Potala Palace｜Iconic Landmark of Lhasa & UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tibetan Buddhism

“Potala” is a transliteration of the Sanskrit word “Potalaka,” which refers to the abode of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. The construction of this palace is deeply intertwined with the history of Tibet. In the 7th century, Songtsen Gampo, the King of the Tubo Kingdom, built this sacred site with great devotion to welcome Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty.

Though it has undergone multiple phases of destruction and reconstruction over the centuries, the present structure of the Potala Palace was largely expanded during the mid-17th century under the leadership of the revered Lama, Lozang Gyatso (the Fifth Dalai Lama). It was later refined and restored by successive religious leaders, resulting in the magnificent complex we see today.

The Potala Palace combines the functions of a palace, fortress, and monastery, making it the highest monumental structure in the world. Built against the mountainside, its design features an interwoven layout of white, red, and black, symbolizing harmony, power, and dignity. Despite enduring the storms of a thousand years, it still stands strong as a lasting testament to history and faith.

The Potala Palace is divided into two main sections: the White Palace and the Red Palace. The White Palace gets its name from its white-painted exterior walls. This white coating is made from a mixture of various ingredients, including lime, milk, honey, sugar, and saffron. Every year, from the 25th day of the eighth month to the 25th day of the ninth month in the Tibetan calendar, devotees and craftsmen come together to repaint the palace walls. This annual ritual gives the walls a flowing, glacier-like texture, enhancing the palace’s unique visual presence.

The White Palace of the Potala Palace complex stretches approximately 320 meters from east to west and about 200 meters from north to south. Starting from the Inscriptionless Stele at the foot of the hill, visitors ascend a zigzagging path that leads to the eastern gate of the White Palace, which faces west. On both sides of the entrance corridor, murals of the Four Heavenly Kings are painted on the walls. As one walks along the stone-paved path, the palace’s towering walls, several meters thick, come into view.

The main hall of the White Palace, which faces south and sits to the north, is called the Eastern Assembly Hall, or *Tsokchen Shak* in Tibetan. It is the primary venue for holding major ceremonies. After the Fifth Dalai Lama established the Ganden Phodrang government at Drepung Monastery, he instructed Desi Sangye Gyatso to undertake the construction of the Potala Palace. The Eastern Assembly Hall was completed in 1645, three years after the restoration project began.

In 1653, Emperor Shunzhi of the Qing Dynasty officially conferred titles and seals upon the Fifth Dalai Lama. From then on, each successive Dalai Lama had to be granted titles by the central government, with enthronement and assumption of power ceremonies presided over by imperial representatives in Tibet. These important rituals were all held in the Eastern Assembly Hall.

The top level of the White Palace houses the East and West Sunlight Halls. These halls are named for the large floor-to-ceiling windows on their southern sides, which allow abundant sunlight to fill the rooms throughout the day. Hence, they are called the “Sunlight Halls.”

These spaces served as the living quarters and administrative areas for successive Dalai Lamas, where they carried out daily routines and important affairs. The halls include the Audience Hall for managing religious and governmental matters, the Meditation Hall for private retreats and spiritual practice, the Protector Deity Hall for worship, as well as bedrooms and other living spaces.

Between the East and West Sunlight Halls lies an administrative office known as “Zika,” which was responsible for conveying the official orders of successive Dalai Lamas.

The Potala Palace is an architectural marvel of grand scale, representing the pinnacle of Tibetan construction. It also embodies the outstanding cultural, artistic, and religious achievements of various ethnic groups, including Tibetan, Han, and Mongolian peoples. As a vital site for the development of Tibetan Buddhism, the palace stands as a historical witness to the cultural exchange and integration of the Chinese nation.

It has enriched the styles and structural patterns of ancient Chinese architecture, filling the historical gap in large-scale stone architecture in China. In the context of world architectural history, the Potala Palace is a uniquely remarkable example of a palace-fortress complex. It combines a wide range of functions—serving as a royal residence, reliquary stupa halls, Buddhist temples, administrative offices, monastic schools, and monks’ quarters—all within a single magnificent structure.