What is the architecture of the Potala Palace? (with a floor plan of the Potala Palace)

I.Cultural History and Architecture of the Potala Palace

The Himalayan culture where the Potala Palace is located is at the crossroads of several major cultures in Asia

Aerial view of the exterior of the Potala Palace

❶ Masterpiece in Turbulent Times

At the end of the 6th century AD,
The leader of the Tibetan Yalong tribe who originated in the Shannan area,
Namri Songtsen, father of Songtsen Gampo,
Captured the fortress of the Zingpung Sum-pa tribe – Chilbon Zung in today’s Lhasa River Valley and occupied the Lhasa area.

Distribution of forces in the Lhasa River Valley in the 6th century AD

Later, Songtsen Gampo inherited his father’s cause and established the Tubo Dynasty, the first unified regime in Tibetan history, in 633 AD and made Lhasa its capital.

Territory of the Tubo Dynasty

At this time, Lhasa was still a river valley wetland, full of swamps and desolation.

The braided river in the Lhasa River Valley – the Lhasa River, photographed in Dazi County, Lhasa City

Songtsen Gampo led the people to dredge river channels, build palaces and fortresses, and build temples. Construction was in full swing in the Lhasa River Valley. At the same time, the Tang Dynasty was growing stronger. In order to marry a princess of the Tang Dynasty (another theory is that it is for military security considerations), Songtsen Gampo built a grand palace on the Red Mountain at the center of today’s Lhasa city. The Red Mountain Palace. This is the original Potala Palace. According to “The Royal Genealogy of Tibet”: “The gate faces south. There are nine hundred red palaces. Together with the residence of the Tibetan king on the top, there are a total of a thousand palaces.” It can be seen how large the palace was at that time.

The image of the Potala Palace during the period of Songtsen Gampo. Note: According to the “Catalogue of Lhasa”, this picture was originally a mural in the Jokhang Temple, but it was blackened by lamp smoke due to years

However,

The Tubo Dynasty soon fell into complex social contradictions. In 869 AD, there was a “great uprising of civilians and slaves.” At the same time, the event of destroying Buddhism prevailed in Tibetan areas. Most of the buildings of the Potala Palace were destroyed in this series of events. The palace, which was built for less than 200 years, withered along with the collapse of the dynasty.

❷ Reborn from Cocoon

For the following 800 years, the power center of Tibet continuously changed and shifted. The Potala Palace had not been rebuilt. It was not until the 17th century (1642) that after years of war, Gushri Khan, the leader of the Khoshut tribe who supported the Gelug Sect, defeated various local forces in Tibet and established the Ganden Phodrang local regime, a union of Mongols and Tibetans. Lhasa once again became the center of Tibet, and the reconstruction of the Potala Palace was extremely urgent.

red: (The scope of the local regime in Tibet in 1643)

In 1645, the foundation of the White Palace of the Potala Palace was laid. The entire project was entrusted to Desi Sonam Chokyi Pelzang, the steward of the Dalai Lama. After three years, the main project was basically completed.

The White Palace of the Potala Palace

The White Palace has a trapezoidal plane and a total of seven floors. It is the living quarters and place for handling government affairs of the Dalai Lama. On the fourth floor, there is the largest hall in the White Palace, the “Great East Assembly Hall of Perfect Solitude and Completeness.” This is where important activities such as the enthronement ceremony of the Dalai Lama are held.

The internal layout of the fourth floor of the White Palace of the Potala Palace

Later, the Fifth Dalai Lama went to Beijing to pay homage to Emperor Shunzhi. His status was officially recognized by the Qing court. Lhasa ushered in a second construction boom.
In 1682, the Fifth Dalai Lama passed away. To place the stupa of the Fifth Dalai Lama, the Red Palace was constructed on the west side of the White Palace in 1690. It took four years to complete.

