The Potala Palace rises majestically above Lhasa, symbolizing Tibetan Buddhism and political history. Built on Red Hill, it includes three main areas: a palace fortress on the mountaintop, a bustling town square at its base, and the serene Dragon King Pool Garden tucked behind the mountain. Blending religious, administrative, and architectural functions, the Potala Palace has served as the Dalai Lamas’ residence, a political hub, and a sacred site of Tibetan Buddhism.
Legacy of the Ganden Phodrang Era
The Ganden Phodrang period left a lasting legacy in Tibetan culture, with architectural achievements that still define it. The Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Norbulingka Gardens, now UNESCO World Heritage sites, showcase the era’s religious, architectural, and political advancements. Through these monumental sites, the Ganden Phodrang era cemented Tibet’s unique cultural identity, merging spiritual devotion with enduring architectural grandeur.
Rebuilding the Potala Palace: A Landmark of Tibetan Architecture
Originally built in the 7th century, the Potala Palace is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Tibet’s most iconic landmarks. It has faced and survived multiple reconstructions due to natural disasters and military conflicts. Lightning severely damaged it during King Trisong Detsen’s reign, and later, the palace was destroyed during the Tibetan Empire’s decline in the 9th century. The palace lay in ruins until the 17th century when the Fifth Dalai Lama initiated a major rebuilding project.
The White Palace: Vision of the Fifth Dalai Lama
The White Palace’s history began in 1642 when the Fifth Dalai Lama established the Ganden Phodrang government, marking a new era of centralized Tibetan leadership. On March 25, 1645, the Dalai Lama, alongside Mongolian leader Gushri Khan and other officials, inspected Red Hill as the future palace site, blending spiritual and governmental purposes. Desi Sonam Choephel, the first administrative leader, took charge of the project, beginning construction the next day, March 26, 1645. The Dalai Lama then moved from the Ganden Phodrang at Drepung Monastery to the reconstructed Potala Palace, where he lived for the rest of his life.
A Construction Feat without Blueprints
Despite lacking detailed architectural plans, the White Palace was completed in an astonishing three years, with about 7,000 workers toiling daily on the steep slopes of Red Hill. By April 1648, the White Palace stood tall, with construction completed without any reported injuries, showcasing exceptional planning, labor management, and community effort.
The Pathway Leading to the Potala Palace
The approach to the Potala Palace is marked by a “Z”-shaped stone staircase that winds up the mountainside, with the widest section reaching up to 10 meters. This pathway leads to the Eastern and Western gates (ནུབ་སྒོ་བྱང་ཆེན་ཐར་ལམ།) of the palace. The Eastern gate, known as “ཤར་སྒོ་ཕུན་ཚོགས་འདུ་ལམ།” , serves as the main entrance to the palace. The gate is adorned with four red wooden columns, featuring intricate carvings. On either side of the gate, two large paintings of the “Four Heavenly Kings” are displayed, each measuring 6 meters in height and 2.5 meters in width. Above the inner door, there are additional depictions of goddesses, and the lintel is decorated with a row of lion statues.
The Deyang Shar (བདེ་ཡངས་ཤར།)
Upon entering the main gates, visitors pass through a dark passage that leads directly to the large open platform in front of the White Palace, known as “Deyang Shar” (East Happiness Square). This platform, spanning 1,600 square meters, is made of compacted “Aga earth” and is smooth and polished. It was originally used during traditional festivals for performances of dance and religious rituals. Every year, on the 29th day of the 12th month of the Tibetan calendar, the Potala Palace celebrates the “Cham Dance Festival” here, a lively and colorful event.
The Deyang Shar is surrounded by corridors to the north and south, while the east and west buildings once housed the monk and government schools (established in 1749) for training mid-level Tibetan officials. Teachers were selected from Mendroling Monastery and were well-versed in history, Buddhist teachings, Tibetan literature, and astrology.
Key Sections of the White Palace
The White Palace was designed for dual religious and political roles, with specific rooms and halls serving each purpose. Below are the essential sections that reflect the palace’s multifunctional design:
The White Palace is accessed by a series of wooden ladders, three sets in total, with the central ladder reserved for the Dalai Lama’s use. Ordinary people would use the side ladders to ascend. Upon climbing these ladders, visitors enter the White Palace, which served as the residence and administrative center for the Dalai Lamas and the Tibetan government officials.
On the eastern wall, there are murals depicting the bustling cityscape of Tang Dynasty Chang’an, alongside the story of Princess Wencheng’s marriage to Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo, offering a vivid portrayal of life during that era. The southern wall displays a decree issued by the Fifth Dalai Lama, with his handprint as a seal, making it a precious historical artifact. The decree commands that the Chief Minister, Sangye Gyatso (1653–1705), take on the regent’s duties, and that all Tibetans—both monastic and lay—obey his authority.
The Eastern Great Hall
Walking through the halls, visitors reach the Eastern Great Hall, also known as ཚོམས་ཆེན་ཤར་སྲིད་ཞི་ཕུན་ཚོགས། (措钦厦司西平措), which was completed in 1645 during the reign of the Fifth Dalai Lama. It is the largest palace in the White Palace section. This hall has been the site for important religious and political ceremonies, such as the enthronement and consecration of Dalai Lamas.
The hall is adorned with 44 wooden columns and covers an area of 717 square meters. The beams and brackets are intricately carved, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. At the northern end of the hall stands the Dalai Lama’s throne and ritual implements.
