Visit Potala Palace

Set on the Red Mountain, the magnificent Potala Palace rises above the city of Lhasa. The palace was built on the remains of an old palace built by Tibetan Emperor Songtsen Gampo. The Potala Palace  was constructed in the seventeenth century during the time of the fifth Dalai Lama. After its construction, the Potala Palace served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14^th Dalai Lama’s exile from Tibet.  A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the palace has been converted into a museum. This gigantic palace is divided into the Red Palace and the White Palace. While the White Palace houses the Dalai Lama’s private chambers, the throne room and assembly hall, the Red Palace houses the tombs of the former Dalai Lamas and a private monastery. One can discover around 10,000 Thangkas (traditional Tibetan scroll paintings), 698 murals, ancient artifacts including relics made from precious metals and stones and collection of rare Buddhist sutras.