Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet has the honor of being the highest ancient palace in the world, with its highest point reaching 3,750 meters (12,300 feet) above sea level, towering 100 meters (300 feet) above the city of Lhasa.
The Palace was built as the center of Tibetan government by the fifth Dalai Lama in 1645. This 13-stories-high palace has over 1,000 rooms and covers over 13 hectares (32 acres). The stone walls measure 3 meters (10 feet) thick on average.
The general structure of the Potala Palace is in two parts: The Red Palace and the White Palace. The beautiful murals inside the palace are not only attractive, but also tell the story of Tibet. The golden roof on the top of the Red Palace is worth seeing.
The Red Palace is the higher of the two palaces and is made up of several chapels. Used as a house of prayer by the Dalai Lama, this part of the Potala Palace was dedicated to the study of Buddhism and the advancement of the religion.
Housed within the Red Palace are several mausoleums of previous Dalai Lamas. Each mausoleum is built with stateliness and honor in mind.
The White Palace was home to ten successive Dalai Lamas and their courts. Also located there are the offices of the Tibetan government, governmental assembly halls, and other official offices.
Housed within this amazing stone and wood structure are articles and artifacts from Tibetan history, religion, and culture. Statues of Buddha, murals, and antiques that are centuries old, and incredible works of art grace every area of this mountaintop palace.
The elaborate works of art and murals tell many stories of the Dalai Lamas and the history of the Tibetan people, and depict different customs and traditions held dear in this beautiful part of the world.
The Potala Palace is a protected site. For this reason, the government has limited the number of visitors allowed each day, as well as the visiting time, during peak season (generally July to October).
In peak season, about 3,000 visitors are allowed and visitors have approximately 1 hour to visit the site.
According to chinahighlights.com