In this hall, one can also find statues of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, along with numerous smaller golden Buddha statues surrounding him. Among the artifacts preserved in this hall are the gold medal and seal granted by the Qing Emperor Shunzhi, formally recognizing the Fifth Dalai Lama as the Supreme political leader of Tibet.
Kashag Office
Known as the administrative hub, the Kashag Office housed the government functions of the Ganden Phodrang. It was here that key decisions on Tibetan governance were made. The Kalons met to discuss and decide on important matters of state. They were responsible for overseeing various aspects of Tibetan administration, including finance, justice, foreign affairs, and military matters. The Kashag also played a role in the selection of the next Dalai Lama.
Discover the Splendor of the East Sunlight Hall
The East Sunlight Hall — གཟིིམ་ཆུང་དགའ་ལྡན་སྣང་གསལ། “—was the residence of the 14th and 13th Dalai Lama. This hall is one of the most revered parts of the White Palace and served as a private space for the Dalai Lama, with multiple rooms dedicated to worship, meditation, and personal relaxation.
As you enter, you are greeted by the magnificent Dalai Lama’s throne. Behind it stands a statue of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. To the east, you will find statues of Tara, the female Buddha of compassion, and the master-student trio of Tsongkhapa’s lineage. Notable artifacts, such as two 2-meter tall blue-and-white porcelain vases, add to the grandeur of the room. On the walls, vibrant murals depict Buddhist teachings and Tibetan history, enhancing the spiritual ambiance.
Every year during the Tibetan New Year, the Dalai Lama holds private audiences with high-ranking officials and monks in this hall, further deepening its connection to Tibet’s political and religious traditions.
A Closer Look at the Dalai Lama’s East Wing Chambers
Adjacent to the East Sunlight Hall is a series of rooms dedicated to the Dalai Lama’s daily routines. This includes the Audience Hall, where the Dalai Lama meets with VIP guests. གཟིམ་ཆུང་ཆོས་སྲིད་ཕུན་ཚོོགས་ཀུན་གཟིགས།Protector Gods Temple, where the Dalai Lama performs prayers and spiritual practices. The Sleeping Quarters (གཟིམ་ཆུང་འཆི་མེད་རྣམ་རྒྱལ།) serve as his personal resting space, with a Buddha shrine dedicated to the Three Long-Life Buddhas, representing health and longevity.
The West Sunlight Hall: A Haven of Peace and Spiritual Power
The West Sunlight Hall (བསོད་ནམས་ལེགས་འཁྱིལ།)— “Palace of Great Fortunate”—is another extraordinary space within the Potala Palace. This hall comprises the worship hall, prayer hall, meditation room, Protector God Temple, bedroom, and kitchen, offering a comprehensive view of Tibetan monastic life.
The West Sunlight Hall is home to the Dalai Lama’s throne and ritual implements, as well as the seats for high-ranking officials such as the Regent (rgyal-tshab) and Kalön (bkav-blon). The hall is adorned with stunning tapestries, including a famous “Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea” tapestry. Its vibrant colors and lifelike designs make it an artistic masterpiece that enhances the overall spiritual environment.
A Glimpse into the Dalai Lama’s West Wing Chambers
The Protector God Temple in the West Sunlight Hall features statues of powerful guardian deities, including the Main Protector, Guardian God, and the Naiqiong Protector. These statues are believed to offer protection and blessings to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people.
In addition to the spiritual elements, the West Sunlight Hall also houses a Tangka of the Goddess of Auspiciousness, which adds a layer of divine protection to the sacred space.
Residences for the Dalai Lama’s Attendants
Spaces were allocated for the attendants who served the Dalai Lama, equipped with rooms and facilities that allowed them to carry out their duties seamlessly.
The Red Palace: Sacred Spaces and Political Power
Built adjacent to the White Palace, the Red Palace, or Potrang Marpo, (ཕོ་བྲང་དམར་པོ་) serves as a sacred site housing the stupas of several Dalai Lamas and various statues of the Buddha. The Red Palace has historically been the spiritual heart of the Potala, with unique spaces dedicated to important religious rituals, political gatherings, and ancestral worship.
The Red Palace of the Potala Palace stands as a testament to Tibetan religious devotion and architectural brilliance. It was the center for the Dalai Lama’s religious activities, housing the tomb stupas and Buddhist shrines of previous Dalai Lamas. Built by the Fifth Dalai Lama’s successor, Deba Sangye Gyatso, in 1690, the Red Palace was a monumental project, costing over 2.13 million taels of silver.
The Qing Emperor Kangxi further supported the construction efforts by sending over 100 craftsmen from China and Manchuria, while Nepal also contributed skilled workers. The Potala’s Red Palace was completed in 1693, and a grand ceremony was held to mark its completion on the 20th of the fourth month in the Tibetan calendar. A commemorative monument was erected in front of the palace to honor the achievement.
The Role of the Red Palace in Tibetan Politics
The Red Palace was not just a religious site; it also played a critical role in Tibetan political life. Significant political decisions, including the appointment of Tibetan officials and the identification of important lamas, were also made in the Red Palace, with ceremonies held before the Phakpa Lokesherya. Also the grand official recognition ceremony of Dalai Lama will held here.
