Architectural Feature
- Notice: visitors of the Potala Palace must observe Tibetan Buddhist customs. These include not wearing a hat, not taking pictures inside the palace (outside the palace you can shoot in some locations), not stepping on the threshold and so on. All visits are limited to an hour, therefore you are not allowed to stop anywhere west gate by the post and can walk down the mountain slopes to the main entrance to the Potala Palace. 0 of tune from covers the Potala Palace and other major tourist attractions Raiders travel routes.
- Conditions of altitude sickness: Potala altitude is 3750 m above, the plain people should pay attention to prevent altitude sickness when to the Potala Palace, always well prepared is always right. There are two general methods suitable for two types of people for the prevention of altitude sickness in Tibet, one is relatively ample preparation time, you can start taking two weeks altitude medicine before Tibet, the other is coming into the possession of the short-term, without sufficient preparation time, you would have to choose fast-acting medicine, you can take it when arriving Tibet or the occurrence of altitude sickness in Tibet, two types of products can be freely combined, easy to deal with altitude sickness.
Built at an altitude of 3,700 m (12,100 ft), on the side of Marpo Ri (‘Red Mountain’) in the center of Lhasa Valley, the Potala Palace, with its vast inward-sloping walls broken only in the upper parts by straight rows of many windows, and its flat roofs at various levels, is not unlike a fortress in appearance. At the south base of the rock is a large space enclosed by walls and gates, with great porticos on the inner side. A series of tolerably easy staircases, broken by intervals of gentle ascent, leads to the summit of the rock. The whole width of this is occupied by the palace.
The central part of this group of buildings rises in a vast quadrangular mass above its satellites to a great height, terminating in gilt canopies similar to those on the Jokhang. This central member of colour, which distinguishes it from the rest. It contains the principal halls and chapels and shrines of past Dalai Lamas. There is in these much rich decorative painting, with jewelled work, carving and other ornamentation.
The Chinese Putuo Zongcheng Temple, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built between 1767 and 1771, was in part modeled after the Potala Palace. The palace was named by the American television show Good Morning America and newspaper USA Today as one of the “New Seven Wonders”.
White Palace – The White Palace or Potrang Karpo is the part of the Potala Palace that makes up the living quarters of the Dalai Lama. The first White Palace was built during the lifetime of the Fifth Dalai Lama and he and his government moved into it in 1649. It then was extended to its size today by the thirteenth Dalai Lama in the early 20th century. The palace contained the living quarters, offices, the seminary and the printing house. A central, yellow-painted courtyard known as a Deyangshar separates the living quarters of the Lama and his monks with the Red Palace, the other side of the sacred Potala, which is completely devoted to religious study and prayer. It contains the sacred gold banners embroidered with holy symbols which hung across the south face of the Potala during New Year festivals.
Red Palace – The Red Palace or Potrang Marpo is part of the Potala palace that is completely devoted to religious study and Buddhist prayer. It consists of a complicated layout of many different halls, chapels and libraries on many different levels with a complex array of smaller galleries and winding passages:
Great West Hall – The main central hall of the Red Palace is the Great West citation needed] The famous scene of his visit to Emperor Shunzhi in Beijing is located on the east wall outside the entrance. Special cloth from Bhutan wraps the Hall’s numerous columns and pillars.
The Saint’s Chapel – On the north side of this hall in the Red Palace is an important shrine of the Potala. The chapel like the Dharma cave below it dates from the 7th century. It contains a small ancient jewel encrusted statue of Avalokiteshvara and two of his attendants. On the floor below, a low, dark passage leads into the Dharma Cave where Songsten Gampo is believed to have studied Buddhism. In the holy cave are images of Songsten Gampo, his wives, his chief minister and Sambhota, the scholar who developed Tibetan writing in the company of his many divinities.
North Chapel – The North Chapel form a specialized library in a room branching off it.
South Chapel – The South Chapel inturned gaze. On his right, eight wrathful manifestations wield instruments of magic powers to subdue the demons of the Bön faith.
East Chapel – The East chapel is dedicated to Tsong Khapa, founder of the Gelug tradition. His central figure is surrounded by lamas from Sakya Monastery who had briefly ruled Tibet and formed their own tradition until converted by Tsong Khapa. Other statues are displayed made of various different materials and display noble expressions.