The Red Palace of the Potala Palace. After the passing of the Fifth Dalai Lama in 1682, Desi Sangye Gyatso presided over the subsequent renovation and expansion of the Potala Palace

For considerations of politics and other aspects, the construction of the Red Palace was postponed for eight years. It was not officially started until 1690. The Red Palace has a square plane and a total of nine floors. On the fifth floor, there is the largest hall in the Red Palace, the “Great West Assembly Hall of Perfect Solitude and Completeness.” The stupa of the Fifth Dalai Lama is placed here.

Interior map of the fifth floor of the Red Palace in the Potala Palace

1：The Stupa Hall of the 13th Dalai Lama
2：The Stupa Hall of the 5th Dalai Lama
3：The Hereditary Hall
4：The Great Assembly Hall of Perfect Completion in the West
5：The Hall of Vidya-Dharani
6：The Lattice Hall

In addition, there is also the imperial autograph of Emperor Qianlong, “The Initial Place of the Lotus Emerging.”

The imperial autograph of Emperor Qianlong, “The Initial Place of the Lotus Emerging”

Paintings such as “The Fifth Dalai Lama Pays Homage to Emperor Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty.”

The mural of the Fifth Dalai Lama paying homage to Emperor Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty

Since then, the Red Palace has become the place where the stupas of successive Dalai Lamas are stored. As the tallest building of the Potala Palace, the Red Palace is an incomparable classic in terms of both architectural art and religious connotations. The Red Palace is to the Potala Palace what the Potala Palace is to Tibetan Buddhism, having extraordinary significance.

A distant view of the southwest corner of the Potala Palace

Under the White Palace and the Red Palace, there is a courtyard each. On the west side of the courtyard, there are Zhacang buildings, which are used as living quarters for monks. Thus, the main body of the Potala Palace building, consisting mainly of the White Palace, the Red Palace, the courtyards, and the Zhacang buildings, was formed.

The main body of the Potala Palace building. The east and west courtyards are also known as the East Joy Square and the West Joy Square

This construction cost more than 3 million taels of silver. The construction cost per square meter is about 16,000 taels of silver. According to records, when the construction period was busy, nearly 7,000 various craftsmen were employed. Later, through multiple expansions and renovations, a palace-fortress architectural complex composed of palaces, monk quarters, blockhouses, and square cities was formed.

An illustrated diagram of the Potala Palace architectural complex. The square city is called “Shol” or Shol Village in Tibetan

From left to right in the picture are: Square City, Lower Note Hall, Upper Note Hall, Western Circular Fortress, Jebum Monastery, Western Courtyard, Red Palace, White Palace, Eastern Courtyard, Monastic Official School, Tiger’s Den Circular Path, Jade Step Cellar, Eastern Large Fortress.

The architectural complex almost occupies the entire Red Mountain. It is majestic and imposing. From a distance, it is like a snow lotus blooming on a lofty mountain ridge.

The Potala Palace architectural complex

Viewed from above, the entire building is extremely consistent with the mountain terrain. Like a gem growing in the mountain rock, it is perfectly natural.

A bird’s-eye view of the west side of the Potala Palace

❸ Snowy Castle

The Potala Palace is not only a symbolic building of Tibetan Buddhism but also was once the administrative center and comprehensive office center of the Tibetan area.

Including office areas: military headquarters, courts, religious academies, currency factories, incense factories, warehouses.
Living areas: kitchens, bars, teahouses, studies, monk quarters, etc.

An illustrated diagram of the Potala Palace building plan

These are the structures and features in order:

1,Red Palace; 9,Jade Step Cellar; 17,Eastern Printing House;

2,White Palace; 10,Western Circular Fortress; 18,Eastern Palace Gate;

3,Eastern Courtyard; 11,Lower Note Summer Residence; 19,Southeast Corner Tower;

4,Western Courtyard; 12,Eastern Large Fortress; 20,Southern Palace Gate;

5,Monastic Official School; 13,Yaxi Tower; 21,Southwest Corner Tower;

6,Upper Note Summer Residence. 14,Printing House; 22,Western Palace Gate;

7,Jebum Monastery; 15,Sholpa Lekhung; 23,Back Mountain Highway;

8,Tiger’s Den Circular Path; 16,Former Tibetan Military Department; 24,Rear Circular Fortress.