In 1904, British forces pressured Tibetan officials to sign the “Lhasa Treaty” within the Potala Palace itself. British Colonel Francis Younghusband insisted that the treaty be signed in the palace, recognizing its symbolic importance and stating that the Dalai Lama was not only a spiritual leader but also Supreme political authority.
Ceremonial Significance of the Red Palace
- Enthronement and Political Ceremonies
The Dalai Lama’s enthronement and recognition ceremonies were historically held within the Red Palace. After the conflict in 1705 between Lhazang Khan and Sangye Gyatso, and the subsequent enthronement of the disputed Sixth Dalai Lama, Yeshe Gyatso, the Red Palace was viewed as an unfortunate space for enthronement. Future ceremonies were moved to the White Palace’s East Main Hall. - Religious Rituals and Pilgrimages
The Red Palace hosts essential religious events, including scripture recitations, Buddha worship, ritual dances, and major pilgrimages. These practices are central to Tibetan Buddhism, drawing devotees and pilgrims to the palace from all over Tibet and beyond.
Ancestral Worship and Stupas in the Red Palace
The Red Palace serves as a mausoleum for the Dalai Lamas, where stupas and commemorative halls honor their legacy. The Fifth Dalai Lama’s stupa, built in 1690, was the first, followed by stupas for the Seventh through Thirteenth Dalai Lamas. In total, the Red Palace houses eight stupas and five stupa halls, each dedicated to preserving the memory of these revered leaders.
Each year, memorial rituals are held on the anniversaries of the death of Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelug school, and other Dalai Lamas. The Red Palace’s Upper Offering Hall is the site of these offerings, while significant rites for the Fifth and Thirteenth Dalai Lamas are performed in their respective stupa halls.
Residences and Transformation of the Red Palace
The Red Palace originally contained living quarters for the Dalai Lamas on its upper floors. However, these chambers were later transformed into stupa halls and Buddha halls, marking a shift in function from residence to a place of honor and reverence for the departed Dalai Lamas.
Potala Palace Today: A UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Potala Palace, with its rich history, unique architectural achievements, and religious significance, has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, it stands as one of the most iconic landmarks in Tibet, attracting visitors from around the world. As a testament to Tibetan history, culture, and spirituality, the Potala Palace continues to serve as a reminder of Tibet’s legacy and the Dalai Lama’s enduring influence on Tibetan society.
Visiting the Red Palace of Potala: What to Expect
Visitors can explore both the White and Red Palaces, marvel at the architectural genius, and appreciate the historical artifacts housed within its halls. Key attractions include:
The Maitreya Buddha Hall: A Space of Serenity and Devotion
The Maitreya Buddha Hall (Jamkhang), found just beyond the White Palace and across a corridor, is a stunning room filled with sacred treasures. It houses a gold-plated bronze statue of Maitreya Buddha, renowned for its elegant and serene expression of infinite compassion. This statue is surrounded by various other important deities, including White Tara, Amitayus, and Vajrayogini—all carefully crafted from silver.
The hall also showcases a large silver stupa that contains sacred relics, including a piece of the Maitreya Buddha’s skull. Additionally, the walls are adorned with murals of prominent Tibetan Buddhist figures, such as Tsongkhapa and Atisha. On the massive bookshelves, visitors can find the Tripitaka, including a rare Natan edition written in eight precious materials, a true masterpiece of Tibetan craftsmanship.
The Mandala Hall: A Sacred Space of Devotion
Descending from the Golden Roof, the Mandala Hall is another key spiritual space within the Red Palace. This hall is filled with three large golden mandalas representing deities such as Yamantaka, Chakra Samvara, and Guhyasamja Tantra —gods and goddesses central to Tibetan tantric practices.
Visitors can also view 12 gold-plated archways gifted by the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, which are placed over the entrance to each mandala. These pieces of art symbolize the devotion of Qing Manchu kings to Tibetan Buddhism.
The hall’s eastern wall features a golden Wheel of Time statue, while the northern shrine holds stunning deities such as the Indian saints and Medicine Buddha lineage. The walls of the Mandala Hall are adorned with detailed murals depicting the history of Tibet’s greatest spiritual leaders.
The Sutra Hall: A Pillar of Tibetan History and Spirituality
The Sutra Hall (ས་གསུམ་རྣམ་རྒྱལ།), located in the heart of the Red Palace, was originally built by the 7th Dalai Lama. It is one of the most significant halls within the Red Palace, where important political and religious events, such as the golden urn lottery for selecting few of the Dalai Lama, were held.
The hall contains numerous historical relics, including the Longevity Position of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, featuring gold inscriptions in four languages—Tibetan, Chinese, Manchu, and Mongolian—proclaiming “Long life to the Emperor.” Behind this, a thangka of Emperor Qianlong dressed in monastic robes showcases his connection to Tibetan Buddhism, as he is believed to be the incarnation of Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom.
The hall also contains a silver statue of Avalokiteshvara, created in 1903, with 11 faces and 1,000 hands, symbolizing boundless compassion. On the east side, more than 3,000 golden Buddha statues are housed in the niches, representing a stunning display of Buddhist devotion.
The Longevity and Joy Gathering Hall: A Tribute to the 6th Dalai Lama
The Longevity and Joy Gathering Hall (འཆི་མེད་བདེ་ལྡན་འཁྱིལ།) is dedicated to the 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, and is notable for the presence of 1,000 golden statues of Amitayus, the Buddha of Infinite Life. The north-facing shrine contains a copper gilded statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, dating back to the reign of the 8th Dalai Lama, while the west shrine showcases 35 Buddhas family and several protective deities including Ekajati and Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug tradition.
