Potala Palace

The Potala, one of the most famous architectural works in the world, sits on top of the Red Hill in Lhasa. Constructed In the 7th century, after the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo’s married Princess Wencheng of the Tang Court, the Palace was built to provide the Tibetan court with a place for worship and meditation. In the mid-17th century, it was extended by the 5th Dalai Lama to its present size, and became the Winter Palace of the Dalai Lamas. The construction took fifty years from commencing to completion.

The Potala is divided into two sections, namely, the Red Palace and White Palace. The total height of the Potala is 117 meters spanning thirteen story’s. The length from east to west is 400 meters and the breadth from south to north is 350 meters. The building is constructed of stone and timber with golden roofs. It is a majestic architectural masterpiece