Integrating administration, judicature, economy, and culture of the Tibetan area, it plays an important role in the lives of Tibetans and has even become a cultural symbol of Tibet.
To this day, more than 1,300 years have passed since its initial construction. The magnificent momentum of the Potala Palace remains ever new amid the continuous expansion of Lhasa city.

A distant view of the Potala Palace

Looking from the Lhasa River, in the crystal-clear air, the snow-white palace walls support the ochre-red palace, like the setting sun crossing over snow-capped mountains. That is the most beautiful color in the snowy region.

Scenic Spots of the Potala Palace

The White Palace

The winter palace of the Dalai Lama. It was also the location of the administrative office of the former local government of Tibet. It has seven floors. Located in the center of the fourth floor is the Great East Assembly Hall of Perfect Solitude and Completeness (Tsochok Shashi Zimpuk). It is the largest hall in the White Palace of the Potala Palace, with an area of 717 square meters. This is the place for major religious and political activities such as the enthronement ceremony and the assumption of political power by the Dalai Lama. The fifth and sixth floors are the offices and living quarters for regents. On the topmost seventh floor are two sets of living quarters for the Dalai Lama in winter.

The Red Palace

Located in the central position of the Potala Palace, it is the main building of the Potala Palace. The exterior wall is red. The palace adopts a mandala layout. Many scripture halls and Buddhist halls have been built around the stupa halls of successive Dalai Lamas, thus connecting with the White Palace. These are the stupa halls of successive Dalai Lamas. There are five in total, namely those of the Fifth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and Thirteenth Dalai Lamas. Each hall has the same shape but different sizes. The largest stupa hall of the Fifth Dalai Lama (Tsering Lingkhyi) has three floors. It is supported by sixteen large square pillars. In the center is placed the stupa of the Fifth Dalai Lama. On both sides are the stupas of the Tenth and Twelfth Dalai Lamas.

The Golden Roof Group

It is a complex of buildings composed of the golden roofs of the stupa halls of multiple generations of Dalai Lamas. Located on the roof platform of the Red Palace, all are single-eaved hip roofs. The outer eaves are supported by wooden brackets, and covered with gilded copper tiles. On top stand three pagodas, one large and two small, glittering with golden light, extremely dazzling. The parapet on the periphery of the roof is built with a kind of deep purple-red shrub, decorated with various gold ornaments. On top of the wall stand huge gilded precious pillars and red prayer flags, reflecting a strong Tibetan style. Here, not only can you appreciate various exquisite golden roofs up close, but also overlook the general appearance of the ancient city from the railing.

Murals

On the walls of various halls (a total of 1,000 rooms) of the Potala Palace, there are murals, scroll thangkas, and wooden engravings. The fine brushwork is delicate and the lines are smooth. In the oldest existing Buddhist hall, “Chokyi Drakpa”, the murals more than 1,300 years ago are still brightly colored. History and religious themes are the main contents of the murals. In addition to Buddha statues and Buddhist stories, the well-known legend of “monkeys turning into humans” in Tibet, the Fifth Dalai Lama’s visit to Beijing to pay homage to Emperor Shunzhi, and Princess Wencheng’s entry into Tibet and other major historical events can all be found on the murals of the Potala Palace.

Treasure Gallery

It is a three-story building located in the Shol City at the foot of the front of the Potala Palace. It has a construction area of more than 2,000 square meters and a total investment of more than 10 million yuan. The exhibition of the Treasure Gallery will be divided into two parts, “Recalling History” and “Treasures in the Palace”, with eight units, totaling about 200 sets of cultural relics and photos.

Shol City

“Shol” means below. Shol City is the general term for the buildings below the Potala Palace. Here, you can see the office places set up by former lords, institutions providing living services for rulers, and the residences of monk and lay nobles, officials, as well as the residences of low-ranking clerks, craftsmen, and serfs.