This hall is a vibrant place of devotion and reflection, symbolizing the intersection of Tibetan Buddhist practice and the Dalai Lama’s leadership.
The Gelek Auspicious Wishful Stupa: A Monument to the 13th Dalai Lama
The Golden Tomb Stupa of Auspicious wishful གསེར་སྡོང་དགེ་ལེགས་འདོད་འཇོ། is the last addition to the Red Palace, built to house the stupa of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso (1876–1933). As one of the most influential Tibetan political and historical figures of the modern era, the 13th Dalai Lama played a pivotal role in shaping modern Tibetan history. His stupa, completed in 1934, stands as one of the most valuable in the Potala Palace.
The stupa is 12.97 meters high and is covered with gold leaf, containing 780 kilograms of gold and over 27,000 pearls and precious stones. It houses sacred relics, including Shakyamuni Buddha’s relics and the complete Kangyur and Tengyur texts. The stupa is surrounded by a beautiful display of sacred offerings made from pearls, corals, and gold threads, creating a stunning spectacle.
The hall is adorned with vibrant prayer flags and Tibetan decorations, and the walls are painted with murals depicting the life of the 13th Dalai Lama, with particular emphasis on his 1908 visit to Beijing to meet Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu.
The Golden Roofs of the Potala Palace: Sacred Stupas and Gold-Plated Glory
Climbing a set of 22 wooden steps from the Maitreya Buddha Hall leads to the highest point of the Potala Palace, known as the Golden Roof, often referred to as the golden apex of the Red Palace. This part of the palace is home to seven sacred stupas, including the tomb stupas of the 7th to 13th Dalai Lamas.
Each stupa features intricate golden roofs with various amounts of gold and silver used in their construction. For instance, the 7th Dalai Lama’s stupa was made with 900 taels of gold and 2700 taels of silver, while the 13th Dalai Lama’s stupa was constructed using 18,870 taels of gold. These stupas serve not only as memorials but also as symbolic for contribution of Tibetan society.
The Lakang Golden Roofs also feature hexagonal pavilions, where sacred banners made from yak hide, silk, and other materials stand tall, symbolizing the divine power of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan spiritual heritage.
The Potala Palace offers a deep connection to Tibetan culture, spirituality, and resilience. Its grand halls, sacred stupas, and ancient murals give visitors insight into Tibet’s rich history, making it an unmissable destination for those interested in the mystical allure of Tibetan Buddhism and heritage.
The architectural layout of the Red Palace in the Potala Palace complex reflects the intricate design and religious symbolism central to Tibetan Buddhism. Each hall, stupa chamber, and auxiliary structure serves distinct ceremonial, spiritual, and memorial functions. Below is a detailed overview of the Red Palace’s architectural layout, organized by main structural categories:
Lama Lhakhang: A Tribute to Great Masters
The Guru Hall (བླ་མ་ལྷ་ཁང་།) is dedicated to the revered teachers of Tibetan Buddhism, particularly Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school. This hall holds a silver statue of Tsongkhapa, along with clay statues of various Dalai Lamas, including an 8-year-old portrait of the 6th Dalai Lama and clay statues of the 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Dalai Lamas. Statues of Tibetan kings, such as Nyatri Tsenpo, and other lineage holders add to the hall’s importance, totaling over 1,000 statues and 300 stupas.
The walls are adorned with line drawings of White Tara and Vajrayogini, covering an area of 117 square meters, creating an awe-inspiring sanctuary for devotion and study.
Auspicious Light Hall: Stupa of the 7th Dalai Lama
The Auspicious Light Hall (གསེར་སྡོང་བཀྲ་ཤིས་འོོོད་འབར།) houses the stupa of the 7th Dalai Lama, Kelsang Gyatso (1708–1757), a figure known for his simplicity and dedication to the Gelug tradition. His stupa was built in 1757 under the regency of Demo Nomunhan and stands at 11 meters tall, wrapped in gold leaf that weighs 498 kilograms and adorned with thousands of precious stones.
The stupa enshrines his remains and is accompanied by statues of Avalokiteshvara, along with mandalas, sacred vessels, and scriptures, including a golden-inked Kangyur. A silver life-size statue of the 7th Dalai Lama, along with representations of Maitreya and other sacred relics, further enrich this hall.
Radiant Virtue Hall: Stupa of the 8th Dalai Lama
The Radiant Virtue Hall (གསེར་སྡོང་དགེ་ལེགས་གཟི་འབར།) commemorates the 8th Dalai Lama, Jamphel Gyatso (1758–1804). Recognized as the reincarnation of the 7th Dalai Lama by the 6th Panchen Lama, he took his seat in the Potala Palace in 1762 and later presided over Tibetan affairs, supporting the Qing army against the Gorkha invasion in 1791.
His stupa, built in 1805, stands 9.4 meters tall, with a base width of 4.55 meters, covered with 175 kilograms of gold and over a thousand jewels, including diamonds, jade, and agate. The stupa is considered the most exquisitely crafted among the stupas in Potala Palace, housing the sacred remains of the 8th Dalai Lama and a statue of Avalokiteshvara with eleven faces. The stupa is surrounded by mandalas, water offerings, and lamps, while statues of the 8th Dalai Lama and Palden Lhamo, his protective deity, add to the sanctity of the hall.
