ThePotala Palaceis thehighestancient palace in the world. Once an imperial palace, seat of government, and monastery, it's now a must visit place for Tibet tourists.
Find out more interesting facts below.
- Chinese:布达拉宫 Bùdálā Gōng /boo-daa-laa gong/ 'Potala Palace'
- Location:Lhasa, Tibet
1. No building is allowed to be higher than the Potala Palace.
The Potala Palace is built 117 meters (384 feet) up a mountain, with impressive zig-zagging steps up to it.
When you wander around Lhasa city's buildings, you will find thatnothing- no new apartment block, branded hotel, ancient old house, temple, or monastery - is higher than the top of the Potala Palace. This is as a mark of respect for the holy site.
Potala Palace is built 117 meters up the Red Hill
2. The Palace was built as a present to the king's bride-to-be.
The palace was originally not as large as it is today. Theoriginal palacewas built as a present from King Songtsan Gampo to his bride-to-be in 637 AD.
The original palace was destroyed during the ninth century, and the current one was built by the fifth Dalai Lama.
3. The palace was once deserted for more than 800 years.
The 33th king of Tubo (a Tibetan kingdom),Songstan Gampomoved his capital toLhasaand started to build thePotala Palacein the seventh century. It became the main palace of the kingdom.
But early in the ninth century, after the Tubo kingdom's demise, the palace, and the whole city, wasdeserted.Other Tibetan regimes didn't have their capitals at Lhasa.
4. The Potala was the residence of 10 Dalai Lamas over 317 years.
In 1642 , after thefifth Dalai Lamarebuilt the Potala Palace and finished theWhite Palacepart, he moved his government to the palace.
From then on, the Potala Palace became the Dalai Lamas'住宅, government offices, and an important place for religious activities.
However, after the14th Dalai Lamafled to India in 1959, the palace has been more like amuseum.
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5. The Potala Palace has 2 parts: the White Palace and the Red Palace.
The red and white palaces had different functions.
The White Palacewas built earlier and functioned as offices of the Tibetan government, assembly halls, and the Dalai Lama's residence.
The Red Palacewas used as a house of prayer by the Dalai Lama. It was dedicated to the study of Buddhism and the advancement of the religion.
The red and white palaces had different functions.
6. The Potala Palace houses 8 Dalai Lama's mummies.
Some Tibetan monasteries' stupas store whole monks' bodies. Thestupasin the Potala Palace are actually Dalai Lamas'tombs.
There areeight holy stupasin the Potala Palace with bodies in: the 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th Dalai Lamas' bodies.
The stupas in the palace areextremely luxuriously decoratedwith gold, silver, pearls, agate, coral, diamond, and other treasures.
7. The 5th Dalai Lama's stupa is coated with more than 3,700 kg of gold!
The5th Dalai Lama's stupais the mostluxurious, and most treasured one.
The stupa is14.85 meters (48'8") highand overlaid with 3,721 kg (4.102 US tons) of gold.
There aremore than 18,000 jewelsdecorating the stupa, including pearls, coral, amber, and agate.
Stupas
8. Only 2,300 Potala Palace visitors are allowed per day.
Toprotectthe palace, and make sure visitors can have a reasonably uncrowded tour of the palace, the Potala Palacemanagementauthority controls visitor numbers to 2,300 a day.
So book well in advance!
9. The palace's wall is painted with milk!
每一年,之前the 22nd day of the 9th month of theTibetan calendar,people will paint the palace's walls.
The "paint"for the walls is made ofmilk,sugar, honey, and some herbs, mixed with white lime.
Centuries ago,it took more than a monthto finish the painting. Nowadays, it's done within 10 days.
The palace's wall is painted with milk
10. The Potala's walls are up to 5 meters thick.
The thickest part of thepalace wallsis at the base: 5 meters (16 ft). The higher it goes, the thinner the walls are. The roof's parapet wall is up to 1 meter thick.
找到更多布达拉宫的事实
There are many more interesting details and anecdotes about Tibet's holiest palace for you to discover. We choose fromthe best Lhasa guidesso you get the most from your tour.
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