Visit Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet (UNESCO site)

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Construction of the Potala Palace complex, the Tibetan winter home of the Dalai Lamas, was begun in the 7th century AD. The Palace is an iconic symbol of Tibetan Buddhism and plays a key role in the administration of Tibet. Built on Red Mountain in the center of the Lhasa Valley (the highest elevation of any ancient palace), Potala Palace is the oldest building in a collection that includes the Jokhang Temple Monastery and Norbulingka, a masterpiece of Tibetan art and the former summer palace of the Dalai Lama. Within the Potala Palace complex is found the White Palace where the throne of the then sitting Dalai Lama was located. The nearby Red Palace harbors the remains of Dalai Lamas that have gone before in resplendent gold tombs as well as a great collection of halls that house numerous Buddhas and the sutras (libraries of tenets, sermons and rules) of Buddhism. Potala Palace and its surrounding buildings are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 3 to 7 day tours from Kathmandu, Nepal are popular ways for visitors to see the historically significant buildings and grounds of Potala Palace. Visitors that arrive at Potala Palace on their own are required to be accompanied by local guides and must have previously obtained a special permit to visit. The Lhosa Gongarr Airport offers flights in and out of Lhasa from a number of locations in China. Buses connect Lhasa with other cities in Tibet. The Qinghai-Tibet (Qingzang) railway connects Lhasa and Golmud, China with continuing service to points beyond. Lhasa has a number of quality restaurants, many of which serve Western food. A broad selection of hotels and other accommodations are available. Your dream to visit this historical center of Tibetan Buddhism requires a trip to Lhasa, Tibet to See Potala Palace. You might combine this with a visit to China or one that includes a number of other centers for Eastern religions. Add this trip to your list and start doing the research so that you can understand the customs necessary to pay proper respect to the sacred objects of this ancient religion housed at this historic complex.

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