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The Potala Palace
The Potala Palace, which stands 117 meters atop the Red Hill in Lhasa, was built 1,300 years ago in the 7th century. The 13-storied palace, also the world's highest, is more than 3,700 meters above sea level and is the outstanding apotheosis of traditional Tibetan architecture.
The Potala Palace is 360,000 square meters in size, and 360 meters in length (west-east)and 270 meters in width (north-south). It features a combination of stone-and-wood Tibetan watchtowers and Han Chinese palaces with traditional beams and pillars, golden roofs and sunk panels. Courtyards and winding corridors were arranged to suit the location. While the major part of the palace complex is highlighted, subordinate architectural groups form a jagged, interlocking pattern providing more space than one would expect, an achievement recognized in the history of architecture. |
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Legend has it that the Tubo King Songtsan Gambo, a devout Buddhist, often went to recite Buddhist scriptures and pray by what he later named Potala Hill when he made the city of Lhasa his capital. Potala is the Sanskrit pronunciation of Buddha's Mountain. In the Tibetan language, Potala means residence of the Goddess of Mercy. In 614 when he married the Tang Dynasty (618-907) Princess Wencheng, he had the Potala Palace built for his wife. The Potala Palace he built had nine storys, with 999 palace chambers and 1,000 halls specially built for Buddhist meditation in the hill. In the ensuing years, the Potala Palace suffered from wars, thunderbolts and fire. Only the Cave for the Prince of Dharma and the Main Hall, the Pagbalhakang, survived these devastating changes. The present Potala Palace was rebuilt after the 17th century.
The main architecture of the Potala Palace is composed of the two parts: Places used by the Dalai Lama as his living chambers and for political activities; and holy stupas of the successive generations of Dalai Lamas and various Buddhist halls. |
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The first part is concentrated in the White Palace, built in 1645-1653. This part fans out from the original Hall of the Goddess of Mercy towards the east and west, encompassing groups of monastic halls with white walls-hence the name the White Palace. The White Palace has seven storys. The fourth story, the Coqenxag or the Eastern Hall, covers and area of 717 square meters and is propped up by 38 large pillars. This is the most important Buddhist hall in the Potala Palace, and has witnessed many major religious and political activities, including the enthronement ceremony for the reincarnated soul boy of the Dalai Lama and the ceremony held when the Dalai Lama begins his reign at the age of 18. The fifth and sixth storys were used as the offices and living chambers of the Prince Regent. The seventh story was the Winter Palace of the Dalai Lama. It is called the Sunlight Hall simply because the hall enjoys boundless sunlight through its spacious windows. The hall is furnished with gold basins, jade bowls and other treasures, accentuating the high position of the occupant. Outside the Sunlight Hall is a spacious balcony offering a bird's-eye view of the whole of Lhasa. In the distance are undulating mountain ranges, the beautiful Lhasa River, tracts of fields, tree-shaded villages and the glistening Jokhang Monastery.
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Jokhang Monastery
It is the most revered religious structure in Tibet. Although little remains of
its 7th century origins and most of the sculptures that adorn its interior
postdate the Cultural Revolution, the Jokhang bustling with worshippers and
redolent with mystery, is an unrivalled Tibetan experience. Princess Wencheng is
said to have chosen the site of the Jokhang, and just to be difficult she chose
Lake Wothang. Over the centuries, the Jokhang has undergone many renovations,
but the basic layout is ancient and differs from many other Tibetan religious
structures-one crucial difference is the east-west orientation of the building,
said to face towards Nepal to honour Queen Bhrikuti.
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The Barkhor Street
The Barkhor Street lies in the heart of Lhasa and circles the Jokhang Temple. It means ??a pilgrim's inner circuit??, and is the earliest street of old city.
It dates back to the foundation of the Jokhang Palace and is an essential pilgrim route. Houses and small inns were built all around the street. As time went on, shops and businesses also take their positions in the Barkhor Street, and it slowly became a prosperous area.
The traditional lifestyle and appearance of Lhasa's Old City district are well preserved in Barkhor Street:the stone houses, and the man-laid stone roads. Barkhor Street is the commercial center in Tibet. It is a "must" for souvenir-hunting tourists. Here vistors can get everthing Tibetans could hope for, such as the prayerwheels, the boots and hats, robes and bags. Commodities made in India and Nepal can also be found here. |
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There are many art galleries and stores for arts and crafts, which specialize in Thangka. The Thangka are paintings of Buddha, brightly colored and vividly depicted.
Many people call the Barkhor "the window of Tibet" as it is a typical reflection of Tibetan life. It is a magical place, full of the mystery and wonder that is associated with Tibet.
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The Ruins of Guge Kingdom
TThe Ruines of Guge Kingdom:A local regime established during the turbulent years of Tibetan history, it continued constructing and expanding its palace site between the 10th and 16th century. The ruines, totalling 180,000 square meters in size, include many stupas, blockhouses, caves, tunneles and houses. The murals and sculptures which remain are of exceptionally high artistic value.
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