Three Realms Joy Hall: Stupa of the Ninth Dalai Lama
The Three Realms Joy Hall (གསེར་སྡོང་ས་གསུམ་མངོོན་དགའ།) is dedicated to the Ninth Dalai Lama, Lungtok Gyatso (1805–1815), who was born in Sichuan. Recognized as the reincarnation of the 8th Dalai Lama at the age of three, he was recognized without influence of Qing golden urn selection process. He was enthroned in 1808, but his life was brief, passing at age eleven.
Constructed in 1815, his stupa stands 7 meters tall and 4.15 meters wide at the base, adorned with 112 kilograms of gold and numerous precious stones. Within the stupa are sacred texts and treasures, and statues of the 9th Dalai Lama and Tsongkhapa are enshrined on either side.
A Legacy of Devotion and Craftsmanship
These halls and stupas within Potala Palace honor the profound spiritual leadership of the Dalai Lamas and the religious traditions they upheld. Through intricate statues, gold-leaf stupas, and sacred artifacts, they stand as enduring symbols of Tibetan devotion and artistic mastery, attracting pilgrims and history enthusiasts alike who wish to witness the rich legacy of Tibetan Buddhism and its timeless teachings.
Buddha Halls in Potala palace
The Buddha Halls in the Red Palace honor various deities and teachings central to Tibetan Buddhism:
Kalachakra Hall: The Grand Mandala of Shambhala
The Kalachakra Hall (དུས་འཁོར་ལྷ་ཁང་།) is located on the second floor, entered through the southeast corner. At its center is a grand, gilded three-dimensional Kalachakra Mandala, symbolizing Shambhala, the ideal Buddhist realm. Built during the time of the 5th Dalai Lama, this intricate mandala includes a structure made of copper, wood, and clay with tiers of miniature pavilions. Surrounding it are eight gilded Kalachakra Vajra statues, twelve mud sculptures representing compassion and wisdom, and a collection of over 100 clay figures of astrologers from Tibet, India, and China.
To the east, more than 100 small Buddha statues adorn the altar, while a statue of Guru Padmasambhava occupies the southwest corner, signifying the hall’s spiritual significance and masterful artistry.
Shakyamuni Hall: Former Residence of the Seventh Dalai Lama
The Shakyamuni Hall (ཐུབ་དབང་ལྷ་ཁང་།), a modestly sized room, was once the sleeping quarters of the 7th Dalai Lama. It houses a pure silver statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, surrounded by the eight chief disciples of Shakyamuni on either side. The shelves hold 115 volumes of the Kangyur, meticulously transcribed during the time of the 8th Dalai Lama, preserving the teachings of the Buddha for future generations.
Amitayus Hall: A Treasury of Sacred Art
The Amitayus Hall (ཚེ་དཔག་ལྷ་ཁང་།) is home to nine gilded copper statues of Amitayus, the Buddha of Infinite Life, along with statues of White and Green Taras on either side. In addition, the hall contains statues representing the Lamrim lineage masters, fasting practitioners, the Sixteen Arhats, the Four Great Kings, and 35 Buddhas. Over a thousand statues of various deities, including five manifestations of Tsongkhapa, further enrich this hall.
The walls are decorated with frescoes depicting the Pure Land of Avalokiteshvara and the Jataka tales recounting Shakyamuni Buddha’s previous lives, creating an immersive experience of spiritual imagery and inspiration. Other important panting is about the biography of Thangthong Gyalpo and his contribution to built Bridges around Tibet.
Hall of Samantabhadra’s Devotees: A Tribute to Buddha and Masters
The Hall of Samantabhadra’s Devotees (ཀུན་བཟང་རྗེས་འགྲོ་ཁང་།) is located near the Phakpa Lhakhang. The centerpiece is a gilded bronze statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, flanked by Avalokiteshvara on the left and the Fifth Dalai Lama on the right. Additional statues, including a Thousand-armed Avalokiteshvara, Saho Ugyen, and revered lamas, demonstrate intricate craftsmanship, offering an atmosphere of serenity and devotion.
Alloy Hall: A Museum of Sacred Art
Adjacent to the Hall of Samantabhadra’s Devotees, the Alloy Hall (ལི་མ་ལྷ་ཁང་།) is also called the Sounding Bronze Buddha Hall. The primary statue here is an alloy figure of Shakyamuni Buddha, surrounded by over 3,000 other Buddhist statues. These include 50 alloy statues of Shakyamuni, Maitreya, and others, as well as 1,600 alloy figures of Manjushri, Nyingma and Kagyu masters, and Thangtong Gyalpo, crafted during the Phakmo Drupa Dynasty. More than 300 bronze statues, including Vajravarahi and deities like White Tara, are housed here, alongside silver, crystal, amber, ivory, stone, and clay figures, such as Tsongkhapa and Songtsen Gampo, creating a gallery of Tibet’s vast artistic traditions.
A Palace of Timeless Devotion
Each hall within Potala Palace reflects the grandeur of Tibetan Buddhism’s spiritual tradition and the artistic skill of its creators. These halls and stupas celebrate the Dalai Lamas and prominent Buddhist deities, inviting visitors to experience the profound wisdom and compassion that has inspired practitioners for centuries.
