See Potala Palace, the Iconic Heart of Tibetan Buddhism | National Geographic

The imposing Potala Palace is the centerpiece of Tibet’s capital city, Lhasa. At 12,000 feet above sea level, it’s the highest palace in the world. And it’s also a major center for Buddhist spirituality.
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Potala refers to a mountain in India sacred to the religion, and for centuries its namesake palace has been at the core of Tibet’s monastic community.

Much of the current palace complex dates to the seventeenth century. But the earliest construction began a thousand years earlier, on the commission of a Tibetan king, in honor of his marriage to a princess of China. The growing fortress became the winter home for the Dalai Lamas, monastic leaders of Tibetan Buddhism.

UNESCO’s World Heritage designation extends to the neighboring Jokhang Temple, considered Tibet’s most sacred, and the Norbulingka, once the Dalai Lama’s summer residence.

Conflict led to the exile of the Dalai Lama from China’s Tibetan Autonomous Region in 1959, and the grounds became a museum. But the Potala Palace remains a major Buddhist pilgrimage site. Many travel long distances by foot to pay their respects. Potala is divided into the Red Palace, which is for religious use, and an administrative White Palace.

Visitors to Potala have to go with a tour group, and obtain a special permit. Once in, you pass through hallways lit by butter lamps, and into public areas watched over by monks. In addition to the historic structures, the heritage site contains a vast collection of sacred texts and works of art. Withstanding the elements and political struggle, Potala Palace remains an embodiment of Tibetan culture.

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See Potala Palace, the Iconic Heart of Tibetan Buddhism | National Geographic
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