Potala Palace

• 1. The Fifth Dalai Lama's Vision

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  In 1645, the Fifth Dalai Lama ordered the construction of a new palace on Marpo Ri. This decision followed advice from Konchog Chophel, the Thirty-fifth Ganden Tripa of the Gelug school. They chose this site because it sat between Drepung and Sera monasteries and the old city of Lhasa. The project began as an extension of earlier structures attributed to Songtsen Gampo in 637. Two chapels remain today that conserve parts of that older palace. One is called Phakpa Lhakhang while the other is known as Chogyel Drupuk. These spaces serve as a recessed cavern identified as Songtsen Gampo's meditation cave.

• 2. Winter Seat Of Government

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  The Dalai Lama and his government moved into the Potrang Karpo in 1649. From that year until 1959, the complex served as the winter residence for successive Dalai Lamas. Construction continued until 1694, twelve years after the Fifth Dalai Lama died. The Potrang Marpo was added between 1690 and 1694. A Kalachakra Mandala appeared during the 1690s. Another mandala, the Yamantaka Mandala, was created in 1751. This arrangement established the building as the political heart of Tibet for over three centuries before the Tibetan uprising changed its function.

• 3. Sloping Walls And Copper Foundations

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  Engineers built the structure at an altitude of about 3,700 metres on Marpo Ri. The palace measures 400 meters east to west and 350 meters north to south. Its sloping stone walls average 3 meters thick and reach 5 meters at the base. Workers poured copper into the foundations specifically for earthquake protection. The complex rises 13 storeys high and reaches a height of 119 meters above the mountain. It extends over 300 meters above the valley floor below. The external structure took only three years to build while the interior required 45 years to complete with all furnishings.

• 4. Thousands Of Statues And Shrines

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  The Potala contains more than 1,000 rooms housing some 200,000 statues. There are also 10,000 shrines scattered throughout the complex. Crimson colored sections called the red palace hold principal halls and chapels dedicated to past Dalai Lamas. White limestone creates the white sections while yellow appears in other areas. During the Sertreng Festival on the 30th day of the second Tibetan month, workers hoisted two gigantic thangkas joined together representing Tara and Sakyamuni. These religious artifacts define the spiritual importance of the site within Buddhist tradition.

• 5. Restoration Projects And UNESCO Status

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  UNESCO inscribed the palace to its World Heritage List in 1994. Moderate damage occurred during the 1959 Tibetan uprising when Chinese shells were launched into windows. Zhou Enlai personally intervened to prevent destruction during the Cultural Revolution in 1966. Restoration work commenced in 2002 at a cost of RMB180 million or US$22.5 million. Another restoration project between 1989 and 1994 cost RMB55 million or US$6.875 million. The palace director Qiangba Gesang clarified that only traditional materials and craftsmanship were used for these repairs. Modern structures around the palace now face height restrictions of 21 meters to preserve atmosphere.

• 6. Visitor Quotas And Railway Access

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  The number of visitors was restricted to 1,600 per day starting from the 1st of May 2003. Opening hours reduced to six daily to avoid overcrowding before this change. Daily averages reached 1,500 visitors prior to quotas with peaks exceeding 5,000 on single days. Visits to the roof were banned after restoration efforts finished in 2006. Quotas rose to 2,300 daily following the opening of the Qingzang railway on the 1st of July 2006. This railway caused a 30% increase in visitorship numbers. Over 6,000 visitors would descend on the site during peak months from July to September when hours extended.