West Great Hall: The Center of Potala’s Religious Life
Descending from the second floor of the Red Palace, visitors reach the West Great Hall (ཚོམས་ཆེན་སྲིད་ཞིའི་ཕུན་ཚོགས།), the largest hall in the Red Palace. Covering 725 square meters with 44 pillars, this hall serves as the main venue for religious ceremonies conducted by the Dalai Lamas. Resembling a Kalachakra mandala, the hall’s design showcases elaborate traditional carvings and Tibetan cultural motifs.
A grand throne of the Dalai Lama stands in the center. The walls and doorways feature 280 square meters of murals, including a famed depiction of the Fifth Dalai Lama meeting Emperor Shunzhi.
This hall is also home to two large embroidered silk curtains, gifted by the Kangxi Emperor in 1696. These intricate textiles, woven with golden threads, are considered some of the Potala Palace’s most valuable treasures, symbolizing the respect from Qing governments official to Dalai Lama.
Hall of the Path to Enlightenment
The Hall of the Stages of the Path, also known as Lamrin Lhakang (ལམ་རིམ་ལྷ་ཁང་།) in Tibetan, stands east of the West Great Hall. It enshrines a 2-meter-tall silver statue of Je Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school, symbolizing the gradual path to enlightenment. On the left side are statues of Manjushri and other masters of the Profound View school, while the right side hosts Maitreya and various teachers of the Extensive Deeds lineage. Statues of Vaisravana and Yama are also enshrined, embodying guardianship and protection.
Hall of the Vidyadharas
Located south of the West Great Hall, the Hall of the Vidyadharas or Rikzin Lhakang (རིག་འཛིན་ལྷ་ཁང་།) features a 2.3-meter-tall silver statue of Padmasambhava, flanked by Indian Consort Mandarava and Tibetan Consort Yeshe Tsogyal. Along the east side are gilded copper statues of the eight Vidyadhara lineage masters, while the west side hosts statues of Padmasambhava’s eight manifestations. The front rows hold eight silver stupas of the Eight Victorious Ones and three statues of the Three Roots in Vajrayana Buddhism. This hall also preserves golden and silver-leafed copies of the Kangyur Buddhist canon, written during the Desi Sangye Gyatso‘s era.
Tomb Stupas (Golden Memorial towers of Dalai Lama):
The Golden Memorial towers serve as sacred spaces where the remains of past Dalai Lamas are enshrined. In Tibetan tradition, these stupas honor the Dalai Lamas with the highest form of burial, with each figure’s body preserved in a lotus position and adorned with sacred garments for public veneration. Here are key points about these stupa halls:
- Fifth Dalai Lama’s Stupa Hall: Constructed in 1693, this stupa marked the beginning of the Red Palace’s expansion, which transformed the Potala into a dual-structure palace complex.
- Other Stupa Halls: The Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and Thirteenth Dalai Lamas have dedicated stupa halls within the Red Palace, creating a continuous lineage of commemoration across the palace complex.
Additionally, the silver stupas of earlier Dalai Lamas—the First at Tashilhunpo Monastery and the Second, Third, and Fourth at Drepung Monastery—reflect this burial tradition, while the remains of the Sixth Dalai Lama, who passed away in Qinghai, are not enshrined at the Potala.
Stupa Hall of the Fifth Dalai Lama
Known as Paaramount Ornament of the World ( གསེར་སྡོང་འཛམ་གླིང་རྒྱན་གཅིག), the Stupa Hall of the Fifth Dalai Lama memorializes Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso (1617–1682), a pivotal figure in establishing the unified governance of Tibet. His stupa, constructed in 1690, stands at 12.6 meters high, with a base width of 7.65 meters, embodying a four-tiered design. The Fifth Dalai Lama’s body, preserved with fragrant herbs and spices, rests within a gold-covered stupa, adorned with 3,724 kg of gold and inlaid with 18,375 jewels including pearls, dzi beads, coral, and agate. Known as the most magnificent stupa in Potala Palace, it is hailed as the “World’s Most Ornated Stupa.”
Before the stupa are offerings of auspicious symbols, a mandala, water cups, and butter lamps. Flanking the main stupa are the stupas of the Tenth and Twelfth Dalai Lamas, accompanied by eight silver stupas, symbolizing various significant events in Buddha’s life, such as victory and nirvana.
Stupa of the Tenth Dalai Lama
To the left of the Fifth Dalai Lama’s stupa lies the Stupa of the Tenth Dalai Lama, known as Supreme Ornament of the Three Realms (གསེར་སྡོང་ཁམས་གསུམ་རྒྱན་མཆོག།). The Tenth Dalai Lama, Tsultrim Gyatso (1816–1837), was born in Lithang, Sichuan, and recognized through the Golden Urn method. His stupa, built in 1837, is 7 meters tall, with a golden exterior weighing 110 kg and decorated with diamonds, rubies, turquoise, and pearls. The preserved body of the Tenth Dalai Lama and sacred texts are enshrined within.
Stupa of the Twelfth Dalai Lama
To the right of the Fifth Dalai Lama’s stupa stands the Stupa of the Twelfth Dalai Lama, or Long Life Radiant Stupa (གསེར་སྡོང་ཚེ་སྦྱིན་འོད་འབར།). The Twelfth Dalai Lama, Trinley Gyatso (1856–1875), was recognized in 1858 and enthroned in 1860. He passed away in 1875, and his stupa, constructed the same year, measures 7.25 meters in height with a base width of 3.76 meters. Its exterior is adorned with gold, silver, and copper, and enshrined within are statues of Avalokiteshvara, the Four Heavenly Kings, and a statue of the Twelfth Dalai Lama.
