Potala Palace, Buddhist palace in Lhasa District, China.
The Potala Palace rises 117 meters above Lhasa, featuring red and white sections across its 400-meter length with thick stone walls and copper foundations.
Construction began in 637 under King Songtsen Gampo, with major expansions in 1645 by the Fifth Dalai Lama, serving as winter residence until 1959.
The palace contains 1,000 rooms filled with Buddhist artifacts, including 10,000 painted scrolls, 698 murals, and sacred texts documenting Tibet's religious traditions.
Visitors require a Tibet Tourism Bureau permit and must join guided tours, which allow one hour inside the palace complex with specific entry quotas.
The structure contains eight decorated tombs of former Dalai Lamas, with the most notable being a 14-meter-high tomb covered in 3,700 kilograms of gold.
Location: Lhasa District
Inception: 637
Height: 117 m
Length: 400 m
Width: 350 m
Part of: World Heritage Sites in Tibet
Website: https://potalapalace.cn
GPS coordinates: 29.65778,91.11694
Latest update: May 26, 2025 19:05
These castles represent significant architecture from medieval to modern times. The structures showcase military defenses, royal residences, and religious centers. From the Alhambra in Spain to Himeji in Japan, these fortresses document different architectural styles and historical periods.
Major temples worldwide display architectural and cultural achievements of ancient civilizations. From temples in Cambodia to pyramids in Mexico, these structures document religious practices, construction methods and social structures of their time. The complexes in Asia, Europe and America present different building styles, ornaments and ceremonial spaces.
Jokhang
1.5 km
Sera Monastery
4.6 km
Norbulingka
2.2 km
Nechung
6.2 km
Ramoche Temple
1.4 km
Lhasa Great Mosque
2.1 km
Monument to the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet
526 m
Chokpori
888 m
Chongsaikang
1.6 km
Kundeling Monastery
1 km
Mentsikhang
1.1 km
Pandatsang
1.7 km
Chupzang Nunnery
6.1 km
Gyume Dratsang
1.6 km
Trode Khangsar
1.5 km
Rakhadrak Hermitage
5.7 km
Potala Palace
40 m
Lalu Wetlands National Nature Preserve
3 km
Purbuchok Hermitage
6.6 km
Tsomon Ling
1.3 km
Muru Nyingba Monastery
1.6 km
Keutsang Hermitage
5.9 km
Shide Dratsang
1.1 km
Sera Chöding Hermitage
4.8 km
Catholic Church of Lhasa
1.9 km
Samdrup Podrang
1.6 km
Liuwu Bridge
3.7 km
Labrang Nyingba
1.6 kmReviews
Visited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
Discover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes