Built as a display of glory and power, the Potala Palace in Lhasa is an
regal and elegant structure that has been a silent witness to the political and
religious upheavals in the country of China. The Potala Palace in Lhasa was built
originally in the 7th century, around the year 637, by Emperor Songtsen Gampo
of the Tufen Kingdom of Tibet, on the summit of the Red Hill. The original structure
held intact until the 17th century. After the war, in 1645, the 5th Dalai Lama
reconstructed and renovated the damaged palace. In addition to the existent structure
of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, was added the "Potrang Karpo" or 'White
Palace' and the "Potrang Marpo" or 'Red Palace'. There were renovations
again in 1922 during the tenure of the 13th Dalai Lama.
Escaping destruction and vandalism by the Red Guards after the 1959 Tibetan
Uprising, the Potala Palace in Lhasa served as the official residence of the
Dalai Lama. Even after the eviction, the Potala Palace in Lhasa still stands
erect and imposing as ever. In fact, it still houses the tombs of the departed
Dalai Lamas. The name of the Potala Palace in Lhasa is supposed to have derived
from the South Indian Mount Potala, which is held to be the mythological residence
of the Bodhisattva Chenresi. The Potala Palace in Lhasa continues to be an important
pilgrimage of the Tibetans. The Potala Palace in Lhasa sprawls over an area
of 130,000 Sq Meters and stands 117 Ft tall; it houses several religious establishments
like Monasteries and chaples, apart form the residence for several Tibetan officials.
The Potala Palace in Lhasa as a whole is a treasure trove of relics both movable
and immovable.
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