These halls, with their sacred statues, mandalas, and paintings, serve as timeless reminders of Potala Palace’s cultural and spiritual heritage, embodying the Buddhist path of compassion and wisdom.
Great Ancestor memorial Hall
The Hall for remembrance of Great Ancestor, also known as འཁྲུངས་རབས་ལྷ་ཁང་། in Tibetan, is situated on the northern side of the West Great Hall. Its centerpiece is a pure gold statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, embodying the ultimate compassion and wisdom of Buddhism. To the left of the Buddha statue is a silver statue of the Fifth Dalai Lama, followed by depictions of Avalokiteshvara, Songtsen Gampo, Dromtonpa, and the first through fourth Dalai Lamas.
The right side of the hall features gilded copper statues of the Eight Medicine Buddhas and the Buddhas of the Three Times. The eastern wall displays a statue of Sakya master Chakhyung Lodro, highlighting the influence of the Sakya school. On the northern wall, shelves hold the Tangyur, a revered Buddhist scripture collection.
On the western side of the Ancestoor Hall rests the Stupa of the Eleventh Dalai Lama, known as Stupa of Beneficent Radiance (“གསེར་སྡོང་ཕན་བདེ་འོད་འབར།”). Khedrup Gyatso (1838–1855), the Eleventh Dalai Lama, was recognized as the Tenth Dalai Lama’s reincarnation through the Golden Urn in 1841 and enthroned the following year. Tragically, he passed away in 1855 shortly after taking on the responsibilities of governance. His stupa, built in 1885, stands 6.9 meters tall with a base width of 3.55 meters. This golden stupa, adorned with diamonds, right-turning conch shells, and other precious gems, enshrines a statue of Songtsen Gampo within the sacred alcove. Offerings are placed before the stupa, and a statue of the Eleventh Dalai Lama is placed beside it.
Medicine Buddha Hall
Known as Medicine Buddha Hall (“སྨན་བླ་ཁང་།), honors the Eight Medicine Buddhas, each symbolizing different healing aspects of enlightenment. In the center of the hall stands a mandala surrounded by 310 Medicine Buddha statues from various regions, including China, India, and Tibet. The hall also features life-sized statues of Je Tsongkhapa and the Fifth Dalai Lama. The walls are adorned with exquisite murals, depicting scenes of healing and spiritual wisdom.
A Vast Repository of Art and Treasures
Potala Palace is not only a spiritual hub but also a monumental repository of art and history. It preserves imperial decrees, seals, golden books, jade tablets, gifts from Ming and Qing emperors, and rare Tibetan texts, along with gold and silver statues, ritual objects, and thangka paintings. This extraordinary collection provides invaluable insight into Tibetan politics, economy, history, culture, and art, making Potala Palace a crucial resource for understanding Tibet’s multifaceted heritage.
The evolution of the Potala Palace’s architectural layout, particularly the Red Palace’s stupa halls and golden rooftop, reflects both practical and symbolic design decisions over centuries. The addition of stupa halls following the deaths of successive Dalai Lamas was a significant architectural response, resulting in an uneven arrangement of golden roofs that eventually required modifications for aesthetic uniformity.
Key Modifications and Adjustments:
- Raising Structures for Uniformity: After the passing of the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Dalai Lamas, certain halls were converted into stupa halls, and some buildings required additional levels to balance the palace’s silhouette. For instance, the structure above the Guru Hall, located south of the Seventh Dalai Lama’s stupa, was raised by two stories. This modification included adding a six-sided golden rooftop, contributing to the Red Palace’s iconic skyline.
- Tenth Dalai Lama’s Stupa: An opening was left on one of the elevated floors, initially intended for the Tenth Dalai Lama’s stupa. However, structural limitations on the lower floor led to its relocation to the Fifth Dalai Lama’s stupa hall. The presence of the Tenth Dalai Lama’s image on the exterior of this hall supports the belief that this relocation aligns with traditional stupa hall designs.
Architectural Significance and Expansion:
The construction of the Fifth Dalai Lama’s stupa triggered a major expansion, leading to the impressive Red Palace alongside the original White Palace. This integration resulted in an architectural marvel:
- Eastern and Western Courtyards: Expansion of the eastern courtyard and the construction of grand gates on the southern side unified the White and Red Palaces. The western courtyard’s Buddha Viewing Terrace and the monastic quarters further harmonized the complex, blending levels to maintain visual continuity.
- Magnificent Unity: The careful alignment and connection between the White and Red Palaces establish a seamless architectural whole that enhances the Potala’s monumental presence on the mountaintop.
Highest Point of the Potala:
The Seventh Dalai Lama’s stupa hall, located within the Red Palace, is the highest point of the Potala Palace at 117.19 meters. This corrected measurement reflects the hall’s prominence within the complex and serves as a landmark feature within the entire Potala.
In sum, the Potala Palace’s layered construction over centuries and the integration of stupa halls within the Red Palace have contributed to the palace’s monumental stature, cultural richness, and architectural unity, making it a pinnacle of Tibetan architectural and spiritual heritage.
The Potala Palace is an architectural and spiritual marvel, with various stupa halls, fortresses, and courtyards, each holding unique significance and purpose within this sacred Tibetan complex. Below is an overview of the key features:
Auxiliary Structures
The Potala Palace’s layout includes four fortress-like structures around the mountaintop:
- Eastern Fort (ཤར་ཆེན་ལྕོག།) – Known today as the East Grand Fort.