West Chapel – This is the chapel that contains the five golden stupas on both ends contain important scriptures.
First Gallery – The first gallery is on the floor above the West chapel and has a number of large windows that give light and ventilation to the Great West Hall and its chapels below. Between the windows, superb murals show the Potala’s construction is fine detail.
Second Gallery – The Second Gallery gives access to the central pavilion which is used for visitors to the palace for refreshments and to buy souvenirs.
Third Gallery – The Third Gallery besides fine murals has a number of dark rooms branching off it containing enormous collections of bronze statues. The chanting hall of the Seventh Dalai Lama is on the south side and on the east an entrance connects the section to the Saints chapel and the Deyangshar between the two palaces.[citation needed]
Tomb of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama – The tomb of the 13th Dalai Lama is located west of the Great West Hall and it can be reached only from an upper floor and with the company of a monk or a guide of the Potala. Built in 1933, the giant styles depict many events of the life of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama during the early 20th century.
The Lhasa Zhol Pillars – Lhasa Zhol Village has two stone pillars or chima, which originally stood outside the South entrance to the village. Today the pillar stands neglected to the East of the Liberation Square, on the South side of Beijing Avenue.
The ,and is inscribed with what may be the oldest known example of Tibetan writing.
The pillar contains dedications to a famous Tibetan general and gives an account of his services to the king including campaigns against China which culminated in the brief capture of the Chinese capital Chang’an (modern Xian) in 763 during which the Tibetans temporarily installed as Emperor a relative of Princess Jincheng Me Agtsom.
The Ticket Strategy
- Ticketing Information: Potala Palace has the implementation of pre-integrated ticketing system restricted, limiting the number of visitors is 2,300 people a day (about 700 individual tickets), after 17:00 every day, it sells the next day and later tickets, the pre-sale ticket limited 4 per person, you must line up for tickets one day in advance, certificate and identity card number must be provided, according to the sequence of queuing, ticket marked on the card the next day’s tour time, buy enter in the gate of Potala Palace.
- Get Number Location: off-season is the main entrance, the busy season is the west gate of Potala Palace.
- Enter Place: FIT in on can not enter.
- Security Information: Entering Potala need security check, all explosive, guns, knives (including nail clippers and any gadget, are likely to pry a gem of the Potala Palace.) can not be brought in.
- The Ticket Place: after security, you are into wall, walk to the front of the Potala Palace though a ladder uphill, the White House ticket office, with ticket redemption certificates buy the real Potala Palace tickets.
- Free admission for:
1. Height under 1.30 m’s children is free tickets and tickets.
2. Disabled veterans, retired cadres, please purchase tickets with valid documents, 30% off.
To control the number of visitors, in 2006 began to restrict visitors to 2,300 people per day, of which 1,600 provided to travel agencies, 700 provided to the individual. FIT visit the Potala Palace need in advance to line up, in Season is May 1 to October 31 every year, the fare is 200 yuan. Off-season is November 1 to April 30, 100 yuan. Note: the price before adjustment is 100 yuan, without the distinguish seasons or off-season June 1, 2012 onwards, the Potala Palace attraction tickets prices increased. Among them, the Potala Palace scenic season ticket prices raised to 200 yuan / person, doubled.
Itineraries – The guide of Tibet Travel CITS will take you place in it:
The East Courtyard — The Gallery of the White Palace — The East Youjiyuanman Hall — The Sunlight Hall — The Hall of Maitreya — The Golden Top — The Tancheng Hall — The Shushengsanjie Hall — The Longevity Hall — The Stupa Hall of the 13th Dalai Lama — The Shangshi Hall — The Stupa Hall of the 7th Dalai Lama — The Hall of Guanyin — The Stupa Hall of the 8th Dalai Lama — The The Stupa Hall of the 9th Dalai Lama — The Shilun Hall — The Hall of Amitayus Buddha — The Fawang Cave — The Puxianzhuisui Hall — The Xiangluo Hall — The Gallery of the Red Palace — The West Youjiyuanman Hall — The Putidaocidi Hall — The Chiming Hall — the Stupa Hall of the 5th Dalai Lama — The Shixi Hall.
Monasteries & Temples of Tibet • Locations & Activities