II. Tickets for the Potala Palace

▌Ticket Prices
Peak season (May 1st – October 31st): 200 yuan per ticket;
Off-season (November 1st – April 30th of the following year): 100 yuan per ticket.

PS: Tourists who purchase half-price tickets must bring your preferential certificate and ID card on the day of visit. Otherwise, all will be treated as untrustworthy online purchases. The purchased tickets will be invalidated and cannot be purchased again for visiting.

▌Opening Hours
08:30 – 17:00

III. Transportation to the Potala Palace

Public Transport
Suitable for tourists who love to be in lively places, travel in large groups, and have low requirements for the riding environment. The fare for large buses is 1 yuan per person, and for minibuses it is 2 yuan per person. Large buses must strictly board and stop at designated stops. Minibuses basically stop when hailed.
In the urban area, take bus No. 1, No. 12, No. 17, or No. 24 and get off at “Labai Station”.
Rickshaws
Suitable for short distances, small groups of people, hot weather, etc. Generally, you can reach your destination for 3 to 5 yuan within a distance of about 2 kilometers. For distances not exceeding 7 yuan, it is suitable to take a rickshaw.
Taxis
The starting fare in the urban area is 10 yuan, and then it is 2 yuan per kilometer. From anywhere in the city to the Potala Palace, generally it costs 10 yuan regardless of which direction you come from.
Tourist Buses
Refers to participating in a travel agency group or chartering a vehicle. For those participating in a group tour, they will generally be picked up around 9 am. Chartering a vehicle for a tour in Lhasa is priced per day. Depending on the vehicle type and different tourist seasons, generally it costs 1000 to 1500 yuan per vehicle per day.

IV. Accommodation near the Potala Palace

Accommodation in Lhasa is relatively complete. There are many choices ranging from star-rated hotels and guesthouses to youth hostels and characteristic family inns. Accommodation areas are generally concentrated in Lhasa city proper and Xianzu Island. Hotels and inns around Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street in the old city are very concentrated and are the first choice for many independent travelers and backpackers. Xianzu Island is close to the Lhasa River. Many family inns in new ecological communities have been built. Tourists who like quietness will like it more. It is recommended to stay in some characteristic Tibetan inns and youth hostels to be more grounded and have a deeper understanding of Lhasa. Tourists entering Tibet during the peak season had better make reservations in advance.

V. Cuisine near the Potala Palace

▌Introduction to Cuisine
Representative Tibetan cuisines include tsampa, buttered tea, highland barley wine, yogurt, and Tibetan steamed buns. Tibetan cuisine is mainly meat-based. Don’t miss trying various ways of cooking yak meat. Sichuan cuisine has become popular in Lhasa, so even if you are not used to eating Tibetan cuisine, there is no need to worry too much. In addition, you can also eat Nepalese, Indian and Western cuisines in Lhasa. Deji Road and Beijing Road bring together cuisines from all over the place, including Tibetan cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, Western cuisine, and many bars.

Tsampa is a characteristic snack in the Tibet Autonomous Region and also one of the traditional staple foods of Tibetan herdsmen.

▌Specialties
Tibet has many handicraft products full of local flavor and ethnic style, such as various wooden bowls, silver bowls, bamboo bowls and other traditional Tibetan handicraft woven products. There are also imitations processed in batches by merchants from Nepal, India and other countries, such as various bone-carved animals and various “antiques” treated with an antique finish.

tibetan knife

Among the relatively famous specialties are caterpillar fungus, Tibetan knives, Tibetan masks, wooden bowls, thangkas, jewelry, buttered tea, tsampa, Tibetan noodles, Ganzi yellow bean jelly, highland barley wine, etc. Barkhor Street is concentrated with various characteristic small commodities and is a shopping paradise for tourists.

VI. Festivals of the Potala Palace

▌Losar (Tibetan New Year)
Time: 1st day of the 1st month of the Tibetan calendar
Introduction: Losar is the most important annual festival for the Tibetan people. At the beginning of December of the Tibetan calendar, people start to prepare for the New Year goods. “Qi Ma” is filled with foods such as tsampa mixed with butter, fried wheat grains and tricholoma matsutake. On it are inserted highland barley ears, cockscombs and colored flower boards made of butter. During these days, people either sing and dance wildly to celebrate, or visit relatives and friends, drink heartily to celebrate the New Year, or go to nearby temples to worship Buddha.