- Southern Fort (གཡུལ་རྒྱལ་ལྕོག།) – Likely the South Grand Fort, called the “Victory Fortress.”
- Western Fort (རྒྱལ་པོ་ལྕོག།) – Known as the West Grand Fort or “King’s Fortress.”
- Northern Fort (བསྟན་མ་ལྕོག།) – Referred to as the North Grand Fort, “Guardian Goddess Fortress.”
These forts symbolize and reinforce the palace’s defensive strength and imposing presence.
Eastern and Western Courtyards
The Eastern Courtyard (བདེ་ཡངས་ཤར།), or East Joyous Plaza, is the main entry to the White Palace, historically used for public celebrations and ceremonies, including a significant New Year’s exorcism ritual. The Dalai Lama and officials would observe from the palace’s large front windows. The courtyard also features two large drums, which once signaled the need for absolute silence within the palace.
The Western Courtyard (བདེ་ཡངས་ནུབ།), or West Joyous Plaza, measures 258 square meters. Its south wall contains the གསུམ་སྐས་འགོ། gate, with the “Three-Stage Ladder” leading into the monks’ quarters. This rare architectural feature—a three-step staircase—appears in only three places within the Potala Palace.
Significance and Architectural Grandeur
The Potala Palace’s careful design, with its unified Red and White Palaces and harmoniously aligned structures, presents a visually cohesive and majestic complex. The stupa halls, fortresses, and courtyards emphasize the palace’s cultural and religious prominence, while the courtyards offer space for communal rituals, enriching the Potala’s architectural beauty and spiritual significance on the Tibetan plateau.
The Monastic Officer School and the རྩེ་རྣམས་རྒྱལ་གྲྭ་ཚང་། in the Potala Palace represent vital components of Tibetan monastic life, serving both educational and residential purposes.
Monastic Officer School
Established by the Kashag Government in 1754 to train monks for official roles, the monastic school first operated in Norbulingka before moving to the Potala Palace in 1788. Rebuilt in 1932 after a fire, this unique four-story building connects to key palace areas, like the Eastern Grand Fort and East Joyous Plaza.
The Victory Storehouse, a central part of the Potala, includes halls, a kitchen, storage, and ritual areas for the Dalai Lama’s activities. Drashak, a set of simple white buildings nearby, serves as monk quarters, furnished with essentials like a bed, tea table, and small shrine.
Designed for simplicity and focus, these monastic spaces limit distractions. Rooms are minimal, with unglazed windows, and curtains are only partially opened by monks with over ten years of experience, reinforcing a disciplined environment for spiritual growth.
Monastic Furniture and Living Conditions
The furniture in the monks’ quarters, while similar to secular furnishings, adheres to Buddhist precepts that ensure simplicity and restraint. For example, tea-making barrels used by monks must lack copper rings, and items like pots and water tanks are typically crafted from pottery. In keeping with regulations to avoid indulgence, square tables are prohibited, and joining two tables to form a square shape is not allowed. Monks are also forbidden from keeping pets or planting flowers, reinforcing a focus on discipline and detachment.
Living conditions within the Drashak vary significantly according to monastic rank. Ordinary monks have very basic accommodations that cover essential needs, while higher-ranking monks enjoy comparatively more comfortable living spaces, reflecting the varying responsibilities and status within the monastic community.
Viewing Platform and Giant Buddha Painting Repository
On the southern wall outside the Western Plaza of the Potala Palace lies the Buddha Viewing Platform, a broad space stretching 75.5 meters in width and 32.5 meters in height. Below this platform, nestled on the mountainside, stands the Giant Buddha Painting Repository, a two-story building spanning 21 meters in length and 7.6 meters in width. This repository houses two massive Buddha scroll paintings.
During Tibetan New Year celebrations, particularly on the 30th day of the 2nd month in the Tibetan calendar, the Buddha Viewing Platform is used to display large Buddha images, honoring a tradition deeply embedded in Tibetan culture. Known as the Sun Buddha Platform or Buddha Exhibition Platform, it serves as a prominent focal point during these festive ceremonies.
Yabshik (Dalai Lama’s Family Courtyard)
The Yabshik or Dalai Lama’s Family Courtyard sits on the southern slope behind the Potala Palace, providing accommodation for the Dalai Lama’s family when they visit. According to Potala’s regulations, unrelated individuals, particularly women, are not allowed to reside in the main palace building. Thus, the Yao Xi serves as a nearby yet distinct residence for the Dalai Lama’s family.
When a new Dalai Lama is recognized, the Tibetan government grants his family various privileges, including land and titles. In Lhasa, the family is usually provided with a residence, termed Yabshik, where homes of previous Dalai Lamas, including the 7th, 11th, and 14th, are located. Typically, these residences are situated away from the Potala Palace; however, a temporary family dwelling is often built on the southern slope near the palace to facilitate proximity.
Knowledge of the existence of this specific Yabshik near the Potala Palace remains obscure, with limited references in literature. Only specialized sources like the “Tibetan Architecture Series: Potala Palace” provide comprehensive descriptions. Other publications offer brief mentions, and some do not reference it at all. In recent attempts to document this site, even senior monks stationed at the Potala Palace were unfamiliar with it, indicating its quiet, almost secretive presence.
