Images of Lhasa

by Doug Mendel, Dec 25, 2003 | Destinations: China / Tibet

Image © 2003 Doug Mendel

The Potala Palce is a grand structure of 1000 rooms that is 117 meters high. It is made of stone and timber and the Palace is divided into 2 sections, an inner section, the Red Palace, containing the temples and reliquary tombs of the Dalai Lamas. The outer section is called the White Palace. The Potala Palace was originally built in the seventh century as a place of meditation by King Songtsen Gampo on the occasion of his marriage to Princess Wencheng of the Tang Court. The current structure dates to the 17th century; it was rebuilt by the 5th Dalai Lama and became the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas from that time.

A story told with photos.

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