▌Saga Dawa Festival
Time: 15th day of the 4th month of the Tibetan calendar
Location: Jokhang Temple, Potala Palace
Introduction: It is said that Buddha Shakyamuni was born, attained enlightenment and passed away on the 15th day of the 4th month of the Tibetan calendar. Therefore, various activities are held on this day to commemorate. On the festival day, Tibetans in Lhasa pour out in full force and circumambulate the outer walls of Jokhang Temple and Potala Palace. The whole Lhasa is filled with the smoke of incense. The three main circumambulation routes are full of believers circumambulating. Saga Dawa Festival is the most characteristic festival in Lhasa in spring.

Saga Dawa Festival

▌Butter Lamp Festival
Location: Various temples in Lhasa city
Time: 25th day of the 10th month of the Tibetan calendar
Introduction: It is said that this day is the enlightenment day of Tsongkhapa, the great Buddhist reformer and founder of the Gelug Sect. Every household lights butter lamps on the roof and recites sutras to praise Tsongkhapa to commemorate.

Butter Lamp Festival

VII. Travel Guide for the Potala Palace

▌Local Climate
Lhasa has no severe cold in winter and no intense heat in summer. The annual average temperature is 7.4℃. Rainfall is concentrated from June to September.

▌Best Time to Travel
From May to October.

▌Suggested Duration of Visit

A one-day tour of the Potala Palace is sufficient.

▌Clothing Guide
In summer, wear normal summer clothes. In the morning and evening, long-sleeved clothes and trousers are needed as the temperature difference between day and night is large. In spring and autumn, bring warm clothes, down jackets and windbreakers.

▌Best Shooting Spots

The Yaowangshan Observation Deck on the southwest side of the Potala Palace

The Potala Palace on the 50-yuan note

The Yaowangshan Observation Deck on the southwest side of the Potala Palace: You can take a full side view and sunrise photos.

By the artificial lake in Zongjiao Lukang Park

By the artificial lake in Zongjiao Lukang Park: You can take reflection photos.

Potala Palace Square

Potala Palace Square: You can take a full frontal view.

▌Little Things Not to Be Missed
Basking in the sun at the foot of the wall.
Sitting in the square of Jokhang Temple, wrapped in the warm sunshine, from time to time the smell of butter and Tibetan incense wafts over. While listening to the scriptures of people praying nearby and daydreaming, relax. But don’t forget to apply sunscreen while enjoying the beauty.

Tasting Tibetan cuisine.
With a glass of sweet tea in the left hand and an iron bowl of authentic Tibetan noodles in the right hand, some unknown people beside are saying things that you can’t understand. Truly integrate into the lives of local people.

Treasure hunting in Barkhor Street.
The mysterious characteristics of Lhasa are subtly embedded in those delicate objects. Whether it is to understand the culture, feel the faith, or buy as a gift for friends, it is worth a visit to Barkhor Street.

Deeply experience debating scriptures.
The most famous temple for debating scriptures in Lhasa city should be Sera Monastery. Perhaps you may not believe that you will be nervous, excited and even touched by their intense and incomprehensible dialogue.

VIII. Folk Customs and Taboos

The Tibetan people are a nation that believes in Buddhism. When in a new place, follow local customs and be sure to respect local customs.

1,Don’t talk freely about politics and religion.

2,Don’t hang flags in public places such as squares.

3,When taking portraits, you need to obtain consent.

4,Don’t touch the heads and shoulders of Tibetans without permission.

5,In Tibetan Buddhist temples, taking pictures is generally prohibited. You cannot wear hats or sunglasses when entering a temple. The ritual instruments and Buddha statues in the main hall cannot be touched or pointed at.

6,When walking and encountering religious facilities such as temples, mani piles, and stupas, you must go around from left to right. In Bon temples, on the contrary, you should go counterclockwise (very rare). Do not cross over ritual instruments, fire pans. Prayer wheels and scripture cylinders cannot be reversed.

7,Don’t whistle in Tibetan homes. Don’t cross over the family’s fireplace.

8,Taboo using paper with Tibetan words to wipe things or as toilet paper.

IX. Notes for Visiting

1,Be sure to bring valid identification documents and enter the palace for visiting strictly according to the specified time.

2,Those who are incapacitated or have limited capacity without guardians are not allowed to visit.

3,Consciously accept the security check when entering the palace. It is prohibited to bring any form of items that may affect the Potala Palace and personal safety as stipulated by Chinese laws, such as inflammable, explosive, poisonous, controlled knives, and sharp tools.

4,It is prohibited to bring printed materials, promotional materials, slogans, banners, and flags for political, religious, commercial and other purposes as stipulated by law into the Potala Palace.

5,Before entering the palace, keep your valuables by yourself and check large items. After the visit, go back to the item storage area to retrieve them. If the checked items are not retrieved in time before the ticket sales stop, you need to go to the west gate of Shol City of the Potala Palace by yourself to retrieve them.

6,Please do not make loud noises, chase, climb, lie down, spit everywhere, litter, or touch cultural relics inside the palace. Do not take pictures or videos in the halls. Do not bring liquid beverages into the palace. Smoking or using open flames is strictly prohibited in the Potala Palace.

7,You can enter the palace from the main gate (the first gate) 2 hours before the specified visiting time. During this period, you can visit the Potala Palace Shol City and the Potala Palace Treasure Gallery at the foot of the mountain for free. You can also go to the Qiangcang food and leisure area in Shol City to take a rest.

8,The Potala Palace is equipped with a water dispenser in Deyangsha. You can bring your own cup and get drinking water for free.

9,There is a 讲解员 reservation window in the palace. You can go there to reserve a 讲解员. Do not believe the inducement of illegal tour guides at the palace gate.

X. Medical Care

In case of altitude sickness, seek emergency treatment.
Tibet Autonomous Region People’s Hospital: 0891-6371322
Tibet Military Region General Hospital: 0891-6858122
General Hospital of the Armed Police Tibet Corps: 0891-6373015

▌Emergency Numbers
Consultation: 4008649111; 0891-6822896
Tourism Complaint: 0891-6834193
Price Complaint: 0891-12358

XI. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the Potala Palace open during the Spring Festival?
A: Open all year round. Only when the Panchen Lama comes will there be temporary control.

Q: How can I buy tickets for the Potala Palace during the peak season in July and August?
A: Queuing on site: Tickets are released at 09:00 on the day. There are a limited number of 700 tickets. Generally, people start queuing up at 2-3 am. Online reservation: It is relatively difficult to get. It is recommended to prepare one week in advance.

Q: How many main circumambulation routes are there in Lhasa?
A: Circumambulation is the simplest and easiest way of worship. In Lhasa, circumambulation is divided into the following ways: One circle of circumambulation is considered complete.

The first: Inside Jokhang Temple, the circumambulation route around the main hall is called “Langkor” in Tibetan.

The second: The street surrounding the entire Jokhang Temple is called “Barkhor”.

The third: From Jokhang Temple and Ramoche Temple, passing through the old city area, and finally making a circle around the Potala Palace.

The fourth: It is a circular route formed around the Potala Palace, called “Tsikhor”, which is translated into “the circumambulation route below the Potala Palace” in Tibetan.

Potala floor plan 1. Outer stepped ramps 2. Storage building for giant thangkas 3. Main public entrance 4. Southern bastion 5. White Palace outer courtyard 6. White Palace Assembly Hall 7. Red Palace Main Assembly Hall 8. Funeral chapel of the 5th Dalai Lama 9. Funeral chapel of the 13th Dalai Lama 10. Cave of Songsen Gampo 11. Quarters of the Namgyal Monastery monks 12.Red Palace outer courtyard 13. Red Palace Entrance