lama was appointed by the government of theQing Dynastyas the local temporal and religious leader of Tibet, and the palace was reconstructed. In 1653, the 5th Dalai Lama moved fromDrepung Monasteryto the palace. Thus, the Potala Palace became the political center of Tibet.

The Potala Palace's halls include worship and pagoda halls, the North Square, the South Square and theDragonKing Pond. The Main Building has 13 floors, with a height of some 110 meters and a width of about 360 meters. Eighttemples, where there are tens of thousands ofBuddhist statues, surround it. In the Buddhist Practice Cave the paintings of Songtsan Gompo and Wencheng made in the 7th century are preserved. Pagodas in halls for each Dalai Lama are well constructed, in particular, the pagoda for the 5th Dalai Lama, which has a gold covering and is decorated with valuable jewels. Another important building is Qingsha, where the ministers for Tibetan affairs of the Qing Dynasty presided over the inauguration of the Dalai Lamas.

 Cultural Heritage

Built on a mountain slope over 4,000 meters above sea level, the Potala Palace is known as the "Pearl on theRoofof the World." Its construction and furnishing reflect the superb skills of ancient artisans and the great attainments of Tibetan architecture.